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Dave Anderson became Station Agent in
1917 and served for over 35 years. He oversaw an era of great change in
railways, including the introduction of the diesel engine. During
that time he was known as one of Reston’s leading citizens. He was
especially noted for his gardening skill and his pride in the station
grounds.
In addition to his “day” job, he operated a fur farm just south of the
station where he raised silver foxes and chinchilla rabbits.
A story related by Bert McKay who has documented Reston’s railroad
days, illustrates why Mr. Anderson was fondly remembered:
"Dave Anderson recalled for me one situation which occurred in the
Reston station while I was working for Dave in the fur farm business. A
lady passenger arrived from Hungary and because of the late train she
had to lie over from Monday to Wednesday morning. It was bitterly cold
in December. No one spoke her language, but Dave remembered a man,
south of town, by name Podobni. Dave phoned Mr. Walker who came in by
sleigh and took the lady, tearful and scared, out to the Podobni farm.
Lo and behold this farmer (The Podobni family still farm south of
Pipestone) had come from the same town in Hungary. It was a great
re-union, they danced and they cried, and they laughed and they cried
some more. The lady had a small child with her and when they all came
in for the train on Wednesday it turned out she and the baby were on
their way to work for a farmer at Bender.
This lady, like many others who came to Reston to take the Peanut will
never forget the kindly hospitality of Mr. and Mrs.
Anderson."
Adapted from Trails Along the Pipestone, page 434, 436
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