Since 1872, the railroad has been a defining aspect of Palestine. During World War II, because the town was more than a hundred miles from the nearest military installation, the railroad gave local citizens the opportunity to support trainloads of soldiers passing through the city. In June 1942, area residents organized a service group inspired by, but independent from, the United Service Organizations (USO). Zula Hanks oversaw the fundraising, chaperoning, and management of the club, which was operated by scores of local women in a room at the O'Neil Hotel across Spring Street from the railroad tracks. Volunteers offered refreshments, letter-writing materials, music, dancing, and conversation there, and also took sandwiches and cookies to soldiers unable to leave the trains. The Palestine group also financially supported a separate Negro Service Club that served African American troops who often rode at the back of the trains farther down the line from this point. Military service people from around the country expressed their gratitude for Palestine's hospitality through recorded messages on "Recordgrams" and in countless letters. The volunteers continued their support through the final days of the war, and the last troop train came through town on January 1, 1946.