Abandoned - Christmas Crossroads - Story 75

[Kristahfer]

I love the design of the building in the last capture in Chapter 11. I can only imagine the amount of work it took to put that piece of art together. Thank you @Abandoned and @kid1293

[taniu]

I like the buildings in Chapter 10 very much, they look very elegant, thank you for the great ideas and hard work on this mod @Abandoned and @ kid 1293. Greetings 

[Abandoned]

Thank you both.  That last picture in chapter 11 is buildings from Kid Bed & Breakfast mod.  Most of the buildings in chapter 10 are from the new Kid Hillside Village Mod.  The colored building in the story are from Christmas Mod and Kid Tiny Downtown.  There are a few of RK's Two Story Little Houses thrown in.  I was a bit concerned at first how these mods would combine together into one story with RK Railroad but I am thinking it turned out okay.

[Abandoned]

Chapter 12


  We needed to do a bit more for the children; those that arrived late in the year were worried that Santa would not find them.  We built a post office next to the coffee shop where children could drop off letters to Santa and let him know where they were.  Parents began leaving messages for friends and family who might also be passing through our Crossroads.  A Bake Shop was built by the Bed & Breakfast so mothers could more easily pick up gingerbread cookies for the children.

  Our food supply always dropped quite low before the harvest, we did quite a bit of gathering.  We needed more meat and proteins.  Another chestnut tree was found not far from the others by the worker's Rooms and another hunter got to work south of there by the railroad tracks and west tunnel.  Not only would 2 hunters provide more meat for the town but they would keep the tracks clear of the large deer herds in that area.  There was still no word when a train would arrive or if the turnaround on the other side of the mountain had been built.

  Knowing we were expected to supply Ironwood and Chattachoo with materials they were short of was causing us some concern.  We were often short of materials ourselves.  There was still plenty of surface stone to be had but very little iron.  Our log supply was often low and after a long cold winter our firewood supply was low too.  We collected a lot of branches.  We dug a tiny mine near the east tunnel to mine for iron and we built a forester workplace across the tracks from the material station.  A tiny chopper by the station's stockpile would increase our firewood supply.  The family in the new hillside house by the mine was happy they would not have so far to go for firewood.

[Abandoned]

Chapter 13


  In late spring of year 13, the Fresian cows the Baron ordered arrived.  We had 3 animal sheds by then but the Baron was sure that the cows would multiply faster in a pasture than in a shed.   The pigs were doing quite well and now producing pork and leather.  A butcher shop was now being built out back behind the breakfast nook.  The cows would be pastured by the farm fields where a new farmhouse had just been built.  There were a number of young couples now that wanted places of their own.  The first snow of the season had fallen by the time the cows were moved from the port to the pasture. 

  The butcher shop was finished and was making bacon from the pork.  Being close by, my family was one of the first to sample this new meat product.  It was delicious.  It was just as good served for dinner with potatoes as it was served for breakfast with eggs.

  By early winter another hillside house was built by the mine and workers were again busy gathering branches for firewood.

[Abandoned]

Chapter 14


  In spring of year 14 the first choo choo came to town.  It stopped first at the material station and detached the material car.  The engine and passenger car then continued on across the river to the passenger station.  Most of the passengers would stay on the train to the end of the line, a few of the passengers came to Crossroads to visit their sons who were railroad workers that they had not seen for many years  They would return home when the train made the return trip.  We had no idea when that would be not knowing if the turnaround was finished on the other side of the mountain.  When the train returned it would use the short bypass track around the material car left at the other station, it would pull ahead and then stop and back up to reattach the car that hopefully would be loaded with materials to take to Ironwood and Chattachoo.

  Meanwhile, near the worker's Rooms we built a cocoa greenhouse to raise the cocoa beans the Baron got from one of the river boatmen.  The beans would make a hot chocolate milk drink that the Baron said the children would love. We had plenty of milk now that we had the pasture of milk cows.  By the time the first snowfall arrived we had built a hot cocoa stand and a festive park across from the cocoa greenhouse.  The Baron was right, the children loved the hot drink and so did everyone else who tasted it.  There were more sweet treats to be had at the new candy store that was built next to the candle shop.  Children were only taken to the new shop if they ate all their vegetables.

  Over by the cow pasture another farmhouse was built for a young couple who would take care of the white leghorn chickens the Baron got from the livestock merchant.  With enough milk and eggs we could make eggnog.

[Abandoned]

Chapter 15


  In spring a few of those leghorns were moved along with some of the other chickens into a chicken coop next to the butcher over by the Breakfast Nook.  The nook was now serving bacon, eggs, and coffee for breakfast.  Across from the chicken coop a Nog Nook was built.  Eggs, milk, and spices made a delicious eggnog.  Across from the Nog Nook we built a Holiday Inn.  More and more travelers were coming to Crossroads and the Bed & Breakfast rooms were often full.  Some of the young singles had moved from the workers Rooms to continue laying tracks but those empty rooms were often filled too.

  The train returned from the east, this time bringing 15 immigrants and their 4 children all the way from Plimoth.  Some of them wanted to continue west on the train but a few wanted to go either north or south from here.  Three couples wanted to stay right where they were here with us.

  We need more housing and we needed more food and firewood.

[Abandoned]

Chapter 16


   A gift shop was built down the road from the coffee shop, the shop keeper and family would live above the shop. A sign to let people know there were woolies available there was promptly put up outside.  A tiny house was built across the road by the park.   Another tiny house was built over by the lighthouse, and a fishing pier was built there too.  It wasn't long before another houseboat was spotted coming down the river. 

  The new arrivals did not want to stay but they had just missed the train.  They like others wanted to know if we had carts and supplies available.  In fact some travelers arrived with carts and even with horses to pull them.  A tiny stable was built next to the Bed & Breakfast for those just passing through.  Our blacksmith started making carts.  We would have to carefully check our inventory to see what supplies we could spare.

[Abandoned]

Chapter 17


  We had wheat but not enough flour, the baker was always waiting for it.  The baker began making herb bread which took less flour so there would be more flour for the gingerbread baker.  We thought perhaps the mill was too far away so we built a second mill close to the barn where much of the wheat was stored.  We made sure that both wheat fields had 2 farmers.  The farmers were out in the fields right on time to start planting and our harvests were good but our food supply was always low before the next harvest.  Some parts of town did not have a good variety of foods available so we made sure to gather wild foods on all sides of town.  We did the same with branches so everyone would have enough firewood.  We assigned another fisherman to both fishing piers.

  We needed more housing.  We had 73 families but only 51 homes.  Many young people, including our son and our two daughters, wanted places of their own.  The previous fall we dug a tiny stone quarry over by the materials station so in year 17 we had a nice supply of stone to build more hillside houses with.  We needed logs for more wood houses too.  The smith said the shortage of logs was the reason our tool supply was getting low.  We built another forester on the west side of town near the railroad tunnel.  A small maple grove was discovered when the first hillhouse was built on Bridge Road.  Workers started collecting sap and a small sap boiler was built.  There would be maple syrup for breakfast.

[Abandoned]

Chapter 18


  The train arrived late that year, there had been trees down on the tracks in the Green Woods that had to be cleared away before the train could proceed.  The snow arrived early that year, the engineer said the way it was blowing and drifting made it too risky to go any farther.  He and the passengers would have to stay in Crossroads until spring.  It was a long way from the station to the town but everyone made it to what housing was available.  The passengers didn't mind being stranded too much, the shops were busy and woolies were selling good.  Our school children got a few days off from their studies and all the children were enjoying playing out in the snow.  They liked the little gingerbread house that was built so they could store away their toys and sleds when they were done playing.  The sound of the children's laughter carried through town on the cold crisp winter air.  It reminded us that Christmas was only a week away.

  In early spring of year 18 the train was again on its way with its passengers, many of which had a good pancake breakfast at the new Pancake House before boarding. Some said it would be easier just to meet their river boatmen here for Christmas than going all the way to Riverview Resort at this time of year. 

  By summer 2 more colorful little houses had been built and a second Bed & Breakfast near the Pancake House.  A tiny house had been built by the new tiny iron mine and a gatherer's workplace was set up next to the forester not far from the west tunnel.

[Abandoned]

Chapter 19


  Construction of new homes continued through the rest of year 18 and year 19.  A colorful little house was built by the new mill and a hillside house was built in the nearby forest area.  A colorful little house for 2 families was built over by the Baron's estate.  When a tiny wood house was built behind our, I was hoping our oldest daughter, Caris, would move into it but another young couple got it before her.  Our firstborn son, Cleonard, was living with his family in the top level that was added to the colorful little house over by the pancake house on the other side of town.  Phill and I thought Christmas would be even more fun this year with a 1 year old son, 1 year old granddaughter, and a newborn grandson.  There were plenty of winter woolies to be had in all the right sizes. 









  And what would Christmas be without Christmas candy and toys?  Earlier in the year a sugar house was built next to the cocoa house.  Everyone's favorite Christmas sugar plum candy was best when made with sugar instead of honey.  A plum tree had already been planted where the new candy store was being built across from the new Bed & Breakfast.  Other candies could be made during the year but sugar plums would have to be made for Christmas.  Visitor's coming and going through Crossroads sure liked our woolies and our Christmas candy.  A toy store was built next to the Holiday Inn on Chapel Road.






By now residents and visitors alike were calling our town Christmas Crossroads and Santa Claus would be coming soon in a Boogie Woogie Choo Choo Train. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYO8mrsgw9g

[Abandoned]

Chapter 20


  Winter came early again and again the train had been delayed.  The leaves were still on the trees when the temperature dropped and the first heavy snowfall came.  Folks thought it best to stay with us rather than travel on by train, boat, or on foot.  Even during the best weather it was a distance to go from the boat dock to the train or from the train to the boat dock.  The Baron had a solution; he would have stagecoaches built like they had back in Plimoth.  We would need horses.

  The river boatmen had no idea where to get horses other than at the Animal Refuge, or maybe East Port.  Plimoth and Ironwood only had a few horses; oxen and donkeys were mostly used to pull the trader carts.  The Animal Refuge took in some old plow horses and horses from the wagon trains that could no longer make the long journey cross country pulling heavy wagons up hill and down and across the rivers.  Oxen were mainly used there too.  A stagecoach was not nearly as heavy and the journey from port to train and back was a short one in comparison.  The refuge was always looking for good homes for the animal.  The livestock merchant said he would see what he could find.

  In the meantime a small pasture area was fences in and a livery stable built near the passenger station.  An anvil was set up for a smith who began making tools and some wagon parts.  Our tool supply could use a boost.  Construction of the first stagecoach began.  The livestock merchant brought 3 sturdy horses from the Animal Refuge, it was not easy.  He was glad to unload them and rearrange his boat to have some elbow room again.  He would bring a few more horses before the end of the year; his family was coming here for a visit before Christmas while the train was still running.  It was a hot humid 87F degree day when those horses were delivered, an awning was built in the pasture to give them some shade.  A feed store was built next to the livery.  A second stagecoach was being built later in the year when Billis returned with 3 more horses.

[Abandoned]

Chapter 21


  Billis' wife and daughter were the only 2 passengers to get off the train in late autumn.  The other passengers would not have a chance to get off and shop, the engineer wanted to make it to the rail's end and back before the winter weather arrived.  Billis was at the station to meet his family and the stagecoach was waiting to take them to the Bed & Breakfast by the dock. The first snowflakes of the season started to fall but would not amount to much.  The train would make it back as scheduled.

The stagecoach route was quite simple.  The stagecoaches went from the passenger station north to Bridge Road where they turned east going past the shops to leave passengers off at the small stable at the corner by the B&B.  The coaches turned there and headed north to Chapel Road where they would leave other passengers off at the Holiday Inn before continuing to the chapel crossroads where they turned south to head back to the station.  The coaches made a shopping run twice a day.  The horses had plenty of time to rest in between runs.  On very hot or cold day there was no shopping run, one other days the spare team took their turn for the next run. 

  It wasn't long before we had 2 Stage Offices built, one in town and one by the railroad passenger station.  Visitors could leave their baggage to be picked up later after they shopped. They could check stagecoach and train schedules there and they could sit inside to wait for the next coach or train to arrive or depart.

[Abandoned]

Chapter 22


  As hoped, our railroad in the east greatly improved travel just like the railway in the west had done.  Passengers could now easily and safely travel from Plimoth on the east coast west to the rail's end across from Riverview Resort.  The stagecoach greatly improved travel around Christmas Crossroads for visitors from east, west, north, and south.  Some came by train and others came on foot or by boat.  Some came only for Christmas while others came to catch the train to go east or west.  Some passengers arrived in town by train just to shop, they then reboarded the train to continue their journey.  By year 22 there were 2 trains on the line, one for passengers and one for materials. There was no more connecting and disconnecting the material car at the other station.  The bypass was extended at the material station and another was added to bypass the passenger station.  Both new trains had cabooses for the engineers and their families.






  Two taverns were added to Christmas Crossroads.  Christmas Spirits in town would serve berry cider in summer and hot apple cider in fall and winter. A special wine from the Baron's grapes was mulled at Christmastime.   The Yule Tap was built by the Baron's vineyard.  It would serve ale in summer and mulled wine made from the Baron's grapes in winter.  The hot cocoa was made all winter but the eggnog only for Christmas.  The Breakfast Nook and coffee shop served coffee all year long.  Many of the Christmas decorations around town were now being left up year round.  Christmas Crossroads was a great place to visit and to live.  By winter of year 23 Crossroads' population of permanent residents was 311; 166 adults, 54 students, and 91 young children.  There were 82 homes for 98 families.

[Abandoned]

Chapter 23


Visitors were impressed with our town no matter what time of year they came.  They could not help but notice the hillside houses across the river when they first came to town by train or by boat.  The Baron's Manor and more hillside houses on this side of the river were also quite noticeable.  Through the tunnel was the smith and main storage barn as well as the village school and the Town Hall back on the hill.  The Chapel and cemetery were on the crossroads that led in one direction to the passenger station and in the other back to the storage barn.  The village baker and the Christmas baker were next to the barn.  The farm fields and cow pasture were next to the bakers and behind them were the flour mills.









   The bakers made delicious jelly buns, spice cakes, plum cakes, and gingerbread cookies.  There were chestnuts roasting at the Christmas snack stand and there was hot cocoa, eggnog, and mulled winter wine, and of course Christmas sugar plum candy.  But our Christmas town was most noted for our winter woolies.  Visitors often wanted to see our sheep shed and woolen mill.  I don't think anyone ever left town without a warm woolen sweater, scarf, pair of mittens; our warm winter woolies were quite popular, no matter what time of year it was.