Store at Kushequa Robbed

The general store of Elisha Kent Kane at Kushequa was entered by burglars sometime between the closing hour on Saturday, and the opening of the

store Monday Morning, who got away with about $300 worth of plunder. The Burglars drove up to the store in a buggy. They climbed to the roof

of a small porch over the entrance, and entered the building through a window. The second floor is put up into rooms, which they used as

storerooms. From one of these rooms the men took shoes, and then descended to the first floor, and took clothing, shoes, rubber boots, and other

articles. The men drove off in the direction of Mt. Jewett. Manager Omundson, as soon as he got around Monday morning, found that a robbery had

been committed and he lost no time in notifying the police departments of all the towns hereabouts ---Bradford Star
Article Credit: The McKean County Miner November 11th 1907

FAMOUS KUSHEQUA SHORT LINE RAILROAD RUNS LAST TRAIN
Tracks Being Torn Up—Hot Building War With P., S. &:N:RY. Recalled
Exit the Kushequa Railroad.

The McKean County Democrat - Thursday, November 29, 1928

Succumbing to the relentless competition of motor bus lines, the famous short-line railroad, plying between Smethport, Backus, Kushequa and Mt. Jewett and which for many years has provided a reliable shuttle-train service between this borough and the main line of the Buffalo, Rochester, and Pittsburgh railroad at nearby Backus is being abandoned between this borough and Backus, by the owner, E. K. Kane of Kushequa. This comprises about eight miles of trackage, or half the original line.

The last train was operated out of the local station last week, the gasoline motor car which had been housed for several years was taken to Kushequa and the work of tearing up the tracks on this end was started last Friday and the rails and ties have already been removed for considerable distance towards Ormsby. The heavy rails from this end will be re-laid between Kushequa and Backus.

The Kushequa will continue a train service from Kushequa, where the owner has big brick factories to Mt. Jewett and Backus for a time at least.

Mr. Kane’s sudden decision to abandon the railroad came most unexpectedly and the end of the little railroad will be generally regretted although the public, appreciating the odds Mr. Kane had battled to render real service with his railroad, realizes that he has no other alternative under present conditions of the motor age.

Originally built to connect Kushequa with the Erie and B. R. & P. railroads when Mr. Kane operated huge lumber industries in that town before the passing of the forests, the short line railroad was eventually extended down the mountain to Smethport, traversing a steep grade which constantly unfolded a scenic panorama unrivalied in the entire nation and breath-taking as it was beautiful. The job of building the railroad was regarded as an outstanding engineering feat at the time. At Kushequa the railroad runs under the Kinzua viaduct.

The Kushequa railroad was built into Smethport in 1900 at the same time the Pittsburgh, Shawmut & Northern railroad was being built through this borough. Mr. Kane’s ambition was to run his railroad across the newly graded Shawmut right-of-way to connect with the Pennsylvania railroad at East Smethport. The Shawmut determined to prevent such a crossing, made an arrangement with the Bradford, Bordell & Kinzua, the unique narrow-gauge railroad then operating through this region, the tracks of which the Shawmut