19.16 d

Cap

Chicago Northwestern Railroad Conductor Cap. Material: textile, plastic. Size: 4" H. x 7" diameter. Description: black fabric flat-topped crown with front bill; hatband bordered with gold braid encircles cap; raised gold textile letters on front band: "Conductor"; two black metal circular eyelet air vents on either side of crown; soft brown leather sweatband; soft black fabric lining inside crown; diamond shaped clear plastic rain guard at center of crown imprinted: "7 1/4, Manufacturers of Uniforms, Caps, A. G. Meier & Co., 205 Monroe St, Chicago." Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. C & NW Railroad.

Chicago Northwestern Railroad Conductor Uniform and hat issued to Benard "Ben" Rhode 22 September 1955. Ben retired from the railroad in 1959. Gregg Hodges, grand nephew of Ben, acquired the conductor uniform and hat and wore them while working at a railroad museum in Greenbay, WI from 1960 till 1964. The Rhode family had many family members that worked for the railroad. "Rhode Road" was the nickname for the section of tracks in Waseca. Ben's father, Albert Rhode, was a locomotive engineer, Albert's brother, John Rhode, worked for the railroad. Albert and John's father, August Rhode, worked for the railroad. Ben's brother, Frank Rhode, also worked for the railroad. Donor, Gregg Hodges, worked on the railroad too.