New Orleans Great Northern Railroad Co. Issued to the Will of Frank H. Goodyear - 1910's dated Autograph Stock Certificate

Frank Henry Goodyear (1849–1907) was a prominent American businessman who significantly impacted the lumber and railroad industries of the Northeast. Born in Groton, New York, Goodyear initially worked as a bookkeeper and schoolteacher before relocating to Buffalo. There, he recognized the vast potential of the virgin hemlock forests in North Central Pennsylvania. In 1887, he partnered with his brother, Charles, to establish the Goodyear Lumber Company. Together, they revolutionized the industry by implementing large-scale, systematic logging techniques and establishing Austin, Pennsylvania, as a central hub for their operations. Frank’s astute business acumen and willingness to take calculated risks enabled him to amass a substantial fortune, earning him a reputation as one of the most successful “lumber barons” of the Gilded Age.

Beyond timber, Goodyear was a visionary in transportation. He understood that controlling the means of distribution was crucial for industrial dominance. Consequently, he founded the Buffalo and Susquehanna Railroad, which initially served his lumber mills but eventually expanded into a major carrier for coal and passengers. His influence extended to the Great Lakes shipping industry and the banking sector of Buffalo, where he held a respected civic position. At the time of his passing in 1907, Frank Goodyear was among the wealthiest individuals in the United States. His legacy endures today through the historic Goodyear Mansion on Buffalo’s Delaware Avenue and the lasting impact of his infrastructure on the regional economy of the Appalachian plateau.

The New Orleans Great Northern Railroad (NOGN), chartered in 1905, was primarily conceived by the Goodyear brothers, Frank and Charles. Their primary motivation was industrial: they required a dependable transportation network to transport timber from their vast holdings in the Piney Woods of southeast Louisiana and southern Mississippi to their sawmill in Bogalusa. The railroad’s main line extended from New Orleans to Jackson, Mississippi, effectively opening up the Florida Parishes to substantial economic development. By providing a direct link to the Port of New Orleans, the NOGN transformed the region from an isolated wilderness into a vibrant corridor of commerce and agriculture.

As the timber boom peaked and eventually subsided, the NOGN encountered the financial challenges typical of early 20th-century regional lines. In 1933, the railroad underwent reorganization and entered into a long-term lease with the Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad (GM&N). This integration eventually led to a full merger. This merger resulted in the creation of the renowned “Rebel” route, renowned for its streamlined passenger service. Although the NOGN no longer exists as an independent entity, much of its original right-of-way continues to be a crucial component of the modern rail network. Moreover, its legacy is preserved through the Tama-Hickory Trail and the historic depots that still stand in the towns it once contributed to building.

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