Information Sheet

 

 

R         Railroads Unimproved Land Association.

1202                Certificate, 1914.

                                    One folder.

 

 

 

This is “Full-Paid-Up Certificate” number 6763 AA in The Railroads Unimproved Land Association, which had a “development office” at Fruit City in Reynolds County, Missouri.  The certificate was issued to Mrs. C. Border of Union, Ohio, on 28 May 1914.

 

The Railroads Unimproved Land Association appears to have been a financial scheme whereby small investors pooled their resources to purchase and develop large parcels of land.  The Association’s offices were on the fifteenth floor of the Great Northern Building in Chicago, Illi­nois, but the certificate notes a “development office” at Fruit City, Missouri.  This certificate, rep­resenting an investment of $15.00, “guarantees that the above named applicant is fully entitled to ... all the rights and privileges as set forth in our ... contract and agreement.  Bear in mind that if Land is secured, there will be no additional cost for the preparation of the warranty deed and ab­stract.  All Land Tract Units included in the opening will be of as nearly equal value as humanly possible.”  The certificate bears the printed signatures of President Frank A. Urwan and Secre­tary/Treasurer M. K. Higginbottom.

 

Fruit City in Reynolds County, Missouri, had a post office from 1912 to 1922.  Today (2007) there appears to be nothing left except the geographical name, Fruit City Hollow, which is located off Dickens Valley about four miles west of Ellington.  It is not known whether the Asso­ciation ever attempted to develop real estate in the area.