Electric Railway01
WAUPACA REPUBLICAN
July 7, 1899
BONDS OF ELECTRICITY
Waupaca City and the Chain o’ Lakes United by Bonds of Steel and Copper
Waupaca River Furnishes the Motive Power to Electrically Propel the Cars Between the Wis. Central
Depot and the Grand View Hotel.
The Line Informally Opened July Fourth.
July 4th, 1899, marks another epoch in the history of the city of Waupaca, for on that day at 2 p.m. Messrs. I.P. Lord, president and W.B. Baker, secretary and treasurer of the Waupaca Electric Light and Railway Co. of this city saw their dream of two years of hard work in the interest of an electric railway between Waupaca and the famous Chain o’ Lakes, realized.
Joseph Eads, Supt. of track construction; L.F. Mohler, engineer, George Morine, electrical foreman of the Electrical Construction Co., of Chicago and Mr. Nansen, Supt. of the Lighting Co. have been pretty busy men the past month superintending the construction of the line, and there has been nearly a hundred men and teams assisting and in spite of unforeseen delays they helped Messrs. Lord & Baker keep their work good, to have cars move over the line by electricity July 4th. But the line men had to work all night on the 3rd and up to 2 o’clock p.m. on the 4th to accomplish the desired result.
Promptly at that hour, the gentlemen representing the Electrical Construction Co. boarded the motor cars No’s 10 and 12 standing on the track near T. Rich’s residence on Mill Street. Secretary Baker was also on hand hoping every wire would work and every wheel would go round when the button should be pressed. There was a big crowd on hand ready to see the start and all were eager for a ride, but the first trip was limited to the construction company, a number of the track and linemen for emergencies. Mr. Cooley of the Post and Holmes of the REPUBLICAN were invited so in case of fatal accident they would keep mum – of course. Also Mayor Gordon and Alderman Gurley who were standing near were invited to see the initial run.
There were also Charles Wood and E.M. Worby, ass’t Motormen on board. Joe Eades and Mr. Worby looked after the motor on No 12, the head car out and Geo. Morine and Chas. Wood on No. 10 which was the head car back. W.B. Baker acted as conductor and general-in-chief. Eads turned the lever that leads to the lightning box. All was quiet. He tried it again and the electric incandescent lamps lighted showing the current was on. Clang went the gong and with a wild hurrah from the throng No. 12 staried like a bird down toward the city followed by No. 10. A large crowd stood opposite the city hall watching the cars come up the hill on Water street and round the curve on Main. At the curve on the corner of Main and Fulton streets both cars were halted and cheers went up from a hundred throats. Before starting up Fulton street for the lakes Chris Hansen took a snap shot of the first trip of the electric cars in Waupaca. Ding dong, went the gong and away the cars sped on by the Scoville House, but had to halt the opposite Mayor Gordon’s house long enough for workmen to clear the accumulated dirt off the rails. Then away they sped and climbed the long hill beyond Matt Jensen’s without any trouble.
It was said that the air would be thick with runaway horses and broken buggies, but not one horse in twenty cared a fig for it. In fact it was evident that in the most instances the drivers were more scared than the horses. Frank Benedict was at the road side with a large American flag and a cheer. Secretary Baker stopped to salute the flag. At Taylor’s lake the cars slowed up and Uncle David and his son Mort each came down to the track, giving a genuine and enthusiastic cheer to the new electrical boomer to the Chain o’ Lakes.
The line was not ready to go farther than opposite the Wisconsin Veterans’ Home Grounds. Here a halt was made and many old veterans, wives of veterans, and Fourth of July visitors came down to greet the new transportation facilities.
On the return trip a number boarded the cars determined to have the honor of a first trip, but Joe Hudson was the firs man to pay fare and Geo. Ghoca of Hotel Florence was the first man to buy a book of ride coupons.
Frank Benedict took a snap shot of each of the cars when they got to his premises.
The cars reached Main Street after an absence of forty-five minutes and there was a larger delegation of people on the street to greet and cheer the event. Several round trips were made until seven o’clock, giving many a chance to try the line, but it was not deemed advisable to run longer on account of the extra work for electricians Nansen and Lea and assistants at the wheel, on account of not having the water governor installed.
The next run will be Saturday and Sunday, but it will be several days before the line can be in perfect working order and all mechanical controllers in perfect order at the power station. But the opening was informally celebrated. There is a bigger celebration planning by the management in the near future. It will be something worthy of the occasion.