Abandoned - Central City - Story 98

[Abandoned]

This story was originally posted on August 31, 2023


Intro


  This is the 98th story in the Smallville Series.  It tells the tale of the 19th expedition to leave that city.   Smallville is again stepping in to help the troubled eastern railroad which runs from Plimoth (story 74) on the east coast west to Rails End (story76).  Smallville was the railroad's abandoned logging camp before it became Smallville.  Almost from the beginning of Smallville time, the Smallvillians were intrigued by the thought of big carts on wheels that could move a lot of heavy resources from one place to another along a wooden track.  The 2nd expedition to leave Smallville went east to build the railroad town of Chattachoo (story 4) and later, expedition #18 established the railroad's Christmas Crossroads (story 75).

The problem now lay at the end of the line.  Or rather with the bridge at the end of the line.  High winds and high waters have often made crossing the river impossible; the bridge was washed away a time or 2 causing settlers heading west to be stranded and unable to connect with the wagon trains leaving from the Outskirts of Smallville (story 25).  Products from the north and west were not getting across the river to be loaded on the eastbound ChooChoo.  Smallville officials contacted the railroad baron in the Crossroads asking that the tracks in Rails End be extended to the river and a sturdy trestle bridge be built to cross it.  Expedition #19 will provide food, housing, and materials for the workers who will lay tracks and built a station and turnaround on Smallville's side of the river.  A Central City will be south of Smallville, almost in the very center of the World Map.  It is year 85 SVT.





Map seed # 835559206    Smaller Plains One River,   Smaller,   Mild,   Disasters Off,  Easy Seed (8 Families)

 
Mods activated for this map and load order are:

Map Changing and Starting Mods:   Banished UI Maps, Labor Window, RK Minimized Status, CC Light Rain, override Map, DS Roads, Settler Deco, Kid Deco Tree Fall, Kid Tree Replacer x-Light, New Flora Edit, Family Start

Tweak Mods:  Better Fields, Bigger Wheelbarrows, Fishing Dock +25%, Hunting, Hunting Season, Increased CC, 1:1 Alternative (Voeille), Rock Respawn, Tiny Smoke, Woodcutter +3

Major or Must Have Mods:    An Empty Square, Nomads (Kid), override Uneducated, Smallville, Storage Crates, Jinxie Bitty Chicken Coop, Jinxie Bitty Rabbit Hutch, Kid Abandoned Places SE, Kid Colonial City Center, Kid Colonial Housing, Kid Colonial Resources, Kid Tiny Builders, Kid WorkPlace Village, NMT3.01 Series MultiFloors 

Supporting Mods:   ChooChoo v2, DS Fences and Decorations, Deco Sunflower, Garden Walls (RK), Kid Bicycle, Kid Deco Farm Animals, Kid Deco People, Kid Farmyards, Kid Fish n Ships, Kid Hedgerow, Kid Houseboat, Kid Market Food, Kid Mountain Mansion, Kid Portable Mine, Kid Stagecoach (updated with Wells Fargo coach and Office, and a Sheriff's Office), Kid Traveling Trader, Kid Washing Mod, Kid Workshop, Tiny Chopper, Tiny Quarry



  Well, weary traveler, the railroad had its own problems.  The Baron was surprised to receive the request from Smallville; there had been numerous train and stagecoach robberies; mail and payrolls have been stollen and even the passengers have been robbed.  The Baron was in agreement with Smallville's plan and sent his reply by pony express to insure it would reach its destinations.  Yes indeed, weary traveler, these are troubled times, let me tell you.

[Abandoned]

Chapter 1


  My name is Reanneth and my husband is Mackery; Mack and Reann.  We were the oldest couple of the 8 couples who left Smallville on foot headed south.  We had 3 carts of supplies, 3 sheep, and several chickens.  We had no children but 4 of the other couples did; together they had 8. 

  We immediately began gathering building materials, firewood, and wild foods.  A storage barn was built next to the stockpile and a farmhouse was built for Mack and I next to the barn.  We planted a small farmyard with corn, carrots, and potatoes.  We would tend the chickens and the sheep.  We built a small pen inside the storage barn to house the sheep when winter came.  There was already a touch of autumn in the air. 





  On the other side of the stockpile firewood would be chopped.  Up the road to the north we built a forester station and assigned 2 workers to begin cutting and planting trees.  A hardware store would be built just north of the stockpile to make tools. Kitty-corner from it we already built a clothing store; sheep's wool and deer hides would make warm clothes for the winter. We would build a hunter's workplace near the forester station; there were 2 herds of deer in the area and there was now venison in the storage barn.   A house was built by the forester for the family with 3 children; the oldest just turned 7 and became an adult.  Another house was built for a family of 4 near our house by the clothing store.  In late summer, Mack and I had our first child, a baby girl we named Preslee.   



  Over by the river, 3 workplace cabins were built.  The 3 couples each had a newborn by the time the cabins were finished.  If we needed coal or iron, we could mine for it in the small mountain there.  The area got a lot of runoff from that mountain; there was clay and mushrooms to be had plus duck eggs.  There was also a sandy area that we would need to work.  The railroad baron said there were likely to be merchants and other notable persons wanting to come to this area; they would in all likelihood want brick houses with glass windows.  We were lucky to have an area where we could produce both bricks and glass.




Chapter 2



  The last 2 families were in their houses by winter.  One family opened a cobbler shop in their house next to the clothing store.  They had their 3rd child shortly after moving in. A colonial school was built a little ways down the road.  By spring it would have its first student.  The last family built a colonial house down the road in the opposite direction.  The 2 farm fields across from it were cleared and ready to plant in spring.  Corn was planted in the far field and pumpkins in the field next to our house and farmyard. 



  Over by the river, the clay and sand pits were ready to be worked.  A fishing jetty and a lighthouse were under construction.  A foot bridge was built across the river as soon as the tunnel from Rails End broke through the hillside.  We hoped the bridge would be stronger and more durable than the last ones were; the river was running high and fast from the spring rains.  More mushrooms sprouted and more ducks came ashore.



  In late spring of year 2, there were 22 adults with 8 children that came through the tunnel.  There were builders, laborers, and a few merchants.  Most were from Rails End but a few were from Crossroads and they had further instructions from the Baron. First, we needed to get the stagecoach services to Outskirts up and running; there were migrants headed this way who wanted to go west.   The original track layers were working on the railroad in Rails End and would soon be working on the tunnels.  We would need more worker housing when they got here to lay more tracks.  Migrants would then also come by train instead of the foot bridge.  We would also need a trading post on the river.  Products from the west that did not go east by train would go south by boat to Riverboat Junction.  The land to the south of Central City was thickly forested and marshy in spots, too unstable for either railroad or wagon trains.  We were glad the 22 workers were here to stay.




Chapter 3




  It took all of year 2 and some of year 3 before the Stagecoach area was completed.  We chose the area closest to the pass that led to Smallville and its Outskirts where the wagon trains west departed from.  At the end of the road straight west from the foot bridge we built the Stage Office and a Stagecoach Inn.  There was a small area behind the office and inn for any livestock the migrants may have brought with them.  The cost was cheaper in the eastern railroad towns than it would be in Outskirts where supply was low and demand was high.  Next to that fenced area there was a chicken coop where migrants could get a few chickens if they had not already done so.  One of our new workers built a house there and would tend the chickens.





  Next to the Stagecoach Inn was a furniture store and a home goods shop that housed 2 of the merchants who arrived with the builders and laborers.  Migrants often wanted a trunk, table, or rocking chair to take west with them.  Other needed items were available at the large Provisions Store as well as carts to haul the items to Outskirts.  As was often done by those going from Rails End to Outskirts, the men took the carts and livestock on foot while the women and young children took the stagecoach if they could afford to.  The trip would be much easier now for those who could afford to take the train to Central City, make their purchases, and head to Outskirts from here.



  The livery stable now housed another of our new families.  A spare team of horses would be kept and cared for there.  There was room to park the stagecoach between trips.  Passengers would be picked up from the train station and from various other places around town.  The pass to Outskirts was clearly marked with a Smallville sign.  It wasn't long before the stagecoach arrived. 







Chapter 4



  A few migrants arrived and either took the stagecoach or traveled on foot to Outskirts.  By summer of year 3, more roads had been cleared and the trading post was built.   A workplace cabin was built for the trader and his family.  We had no goods to trade.  We did have a small supply of building materials; a tiny brick workshop and a tiny glass workshop were built in the lighthouse production area.  A rooming house was built nearby for those single workers who preferred a room rather than a house.  Over by the main stockpile and woodcutter, a tiny lumber cutter was built.  Two farmyards to produce corn, berries, cabbage, and potatoes were planted next to the woodcutter.  There would be more eggs from those farmyards also.  We had to watch our food supply carefully.  As soon as the corn and pumpkins were harvested, we would gather wild foods before the first frost to insure we had enough surplus for the winter.









  In spring of year 4, more workers arrived in Central City.  There were 12 adults with 5 young children.  The Stagecoach Inn and the Rooms were full but the workers were more concerned with clearing the land for the main roads and the railroad than they were with building houses.   They began working on the first trestle bridge as soon as there were signs of where the first tunnel would break through the mountain ridge.  There would be 2 tunnels and 2 bridges: one each for arriving trains and departing trains.  We were told there would be 2 different trains: the original ChooChoo would carry passengers and light freight while the newer coal burning engine would haul heavier freight.




Chapter 5




  By spring of year 5, the 2 tunnels were completed and work on the bridges and tracks was underway.  We were ill-prepared for the influx of more workers and their families; we had no housing, our food surplus was low, and we were having trouble finding enough iron for the tracklayers.  The newcomers weren't too concerned with housing; they were used to camping in the tunnels.  Food was a priority.



  One workplace house was built by the trading post and another fishing jetty was built nearby.  The laborers clearing trees for the tracklayers found several rabbits; a hutch for them was built by the chicken coop behind the Stagecoach Inn.  Before the first fall frost, we took to the forest areas to gather wild foods.  A gatherer's workplace and a cabin were built by the forester.  The mine in the production area was opened and 4 miners went to work.  To the left of the mine, 3 worker cabins were built.  A hedgerow was discovered there and would provide hazelnuts, sunseeds, and corn.  Another farm field was being cleared by the 2 small farmyard; in spring more corn would be planted.







  When Gret, the general goods merchant, came to port we traded a few tools for apples.  He said he could get us some iron and he would be happy to take logs, firewood, and even stone in trade.  We ordered the iron and began stocking the trading post with those items.  We would need more iron for the railroad tracks than what our 4 miners could produce anytime soon.

[Abandoned]

Chapter 6




  In spring, the new corn field was planted and a workplace grinder was built across from it.  We would have flour.  Gret returned to port and we traded for more apples and iron.  Work on the tracks began moving along at a faster pace. We would not need 4 miners for very long.  Two tunnels were built through the west hills for the new freight train, and the turnaround for the ChooChoo was almost finished.  Two railroad stations were built for the ChooChoo, one for passengers and one for light freight.  The new freight train with the coal engine would not stop in Central City; it would travel just to the west of the hills, pick up the freight, and head back east.





  We received a message from the Baron via the pony express.  As soon as the tracks were finished, the inspector, Mr. Red, would be arriving to make sure the tunnels, trestles, and tracks were safe.  We would need a nice place to accommodate Mr. Red while he was here.  Mr. Red was a valued member of Smallville's world.  He was in charge of canal building and inspecting, he and his associate, Mr. Eb the quarry master, were solely responsible for the development of Red Rock Quarry and Beach Resort, and Mr. Red was in on the creation of the ChooChoo and railroad right from the beginning. 

  Mr. Red would be arriving in spring but he would not be alone.  Against the Baron's advice, Mr. Red would make the trip from Riverview Resort on his private houseboat.  It is a well-known fact that Mr. Red was captured by pirates a few years back and held for ransom.  Yes, can you believe it, weary traveler, the pirates wanted 100 barrels of rum for his release.  All turned out well but to avoid a possible repeat of the incident, Mr. Red agreed to be accompanied to Central City by the new sheriff that the Baron hired for us.  We would need a sheriff's office, and a bank, post office, and a Wells Fargo Office.  There would be other businessmen arriving.



  A colonial bakery had been built, and we had only just begun paving our main roads with scrap bricks when we got the message.  We began building a large brick hostel at the corner of Main Street and Village Road.  The hostel was completed by late winter of year 6. 







Chapter 7



  Because Mr. Red would be staying in the new corner brick hostel, we built the sheriff's office right across Village Road from it.  We built the bank and Wells Fargo office next to that.  Another stage office and a book shop, that would have maps, was built on Main Street next to the hostel.  The Baron was sending a cartographer.   A couple with their family who were still living in the stagecoach inn moved into the stage office.





Mr. Red and 11 others, including the cartographer, arrived in spring of year 7.  They were all adults, singles or couples, some with adult children.  There was the new sheriff, a banker, and a post mistress.   Sheriff Delber and his family moved right into the 2nd floor of the sheriff's office.  Lornellin, the banker, and his family which included a newborn moved in above the bank.  Another family moved into the Wells Fargo Office.  Postmistress, Baylor, gave birth to a baby girl waiting for the post office to be completed. 



  Mr. Red's inspection of the bridges, tunnels, and tracks took time but was done by summer and the okay was given for the ChooChoo to begin its new route to Central City.  The ChooChoo arrived with one passenger car and one caboose.  There were no passengers; it was a test run, but all went well.  Meanwhile the first Wells Fargo stagecoach arrived with the payroll for the rail workers.  Those workers were now laying tracks on the other side of the west tunnel.  Mr. Red already inspected the tunnel and the new coal-burning train would soon be making its test run.



By autumn, a livery stable and small walled pasture was being built behind the Wells Fargo office for the stagecoach horses and for the pony express riders.   Those riders would work out of the Post Office delivering mail that had special priority; regular mail would go to its designation by stagecoach, train, or riverboat.





Chapter 8




  By spring of year 8, the livery and pasture wall was complete, an impressive gate to the area was built between the Wells Fargo Office and the Post Office.  An Antique Shop was built next to the Post Office, and next to that, between the business section and the trading post, a large marketplace was built.  The market had a stand with bakery bread and sugar cookies; the river boatman brought apples and sugar the last time he came to port.  We were looking forward to more merchants arriving soon. 

    There were 13 arrivals that spring, 8 adults with 5 children, there was room in the hostel and rooming house for all.  A family moved out of the hostel and into the livery stable that had been completed.   The wall around the pasture left our stone supply a bit low.  Since the railroad was complete, we saw less of a need to mine for iron so 2 of the workers were transferred to work in the new tiny stone quarry nearby. 





  Central City was growing and needed a town hall to record the births and new arrival as well as other town statistics.   The town hall was being build right across the road from our farmyard.  Mack and I had 3 children at the time, all girls, and we were looking forward to having their births recorded.



  On main street, a barber shop was built next to the bookstore for one of the families that arrived.  Next to the barber shop, Mr. Taniu and his wife opened a deli.  They were quite a prominent family in Smallville's world; there were several Taniu's Delis world-wide now.  We were all looking forward to visiting his shop.





Chapter 9


  With our ever-increasing population, we had to watch our food supply carefully.  We now had 3 small fishing boats out in the bend of the river; the river slowed a bit there and there were reeds that the fish liked.  Fishing was good.  The river boatman came to port often; we bought more sugar for cooky baking and more apples.





  The town hall was completed and had a walled in courtyard that was almost finished.  There were benches where citizens could sit and eat a baked apple they got at the fall snack stand that was built across the road.  Next to the stand, a beautiful brick house was built.  The brick maker had to switch to making roof tiles to complete the building.  We had a feeling more folks would be wanting a house like that.



  Another similar house was built on the road that led west out of the town hall courtyard.  The house was in the area behind the barber shop.  A sweet shop was built next to Taniu's Deli; Taniu and his wife were very happy that the city's children would have candy and other sweet treats to enjoy.  A shop that sold Odds and Ends and one that sold Sundries were built next to the Sweets shop.  At the west end of Main Street, an impressive church was built.  It had a walled in cemetery and a welcome home statue.  Our hometown had definitely turned into a city.








Chapter 10




  A brick house to match the church was built across from it for the new cleric who arrived in year 9.  There were 10 adults with 6 children who arrived by ChooChoo.  Two more brick houses were built on the road that led west from the town hall courtyard.  One of the houses had a 2nd floor added to it making it a multi-leveled house.



  We had a bit of snow that winter but we had plenty of wild food and firewood gathered by then.  A Food Store was built on Main Street just east of the cleric's hedgerow.  It was a convenient place to shop.  Next to the food store was another brick house, then a Furniture Store, a Gift Shop, and a Cobbler.  Again, Taniu and his wife were happy for the children's sake; the gift shop sold children's toys.





  Again, hunters had to be called out to the railroad tracks.  There were several large herds of deer in the area and they often blocked the tracks and delayed the trains.  Our food supply always benefited, as did our textile surplus.  We had plenty of warm coats and even were able to take some of the wool coats to the trading post to trade for apples and sugar.  We also had extra logs to trade; the laborers checked the tracks often and cut trees that were growing too close.  We considered building another forester but only built a hunter's permanent workplace there instead.

[Abandoned]

Chapter 11



    By spring of year 10, a butcher's workplace was set up behind the food store; there would be plenty of venison sausages.  Down that row of shops, next to the Cobbler, a 2nd Colonial school was built.  Central City had 20 students already.  Next to the school, on the corner of Main Street and Village Road, a 2nd bakery was built.  This one would bake herb bread instead of sugar cookies.  The food store had a nice supply of cookies on hand. 





  What better place for a tavern than across from the Sherrif's Office.  Although, how much trouble could the patrons get into after drinking at the Pilgrim's Rest?  The tavern was making and serving root beer.  We celebrated the arrival of 18 more citizens that year; 15 adults with 3 children.  One of the families built a pretty stone house down by the lighthouse; the rest of the families moved into rooms and the stone hostel.




  Mr. Red was finding it a little disturbing with all the constant comings and goings at the corner hostel.  He very much liked the central location of Central City; it was a convenient place to do business and he wanted to stay.  He decided to move to a permanent residence and had a beautiful mansion built overlooking the river where his houseboat was still moored.  The mansion had a private courtyard out front.  He enjoyed a morning walk to the newly built jetty by the fishing pier to get fresh picked berries for breakfast.   The sheriff was not overly concerned about the move; there were regular patrols of the river done by the Imperial Fleet and the pirate problems were well under control.





Chapter 12 






  Farther down along the waterfront, by the market, a market BBQ stand was built.  The fish n chips that were served were an immediate hit with the visitors and residents.  Up along Market Street, behind the mansion, another stone house was built for one of last families to arrive.   Another family moved into a brick house by the cemetery; they would be caretakers.  A middle-aged single man built a wood Colonial house next to the Provisions store; he would work at making sure the store was well stocked with goods.  By early winter of year 11, the Corner Hostel and Rooms were empty and only 8-year-old Abriella remained in the Stagecoach Inn.  She would be happy to be the caretaker of the Inn but would be alone there until spring.  There were seldom travelers arriving on foot going west except in spring and early summer.  The wagon trains did not leave Outskirts in fall or winter.
 




  The ChooChoos did not travel in winter either.  The ChooChoo freight train was first to arrive in early spring and was headed back east before the passenger train arrived.  After clearing the tracks of trees and branches, we always had plenty of logs waiting at the freight station.  We were given gold coins for the logs which we then gave to the train conductor in exchange for apples or potatoes.  The train was soon on its way again.

The special westbound coal train passed back and forth through town from late summer through late fall.  It had the power to plow through any early snowfall that may occur.





Chapter 13




  In spring of year 12, the ChooChoo passenger train brought 28 more citizens to Central City; there were 19 adults with 9 children.  Three workplace houses were built near the market, and a blue Colonial farmhouse was built by the Rooms which were once again filled.  The corner Hostel and Stagecoach Inn were also full.  More houses would be needed.





  A stone house was built next to the cleric's house at the end of Main Street for one family.  Two multi-leveled brick houses were built along church road; they would house 4 families.  Next to them was our 3rd Colonial schoolhouse.  Central City had certainly grown.  In the spring of year 13, Central City's population was 255: 146 adults, 36 students, 73 young children.  All were happy and healthy.









Chapter 14


  Those of us who made up Expedition #19 are happy with how our Central City turned out; our city bussels with activity.  The waterfront marketplace is always busy as is the Fish n Chips snack stand.  Fishing boats and fishermen bring in fresh fish daily.  The river boatmen stop often and have whatever we might need.  Our unique lighthouse guides them safely pass the footbridge from Rails End.   





  The production area manages to keep up with the demand for iron, stone, glass, bricks, and roof tiles.  The farmyards and hedgerows worked by our original expedition families supply most of the food for the city.  Tools and clothes are produced in that area as well. 





  The business district next to the waterfront market is also a busy place and connects us to the rest of the world via pony express, the post office, the bank, the Wells Fargo Office, and the stagecoach.  The Pilgrim's Rest tavern keeps the residents in touch with each other, and the sheriff watch over one and all.  The fall snack stand and Town Hall courtyard are also popular places for folks to gather. 



  Our Central City residential area is conveniently close to shops, schools, and the city Church.  Folks are happy to call Central City home.  Sorry to hear you want to leave, weary traveler.





Chapter 15

 
    I've kept you long enough; many of the trees are already starting to display their fall colors.  If you're still determined to head west, you'd better hurry, weary traveler, but don't take a short cut through the railroad tunnels.  Yes, I know, railroad workers who settled on the other side of the hill sometimes come through the tunnels, but it just isn't safe. 



  Did I tell you, that those workers told us that our special freight train has actually helped settle some of the problems out west?  The Natives had a problem with both the farmers and the ranchers taking their land and destroying their hunting grounds.  For the same reasons, the Natives also had a problem with the railroad wanting to bring the iron horse through their territory.  Thanks to our railway, there will be no further expansion into Native lands.  There's been less friction between ranchers and farmers since the ranchers are now shipping their beef east by rail.





  So, weary traveler, you can either go to the Stage Office on Main Street by the Town Hall, or the Stage Office down on Church Street by the Provisions store.  The one on Main Street is next to the Book Store that has maps.  Either Stage Office will get you on one of the stagecoaches that will head north to the Outskirts of Smallville where the wagon train will be waiting.  You'll pass the Smallville sign as you leave Central City. 




Have a good trip, weary traveler.


The End