Ario Pardee
- Home Page
- Appalachian Railroads | Route Comparison
- Legacy: B&O | C&O | Clinchfield | L&N | NC&StL | N&W | PRR | SOU | VGN
- Related: ACL | SAL | SCL
- Early Lines: AT&O | Blue Ridge | Cinc Southern | LC&C
- Other: DL&W | Erie | Erie Lack | NYC | P&LE | Reading | Western MD | W&LE
- Short Lines: Gainesville Mid | KY & TN | Tallulah Falls
- Consolidation: Chessie | Family | Penn Cen | Conrail | Seaboard
- Today: CSX | Norfolk Southern | Amtrak
- Charleston Cincinnati & Chicago Railroad: History | Locos | Maps | Railfan Guide
- ET&WNC: History | Maps | Locomotives | Timetables | Leaders | Tweetsie
- Appalachian Railroad Cities: Balt | Chatt | Cinc | Knox | Lynch | Rich | Roa | more
- Appalachian Mountain Gaps
- Railfan Guides | Abandoned Lines & Railroads | Rails to Trails
- Sources & Resources: Scholars & Authors | Books | Museums | Organizations | Links
- Model Railroads: 3Cs | ET&WNC
- Appalachian-Railroads: Site Map | Editor
- Clinchfield.org | Southern-Railroads.org
Page Contents
Ario Pardee, Key ET&WNC Investor
Ariovistus “Ario” Pardee (1810–1892) was a transformative figure in American industrial history, primarily known as the “coal baron” and founder of Hazleton, Pennsylvania. His life trajectory mirrors the broader 19th-century American shift from agrarian roots to industrial dominance, fueled by the extraction of anthracite coal.
Early Life and Origins
Born in Chatham, New York, Pardee grew up on a humble farm. His formal education was sparse, ending at age 15, yet he was deeply influenced by a local Presbyterian clergyman, the Reverend Moses Hunter, who instilled in him a lifelong devotion to learning. Pardee also credited his father for teaching him the classics by the fireside, providing a foundational intellectual curiosity that would later define his philanthropic efforts.
The Industrial Pioneer
Pardee’s professional career began in engineering. By the 1830s, he recognized the immense potential of the coal-rich lands in northeastern Pennsylvania. In 1836, he incorporated the Hazleton Coal Company, and by the 1840s, he began purchasing large tracts of land in the area.
His foresight transformed a remote “patch town” into the city of Hazleton. Pardee was instrumental in laying out the town’s grid and establishing its critical infrastructure, including the first schools and churches. His business interests were expansive; he served as a director of the Lehigh Valley Railroad and later ventured into iron ore mining through the Cranberry Iron & Coal Company.
Involvement in the ET&WNC
Pardee was the principal financier behind the completion of the East Tennessee & Western North Carolina Railroad (ET&WNC), famously nicknamed “Tweetsie.” His involvement was driven by his acquisition of the Cranberry Iron & Coal Company in 1873.
Saving a Failed Venture
The ET&WNC had been chartered in 1866 but sat dormant for nearly two decades due to a lack of funding. Pardee provided the essential capital between 1876 and 1879 to revive the project, transforming it from a failed venture into a functional industrial lifeline.
Strategic Engineering Choices
Under Pardee’s leadership, the railroad made two critical decisions that defined its legacy:
- Narrow-Gauge Conversion: Originally planned as a broad-gauge line, Pardee recast it as a 3-foot narrow-gauge system. This choice was more cost-effective and agile for navigating the steep grades and tight curves of the rugged Blue Ridge Mountains.
- Construction: Working with engineer Thomas Matson, Pardee oversaw the completion of the first 14 miles to Hampton, Tennessee, in 1881, and the full 34-mile extension to the Cranberry mines in 1882.
Lasting Impact
Pardee’s investment fundamentally changed the region’s economy by connecting isolated Appalachian communities to major markets in Johnson City. The scenic route through the Doe River Gorge featured a famous stop named Pardee Point in his honor. While the line was built to transport ore and timber, it became beloved by locals as the “Railway with a Heart” for its personal service to the community.
At the time of his death in 1892, Pardee was one of the richest men in America, but also a great philanthropist.
More information will be added about the ET&WNC Railroad in the days ahead. Please let me know if you have any edits that should be made or any content you are willing to share by utilizing the comment form below. Would enjoy hearing from you if you have similar interests in the ET&WNC, the region, or model railroading.
ET&WNC Sources & Resources
The following are excellent resources for those of you wanting to explore and learn more about the ET&WNC Railroad. These sources of information also serve as reference and historical materials for Appalachian-Railroads.org. Much of the content on the website is verified across multiple sources.
- Archives:
- Associations:
- ET&WNC Railroad Historical Society and their Facebook Page
- George L. Carter Railroad Historical Society (Johnson City Railroad Experience)
- Personal Maps & Memorabilia: Documents, maps, timetables, and track charts
- Books:
- Ferrell: ‘Tweetsie Country’
- Graybeal: ‘The Railroads of Johnson City’
- Graybeal: ‘Along the ET&WNC’ Volumes 1-6
- Poole: ‘History of Railroading in Western North Carolina’
- Scheer & Black: ‘Tweetsie: The Blue Ridge Steamwinder’
- Sulzer: ‘Ghost Railroads of Tennessee’
- Newspaper Articles: Newspapers.com
- Magazines/Online: ‘Trains‘, ‘Classic Trains‘
- Websites:
- Carolana.com
- CarterCountyHistory.com
- StateOfFranklin.net which hosts Johnson’s Depot
- SteamLocomotive.com
Contact Us
Would enjoy hearing from you if you have questions, suggestions, edits, or content that you are willing to share. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have similar interests in the railroads or model railroading.
