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Jay Gould's Railroad Car
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Built in 1888 by the American Car & Foundry Company of
St Charles, Missouri. This was the private railway car of Jay Gould (1836-1892).
A native of New York, Gould was a noted financier and the owner of numerous
railroad companies, including the Union Pacific, the Missouri, the International &
Great Northern, and the Texas Pacific. This car, named the Atalanta remained in Gould
Family ownership until the 1930's.
Elaborately designed and elegantly funished, the Atalanta features two observation rooms,
four staterooms, two baths, a butler's pantry, kitchen, dining room, and office. Interior
materials include mahogany and curly maple woodwork, silver bathroom accessories, and
crystal light fixtures. Following Jay Gould's death in 1892, the car was used by his son,
George Jay Gould (President of the Texas and Pacific Railroad), and his wife, actress
Edith Kingston. The car later was brought to Texas from St Louis and used as a family
residence during the 1930's East Texas oil boom. Purchased in 1953 by the Jessie
Allen Wise Garden Club, it was moved to this site in 1954. It remains a focal point
in Jefferson's heritage tourism industry.
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The Marion County, TXGenWeb site
http://www.txgenweb4.org/txmarion/