Trolley Tales
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Free Rides
So, who doesn’t like a “freebie?” However, free rides could be an expense and a source of conflict for streetcar companies. In the earliest days, when car riding hadn’t become an established habit, a few companies started by offering free…
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Forgotten Pioneer
Dr. Charles Grafton Page, 1812 – 1868 was born and raised in Salem MA, giving him ready access to the Salem Athenaeum, one of the best libraries of the day. He graduated from Harvard in 1832 and completed medical school…
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Trolley Trusts
For many years, a popular image in the United States has been that of the trust, a group of vicious, grasping capitalists who exploit the people. During the streetcar era, this was the way in which many folks perceived the…
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Conflict with Communities
Although interurban railways brought greatly improved transportation options and other benefit to rural communities, there also could be conflicts because interests might conflict. These conflicts might take various forms. When lines were first built, conflict could occur because a community…
