74.379.1

During World War I, Ames had the only female "train caller" in the U.S. Julia Loughlan, shown here handing a baby to passenger on October 22, 1917. Loughlan worked for the Chicago & North Western Railroad. She announced arrivals and departures of the 28 passenger trains that stopped daily at the Ames depot. When the railroad tried to abolish Loughlan's job, the Ames Chamber of Commerce fought successfully to retain her. For more information on Julia Loughlan, see Chapter 34, "Ames Had a Noted Station Master," p. 120, in "Ames; the Early Years in Word and Picture: From Marsh to Modern City," by Farwell T. Brown, 1993. (See also: 74.379.2-3 and 80.417.1-4)