Frederick C. Breitenbach Sr., of Cherry Hill, served as the last B & O station agent at Childs. retiring in 1954. Starting work for the railroad at the Singerly Tower in 1904, he served stints at Childs as a clerk and at Leslie as the stationmaster. The company brought him back to Childs as the agent in charge in 1935, where he sold tickets, handled freight, mail, and baggage, oversaw the arrival and departure of trains, took care of the property, and supervised employees.
Until 1949, passenger trains stopped at Childs, but as he marked a half-century of service, the country station only handled freight, most of it going to and from the Elk Paper Company Plant. When he started at Childs, it was the most important Cecil County stop, and three people worked there for the B & O. But in 1954, he was the only remaining employee as this rural depot slowly reached the end of the line.
He was born in Baltimore in 1885 and died in Union Hospital on May 16, 1958. Married to Ida V. Breitenbach, he was survived by his wife, three sons, Frederick, Jr., Steelville, PA; William H., Elk Mill, Robert E., Baltimore, and four daughters, Mrs. Ida R. Couden, Elkton, Mrs. Marion L. Walters, Elkton, Ruth E. and Blanche V. Breitenbach at home and Mrs. Dora Z. Pearce, Elkton. Interment was at the Cherry Hill Cemetery.
For more photos and a post of the last B & O Stationmaster, click here.