In 1881, the Story City "Branch of the Central of Iowa" was built, the track being completed December 1881. The line extended from Marshalltown to Story City and was known as the Story City branch of the Iowa Central.
The stations were located in Marshalltown, Minerva Junction, Moniger, Minerva, Bromley, Clemons Grove, St. Anthony, Zearing, McCallsburgg, Roland and Story City.
The first building built in 1881 was the depot on what was then the Central Iowa Railroad, which later became the M and St. L. The stock yard was also built at that time. At that time there was no elevator, so the grain was scooped from the wagons to the cars.
In 1887, the West Elevator was built on the east side of what was later known as the Farmers Grain Company.
John Peck was the first livestock and grain buyer. In 1887, J. P. Hanson succeeded John Peck buying stock and grain. For many years the M and St. L. shipped long train loads of grain, stock and other freight.
In addition to this there were two passenger trains a day, each way. The East Bound Passenger left Story City at 6:40 a.m. and the mixed train at 1:15 p.m.
The passenger departed from Marshalltown at 5:55, giving the people of the community a chance to spend the day in Marshalltown. Many of the early day citizens of McCallsburg have found memories of these trips to Marshalltown.
In late 1930, business began to fall off, because of other means of transportation, and the company found it necessary to start closing more of the stations along the Story City branch.
Finally, around 1939 or 1940, the day came when the station at McCallsburg was closed. All the furniture, records and etc. were removed.
After the stations were closed, only pre-paid shipments were unloaded here, by the trainmen, and the other business was handled at Clemons Grove and Story City, and then at Roland.
During most of the time from 1912 until he retired, June 11, 1956, C. E. Craig was the agent at McCallsburg, Roland or Story City, except for a couple of years on the Main Line, when McCallsburg was first closed. For over thirty years of that time, he had the McCallsburg station.
Agents on the Story City Branch in 1919 were: Minerva - F. M. Mitchell; Clemons Grove -W. J. Paltzer; St. Anthony - R. J. Tight; Zearing - L. C. Clark; McCallsburg - C. E. Craig; Roland - O. Egnes; Story City - S. J. Nessa.
Agents on the Story City Branch in 1939 were: Clemons - W. J. Paltzer; St. Anthony - R. J. Tight; Zearing - J. E. Holub; McCallsburg - C. E. Craig; Roland - W. A. Cunningham; Story City - S. J. Nessa.
