website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown,
Wisconsin
The Interurban
(Trolley, Street Car)
1908 - 1940
1905
Watertown Leader, 03 14 1905
In an interview in Sunday's Sentinel, John L. Beggs, president of the
Milwaukee Electric Railway Company, states positively that the building of the
new line from Waukesha
Beach to Oconomowoc, which the people in that section of the state have
desired for a long time, will be accomplished during the summer. The company expects to expend $300,000 in
constructing this line. It will be 13 miles long and a trip over the line can
be made in an hour's time. The officials
in the town of Emmet have granted a right of way over the cross ways and
highways and the company now has the entire route from Waukesha to
Oconomowoc. An ordinance is now pending
before the Oconomowoc council to allow the extension of the 
line through the city, and the officials have consulted with
them which will undoubtedly result in the passage of an ordinance which must
result in the passage of an ordinance (sic) for the mutual protection of the
interests of the city as well as the street car company . . .
Naturally citizens of Watertown are interested in the early
completion of the Oconomowoc-Waukesha street car line, believing this will
indirectly hasten the completion of the Oconomowoc-Watertown line. William C. Stone, president of this company,
states that the line from Oconomowoc to Watertown would certainly be built but
could not tell when the work would be commenced. "The line," said he "will be
put through to the city as soon as practicable but will not touch portions of
streets where property owners have refused permits. That is out of the question. The line, however, will be built to Watertown
and seek another avenue besides West Main streets for the projection of the
line south and west of Watertown as proposed."
1905
03 17 New line from Waukesha Beach to Oconomowoc
announced by John I. Beggs The Oconomowoc Enterprise,
03 17 1905
1905
Watertown Leader, 06 25 1905
Two grading gangs have commenced work on the proposed
extension of Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company’s system from
Waukesha to Oconomowoc. It is expected
that this part of the road will be completed by June 1, 1906. The line will then be extended to Watertown.
1905
Watertown Leader, 09 23 1905
Friday forenoon, John I. Beggs,
president of the Milwaukee Electric Railroad and Lights Company and Charles F. Pfister, a heavy stockholder and one of the directors,
reached this city coming in Mr. Pfister's 40 H.P.
automobile, accompanied by two civil engineers, making the run quickly
considering the round-about way they came.
The object of the trip was to make a preliminary inspection
of the routes with the view of securing the best when ready to build an
interurban line into this city from Oconomowoc, which it is expected will be
reached early next season, and it is quite probable to this city within a year,
if the unforeseen does not happen. We
understand that the lines when built will enter the city from the south so as
to avoid building a bridge and will cross the river over the Main street bridge
and will go as far west as the Northwestern depot.
It is a project that should receive the earnest support and
encouragement of all for it means much for Watertown which will certainly be on
the "map" when the line has been constructed and is in operation.
1906
Watertown Leader, 01 09 1906
We Will Have Trolley Lines
Application Made by the Milwaukee Traction
Co for Franchise
A trolley line to this city from Milwaukee and making this a division
point for branches from north, south and west means a large increase in the
population of Watertown in the immediate future and the enhancement in the
value of all kinds of real estate. It
means a new and better epoch in the history and experience of the city. ...
This is an important matter - one that should receive the most careful
consideration and the writer would suggest, that
before the committee makes its report, that a public mass meeting should be
called at the council chamber and the matter discussed, so that thereafter none
can say, and that they were ignorant of the provisions of the franchise. If there are objections let them be made at
such meeting, that the committee and council can act advisably and for the best
interests of the city, its citizens and the company asking for the franchise.
1906
Watertown Leader, 02 09 1906
The Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company has asked this city for a franchise for a trolley line
through certain specified streets in the city.
The building of the line will add at least one third more to the
population of Watertown and enhance the volume of real estate in an equal
ratio. It means the beginning of a new
era of advancement and prosperity in which every citizen will participate and every one should be active in furthering the project . . .
The franchise is now in the hands of the council, and a change in the franchise
will be asked for which will cause considerable additional expense but will be
of great advantage to the city. The
change anticipates going south on Utah and Kansas Sts. to the city limits
passing the fairgrounds. The change is
made at the request of a large number of our citizens.
1906
Watertown Leader, 02 17 1906
The special committee appointed by the mayor at the last
regular meeting of the council, consisting of six aldermen and five businessmen
to examine the franchise asked for by the Milwaukee electric street railway
company, met Friday evening at the city clerk's office all being present but
Thomas Brooks. After examining the franchise and discussing the same, the
meeting was adjourned until copies of the franchises of other cities could be
obtained when the matter will be taken up by the committee and a conclusion
reached.
1906
Watertown Leader, 03 06 1906
The special committee to consider the franchise asked for by
the Milwaukee Electric Street Railway company and quite a number of interested
citizens met at the council chamber last Friday evening to hear the matter
discussed and listen to an argument in favor of granting the original offered
by John I. Beggs of Milwaukee, president of the
company . . . The first objection he raised was to the limitation of the life
of the franchise to thirty years and very bluntly and frankly informed the
committee that the company he represented would not accept the franchise with
that limitation. He stated that the line was only a part of the system and that
the road would not be a profitable enterprise for years and as they purchased
the right of way between cities and villages in perpetuity, the company could
not afford to take a franchise for a less period than asked for. Mr. Beggs objected to cleaning and sprinkling streets as the
cars occasion neither debris nor dust. In case of snow or ice the company will
clean the streets of the snow or ice thrown off the track should it interfere
with travel adjacent to the tracks. In regard to bearing a part of the expense
of maintaining the bridge on Main street, Mr. Beggs
thought it was asking too much, as the company would pay the city annually
about $9,000 in taxes and called attention to the fact that the state statutes
provide for much of the detail incorporated in the substitute franchise ... Mr.
Beggs left a good impression upon the minds of the
auditors.
1906
Watertown Leader, 03 08 1906
The report that Henry Mulberger as
a member of the special committee voted against granting the Milwaukee Electric
Street Railway Company was a mistake and did him an injustice. He voted against
but one provision in the franchise - the time limitation of fifty years, he
having opposed it and would not conscientiously vote for it although he was in
favor of the franchise aside from that one provision.
1906 At a meeting of stock
holders of the Hopkin's Diamond Gear Car Co. held
yesterday afternoon at the office of the company ... officers were elected for
the coming year ...
In conversation with representatives of the Republican, the manager said that the
company is in no manner allied with the Milwaukee Electric Street Car Co., and
is entirely independent and will remain so.
That in connection with car building it will conduct a machinery and
foundry repair shop. That the company is
doing business on its own capital without any aid from the city as yet, but
could use some to an advantage in extending its business, upon which it would
guarantee a good dividend.
There is no question but that the business, will develop in
time into a large and profitable industry and be a great help to Watertown and
surrounding country; an enterprise that the citizens of the city can afford to
aid, for the returns promise to be great.
Mar 23 WL
1906 At an adjourned
meeting of the common council held Tuesday evening the ordinance granting a
franchise to the Milwaukee Electric Street Car Co. to use certain streets in
the space for a trolley line was passed, by a unanimous vote of the aldermen
present. The ordinance has been signed by Mayor Wertheimer and will be enforced
as soon as the company files its acceptance with the city clerk. April 1 WL
1906 The engineers of the
Milwaukee and Light and Traction company has been busily engaged the past week
in making a permanent survey of its proposed trolley line from this city to
Johnson Creek, Jefferson and Fort Atkinson. There is no doubt but that the line
will be pushed from Oconomowoc to this city at an early date for it will be in
the interest of the company to have the line in operation at the earliest
possible date and one need [not] be surprised to see cars running on Main
street before snow flies. As soon as the line is completed to Watertown, work
on the extension south, west and north will be begun and there is no doubt but
that by a year from next fall the extensions will be well under way if not
completed. It means much to Watertown, for it will be on the maps and take on a
new life and prosper. May 7 WL
1906 Watertown
Electric Light plant disposed of, to the John I. Beggs
interests.
1906 Fred G. Simmons, chief
engineer of the Milwaukee Light, Heat and Traction Company, was in the city
yesterday and in company with W. C. Stone drove out to Pipersville to close up
a franchise at that place. The company proposes to push work on its time to
this city and will reach here as soon as it is possible to complete the road
bed, set its poles and string the wires and will be here long before the time
specified in its franchise. There is no doubt in the mind of The Leader that when the trolley line is
completed to this city and other lines radiate to the north, south and west, a
large power house will be erected here and constant employment will be given to
a large number of men. It means much to Watertown which will be a division
point and many people living in the surrounding country will be attracted here
to do their trading and with the advent of large manufacturing industries, the
city will take on a new life, grow and prosper. As The Leader has repeatedly said, Watertown possesses advantages
which should make it one of the largest, if not the largest, inland city in the
state. Every citizen should let local pride inspire them to labor for the city
in all possible ways. May 2 WL
1906 Clipped from the
“Heard at the Hotels” column of the Milwaukee
Sentinel under date of July 3rd;
“A better tone is already making itself felt in Watertown due
to the announcement that the city will be the division center of part of the
interurban system of the Milwaukee Street Car Company,” said Miss Mollie Gritzner [114 Monroe St], (one) of the society leaders in
that city, at the St. Charles. “There have been some people who at first
thought Watertown would lose by coming in closer touch with the metropolis of
the state but that sentiment is fast dying away. It is becoming apparent that
instead of losing the city will gain, and this will be especially true in the
summer months.
No more beautiful scenery can be found anywhere in the
vicinity of Milwaukee than around Watertown along the river. Boating is excellent through the summer
months and the finest sylvan picnic ground can be picked out on both
banks. Watertown now has a population of
about 10,000 but with the coming of the new line this summer this number will
surely be doubled, thus benefiting our merchants, who may feel that some of
their customers still prefer to do their shopping in Milwaukee. Personally I do not think that any more of
this will be done in the future than at present, while, on the other hand,
there will be the paying from visitors, who may always be relied on for
spending money liberally . . “ July 3
WL
1906 Al Kraft, chief
engineer of the Milwaukee Electric Railroad, and Light Co. with his force has
for the past few days been examining and testing the Main Street bridge for the purpose of
ascertaining its strength and the probability of its being strong enough to
hold fifty tons which would be the maximum weight it would have to sustain when
the trolley line was in operation and the cars passing to and fro over the
structure. Sept 29
1907 It is rumored that the
Milwaukee Heat, Light and Traction Company, the corporation for an interurban
line, has, through another party, purchased a piece of land in the vicinity of
the gas plant for the erection of its shops here. It is also reported, that a
change has been made in the plan of entering the city and that the line will
run up Western Avenue and down Second Street to the city proper. Every indication points to the fact that
operations will be commenced just as early in the spring as possible. Feb 10
1908
02 19 No meeting of
the city council was held last evening, a quorum not being present. Several
matters of importance were to have come up, notably the application of the
Milwaukee Heat, Light and Traction Company for an extension of time to complete
their line into the city in accordance with the terms of their franchise. The
committee on judiciary, together with the city clerk and the city attorney to
whom was referred the matter of revising the rules proceedings of the council,
have prepared a report stating that they have now in force and have prepared a
revision of the same. Owing to the lack of the quorum last evening, it was
decided that Mayor Mulberger call
a special meeting for next Friday evening. The amended rules . . . will then be
presented to the council for their approval . . .
04 03 Active
construction operations to commence
as soon as frost out of ground, in time for 1908
Homecoming event. WG
06 16 Interurban
line rails laid
as far west as Stafeil's farm near
Pipersville. WL
06 14 Plans for stringing poles
along Main St as supports for trolley wires
WG
07 10 Request to substitute wood poles instead of iron poles on
Main St. WG
07 10 Petition against laying
track from Fifth to Second streets along Western Ave. WG
07 10 Petition against change in the sidewalk lines near corner of Main and 5th WG
07 17 Oconomowoc to Watertown extension to be opened middle of next week WG
07 31 Lewis Fountain
removed from Main St while street car tracks being laid WG
08 14 Rate to high near city
limits; Real estate booming along route
WG
08 28 The first electric car crossed Main Street bridge. WG
09 04 Interurban car kills man. 09 04 1908 WG
09 04 All
arrangements completed for fair, including special trains
WG
09 11 Rebuilding of Main St
bridge by Milwaukee Light, Heat and Traction Co completed WG
09 11 Order for extending the interurban from Montgomery St to the C.&N.W.
Ry. Depot WG
09 18 Street car startles horses WG
10 16 Carl Schurz
homestead proposed for memorial park; Purchase of estate from the Milwaukee
Light, Heat and Traction Co WG
11 13 Matter of the condition
of streets after construction for interurban WG
12 04 Watertown-Beaver Dam, Beggs line, proposed, W. C. Stone of Watertown WG
1908 07 30 1908
WHS_005_039
and WHS_005_039b
Having made the turn
off of Fifth Street onto Main, the first street car enters Watertown, July 30,
1908
Watertown
Daily Times, 07 31 1908
Arrival of First Street Car was Joyous
Event
Dawn of a new era for the city
of Watertown.
Completion of electric line into the city
means progress and prosperity in the future
Firebells and whistles announce arrival of first car
last evening.
Thousands crowd Main Street to witness the
demonstration
The
interurban electric line is an accomplished fact. The first car from Milwaukee reached the city
shortly after 6 o’clock last evening.
The
railway system between Oconomowoc and Watertown, which was the connecting link
between the cream city and Watertown, was put into service with a blare of
trumpets and a congregation of people which included almost the entire
population. The word had been given that
the first car would reach Watertown about 6 o’clock and the crowds which
thronged the streets bore evidence of the interest that was taken by the people.
Shortly
after the hour the big special car Watertown bore down Richards Avenue, Western
Avenue and Fifth Street and when it reached the corner of Fifth and Main
streets, where the band and members of the city council were stationed, a short
stop was made, and anxious people along Main Street were happily expectant.
From Fifth Street, the car, which was occupied by officials of the Milwaukee
Heat, Light and Traction Company and Milwaukee newspaper men, proceeded slowly down Main Street, headed by the mayor and
aldermen with the Watertown band.
As the
car progressed there were cheers on all sides and when the visitors left the
car at the junction of Main and First streets thousands of people, young and
old, gathered to see the sight. It was a
gala evening for Watertown and both officials and citizens entered into it.
Mayor Talks
When
the climax came, the mayor was called on for an address and he responded in a
neat speech which was heartily applauded. He said:
“This
occasion marks a great epoch in the history of Watertown. The interurban came
at a critical period in our fortunes and by the employment of 350 of our
citizens in the work of construction it has come to pass that Watertown has not
felt the depression which has been so serious elsewhere. Equal thrift and
transcendent pluck have marked the people of Watertown and we feel today that
the rise of our city is just beginning. We thank the Milwaukee Electric Railway
and Light Company for the expedition it has shown in this work and we hope the
new line will inure to the financial benefit of it owners.”
The
arrival of the car in the city limits was heralded by the ringing of the fire
bells and the blowing of steam whistles in the manufacturing plants about the
city. This was also the signal for the rush of thousands of people to Main
Street, which from Fifth to First Street was lined with people, the children
being in great evidence. So infatuated
with the situation were the latter that they filled the car at First Street and
remained there for over an hour and 225 of them were given a ride to the city
limits and back.
After
the supper hour throngs of people congregated about the car which for many
minutes had been taken possession of by the children. They
were given a ride up to Richards Avenue and return and shortly after the
Milwaukee people entered the car for the return trip. The band was there as was
also thousands of people to cheer them on the return journey. Supper had been
served at the New
Commercial Hotel, the officials of the road and city officials and
newspaper men being seated at the table.
Main Street Demonstrates
When
the car moved eastward from First Street there was a flare of red fire along
the street and the band played. The procession was led by Fred Felshaw and Patrick Finerty, the
men who have charge of the work of building the line from Oconomowoc to
Watertown. Their names have been familiar to the people of Watertown for more
than two years. It was a recognition of the steadfast
and persistent effort of the men along the line which made possible the
culmination of what was wrought out in the brains of the men at the head of the
undertaking.
Included
in the party which made the trip were Chief Clerk E. B. Meisner;
E. W. Olds, superintendent of rolling stock; George Kuemmerlein,
superintendent of transportation; R. H. Pinkley,
superintendent of drafting; F. G. Simmons, superintendent of construction; C.
N. Duffy, controller; C. J. Davidson, superintendent of power plants; H. L.
Everest, superintendent of printing; C. W. Lamb, superintendent of publicity;
C. J. Munson and J. E. White, division foreman; Anthony Killa,
interurban division foreman; Carl Riegel, Christian Priener, James McCuen,
instructors; George Hubbell, assistant superintendent of rolling stock; C. A.
Cahill, assistant superintendent of power plant; Fred Yeo,
clerk transportation department; E. D. Whitcomb, claims department; Howard Mullett, electrical engineer; Nels
Renquist, chief clerk in chief clerk’s department; T.
C. Kelcey, Milwaukee
Free Press; George C. Nuessy, Journal; C. L. Clark, Wisconsin, and H. Luening,
Sentinel.
First Customer
Charles
Gillis of route 6 has the honor of paying the first fare on the interurban
line. When the car stopped in Watertown, Mr. Gillis stepped up to the conductor
and tendered him a coin for a ride this morning. The money was accepted.
The
first regular electric car left this city this morning at 6 o’clock having on
board seven passengers at First Street.
The car was in charge of Henry Bence,
motorman, and Bert Olson, conductor.
Cars will run every hour thereafter until 10 at night. The first car
from Milwaukee started at 5:30 a.m. and the last car will leave at 11:30 p.m.
On
leaving Waukesha Beach the line drops the direct current used in Milwaukee and
up to that point and picks up an alternating current which is sent out from the
Commerce Street power station at high tension, 33,000 volts. This is stepped
down in the transformer tower at Waukesha Beach to 3,300 volts and again in the
car to a direct current of 550 volts.
61 Miles an Hour
Between
Waukesha and West Allis, with George Kuemmerlein,
superintendent of transportation, at the controls, the big 53 foot car weighing
40 tons and costing between $14,000 and $15,000, ran 5,390 feet a minute, or
over 61 miles an hour, yet so smoothly that one would not have believed it had
not the watches of the railway men borne testimony to the fact. It was a
splendid showing for the roadbed of this interurban line.
The
electrical system used is known as the alternating current, single phase
system, just becoming recognized as the fastest thing in interurban railroading.
The application of the alternating current to transportation was commenced at
Budapest and has been improved within the last four years until it is now at
the head of the known systems.
A
powerful current can be sent a long distance over a wire no larger than is used
for the ordinary direct current and with far less loss in transmission. This
system would enable the Milwaukee Road to use power from the new $1,000,000 dam
at Kilbourn, which is one of the plans of the
company, according to rumors.
Although
no definite schedule has been arranged for stopping the cars in the country
districts, it is rulable for the car to stop at
public highway crossings on signal or allow passengers to leave the car. This
is quite an advantage to people desiring to go into the country for a visit or
on pleasure.
Three
crews will lay over in Watertown each night.
Attorney
C. R. Blumenfeld bought the first ticket sold on the
car this morning.
Watertown’s
trolley cars were part of The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company's
(T.M.E.R.&L.) fleet of interurbans
built by St. Louis Car Company just before the turn of the century.
WATERTOWN GREETS FIRST TROLLEY CAR
City Turns Out on Completion of Electric
Line
In Touch With Milwaukee
Center of Great System
Watertown Gazette,
08 07 1908
Branches of T. M. E.
R. & L. Co. Will Radiate in All Directions From
New Terminus
Shortly after 6 o'clock on Thursday evening, July 30, 1908,
the first car on the Inter-Urban Railway entered this city from Milwaukee. It contained
officials of the Milwaukee Light, Heat and Traction Co., and representatives of
the Milwaukee daily newspapers. All along the line from Oconomowoc to this
city, the arrival of the car was the cause of hearty cheering and especially so
from the time the car entered the city limits south of Richards cut till it
came to the terminus of the line at corner of Main and First streets. At the
corner of Fifth and Main streets the car was met by the city officials, members
of the local press, and Watertown brass band and hundreds of business men and
representative citizens. The brass band and city officials marched in front of
the car to First Street, where Mayor Mulberger
delivered an eloquent little speech. The first Watertown people to ride on the
car were James W. Moore, editor of The
Gazette, and Paul Schoechert. The first to pay
for a ride was Chas Gillis of route 6. When the car stopped at First Street he
handed the conductor and tendered him 10 cents for a ride that evening on the
cars return to Milwaukee. Charles R. Blumenfeld
bought the first ticket on the Friday morning car, when schedule time began.
The entrance of the Inter-Urban railway marks another period
in Watertown's prosperity, and it means much to our city's advancement. A few
years ago, the press of the city took up the matter of public improvements
here, and our people in general gave a generous response, till now we have
nearly everything in that line that could be wished for, and still the good
work goes on—sewerage, waterworks, electric light, finely paved streets, etc.
Later on the Watertown Advancement Association was organized and incorporated.
This little body of energetic, progressive and public-spirited men have kept
reaching out for factories and locating them here, securing several of the very
finest in the country, and what has been the consequence? There is not an empty
building in the city, many new ones have been erected, others are being built
over the city, and the latest result of these men's efforts have been the Inter-Urban
electric railway.
The majority of our business men and citizens have responded
generously in a financial way and by moral encouragement to the Advancement
Association, and by pulling together, Watertown is now considered the most
progressive little city in Wisconsin. True, discouragement and some opposition
have been encountered, but they were all passed over as smoothly and
diplomatically as possible, and many who discouraged and threw cold water on
these enterprises are now enthusiasts. Since the entrance of the Interurban
into our city we hear of several who opposed it are now as happy over the event
as though they had been enthusiasts from the start. Let's all pull together,
regardless of immediate personal interests, work for the advantage of the city
as a whole, and our personal interests will eventually turn out all right.
Beginning next year the Inter Urban lines out of the city, south, west and
north will no doubt be completed. Watertown will then be a very important
railway center, and other industries will fast be attracted here, and our
city's prosperity and advancement continued to a point that few of us can now
realize. The men in charge of the securing of the right of way in this city for
the railway, Messrs. J. C. Fitzpatrick and G. A. Dean, have handled the matter
with as little friction as it was possible under such circumstances. True, they
have not pleased everybody, but over 75 per cent of the people who own property
along the right of way of the railway, have been satisfactorily settled with,
and that speaks well for the efforts of these gentlemen The cars will leave
Milwaukee for this city at the present on the half hour, and Watertown for
Milwaukee on the full hour, the trip taking two and one-half hours. The fare
for the round trip is $1.75; one way $1.10; to Oconomowoc one way is 30 cents,
return , ticket 50 cents ; fare in the city 5 cents, into the country on a
mileage basis.
Below we republish a full write-up of the first car's
entrance into the city from last Friday's Milwaukee
Free Press.
At 6 o'clock this morning regular service will begin over the
new interurban line between Watertown and Milwaukee, the first car leaving
Watertown at that hour.
At 6 o'clock last evening the first street car rolled into
Watertown and the residents gave it a royal reception. When the city limits was
reached at Western Avenue cheering crowds were found lining both aides of the
street, and so it was up Fifth and down Main Street to the bridge.
Mayor Arthur Mulberger was on hand
to extend the official welcome of the city and at Main Street a band was
waiting which marched down the street ahead of the car while every whistle in
Watertown sounded a note of welcome.
At First Street the reception committee, Dr. A. H. Hartwig, Dr. F. C. Werner, J. P. Holland of the Watertown Times, George Nichols and G. Gahlmann, met the incoming party, the band played again and
the cheers which had followed the car in its progress through the streets were
stilled while Mayor Mulberger addressed the visitors
and his townspeople,
"This occasion marks a great epoch in the history of
Watertown," said the mayor. "The interurban came at a critical period
in our fortunes and by the employment of 360 of our citizens in the work of
construction it has come to pass that Watertown has not felt the depression
which has been so serious elsewhere. Equal thrift and transcendent pluck have
marked the people of Watertown and we feel today that the rise of our city is
just beginning. We thank the Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company for
the expedition it has shown in this work and we hope the new line will inure to
the financial benefit of its owners."
The entrance of the road into Watertown will be observed
formally Aug. 27, when the time for its completion under the franchise will
expire and when the car barns will have been located and the line completed
across the bridge to the intersection of West Main and Montgomery streets.
While the Milwaukee visitors were being entertained at dinner
through the courtesy of the Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company, a
perfect mob of children took possession of the big interurban car, No. 1109,
which was the first to bear the words: "
Waukesha-Oconomowoc-Watertown," and the ringing of bells was kept up by
the excited youngsters until the dinner at the New Commercial was finished.
Then their cup of joy was filled to overflowing by the officials of the road
who obligingly ran the car, packed to its capacity, out to the city limits and
back to give the children their first street car ride.
The electric arches put up for Watertown's
homecoming Saturday and Sunday were lighted for
the occasion; colored fire was burned at every street corner and the band
played, while the cheers of the children were echoed by their elders along the
streets. It was a fitting welcome for
the great improvement which had come to bring Watertown up into the line with
her sister cities in the state.
The entrance of the Milwaukee company
means more to Watertown than to almost any other city in Wisconsin. Watertown is destined, according to the plans
of President Beggs as sketched to the state railroad
commission, to be a great interurban center from which lines will extend to the
four points of the compass. From the
intersection of Main and Montgomery streets, which will be the terminus of the
present extension, the line is to be extended west thirty-nine miles to
Madison. From the same street intersection a line is to be run south through
Jefferson, Ft, Atkinson to Janesville, fifty-three miles distant. Another line
is to be extended from this corner northerly through Juneau to Beaver Dam and
Waupun and eventually to Fond du Lac, while the Milwaukee line completes the
list.
"Watertown granted a franchise for this road March 27,
1906," said Mayor Mulberger in an interview.
''The time was extended and will not expire until Aug. 27. Watertown is
fifty-three years old and it is just fifty-three miles to Milwaukee by the
route traversed by the car which is now here. Our people hardly realize what
this is the beginning of for Watertown.
It means that farmers all along the route can come to Watertown to
trade, no matter what the condition of the roads, and poor roads have
heretofore been our great drawback.
“The company owns our gas and electric light systems, so that
all will be under the same management and we think that will be for the best.
Pewaukee Lake is brought to our doors and our people will make common use of
Waukesha Beach and its improvements with Milwaukeeans, while the relations of
Watertown with the state metropolis will be made more binding and will result
in good to both parties. We have reason to rejoice tonight."
"The new road cannot help but conduce to our
prosperity," said Col. A. Solliday, banker and
retired business man. "It will make Watertown a trading center for a large
and rich farming community, the trade of which has largely gone to Oconomowoc
in the past because of the poor roads about Watertown at certain seasons of the
year. In connection with the big Van
Camp milk condensing recently located here, the new line can work up a big
business in milk and cream from farms along its line. It is certainly a great
thing for us to have such a strong company enter our city and become interested
in it, as must needs be the case."
The new line is most substantially built. It embraces some
unusually heavy construction, as it runs across ridges necessitating cuts,
while between lies low ground which must be filled. The largest cut is
thirty-eight feet deep and 1,000 feet long; the maximum grade is 1% per cent
and every curve between Oconomowoc and Watertown is a high speed curve built on
steam railroad lines. The steel weighs eighty pounds to the yard and is of the
latest American Society of Civil Engineers' pattern, while the trolley is of
the catenary type.
On leaving Waukesha Beach the line drops the direct current
used in Milwaukee and up to that point, and picks up an alternating current
which is sent out from the Commerce Street power station at high tension,
33,000 volts. This is stepped down in the transformer tower at Waukesha Beach
to 8,300 volts and again in the car to a direct current of 550 volts. On the
way out the Oconomowoc station had not been cut in and the car ran through to
Watertown on the current as transformed at Waukesha Beach. The new station was cut in at 7:30 and the
difference was very marked on the return.
Between Waukesha and West Allis, with George Kuemmerlein, superintendent of transportation at the
controller, the big 53-foot car weighing forty tons and costing between $14,000
and $15,000, ran 5,390 feet a minute, or over 61 miles an hour, yet so smoothly
that one would not have believed it had not the watches of the railway men
borne testimony to the fact. It was a splendid showing for the roadbed of this
interurban line.
The electrical system used is known as the alternating
current, single phase system, just becoming recognized as the latest thing in
interurban railroading. The application of the alternating current to
transportation was commenced at Budapest and has been improved within the last
four years until it is now at the head of the known systems.
A powerful current can be sent a long distance over a wire no
larger than is used for the ordinary direct current and with far less loss in
transmission. This system would enable the Milwaukee Road to use power from the
new $1,000,000 dam at Kilbourn, which is one of the
plans of the company, according to rumors from Watertown. The Milwaukee
Electric Railway and Light Company is reported there to be financially
interested in the new power project from which Madison has been expecting so
much, and as it is the plan to extend the Watertown line to the capital city
another season the report may well be true.
Although this was the first car to run over the line into
Watertown, the return trip, fourteen miles, to Oconomowoc was made in exactly
thirty minutes while the 500 men in the five construction camps cheered
themselves hoarse and fired guns and revolvers in celebration or the event as
the lighted car swept past them.
Four locomotives, two steam shovels, one of the heaviest
traction engines in the country and other equipment have been engaged in the
completion of this line since work was resumed April 1. The result is a road
bed which will stand comparison with the very best new construction in the
country.
The round trip was greatly enjoyed by the party of
transportation officials and newspaper men who made it. The first stop was at
the large spring at the Waukesha gravel pit, which has been improved by the
company and which furnishes the water supply for the Public Service building,
the water being brought to Milwaukee daily in tank cars. At Waukesha Beach
improvements costing $30,000 were looked over under the escort of T. M. Holl, in charge of the park, and the plans for an
additional expenditure of still more another season were explained.
Nearing Oconomowoc the line runs for nearly three miles
through land owned by Fred Pabst and used for his great horse farm. It dodges
among the lakes of Waukesha County, past splendid farms where ripened oat
fields contrast with the fresh grass of pasture land,
and not a sign of the hot weather of the past few weeks was to be discovered in
the crops. The little shelter stations, of concrete and steel and painted in
the canary yellow and turkey red of the company, were
especially noted. On the new line long strings of dump cars marked the sidings
and cheering work crews hailed the advent of the first interurban over the
lines.
The Milwaukeeans were greatly impressed with the richness of
the country traversed in Waukesha and Jefferson Counties. Magnificent farms
stretched on every side, the fields yellow with ripening oats and barley or
deep green with corn and crowing crops. The character of the farm buildings
denoted wealth and abundance on every hand. A threshing machine at work
attracted attention to the rapidity with which grain is ripening, while the
farm machinery in use on all sides was noticeable because of the latest
improved models. Splendid dairy cows and fine stock, were seen in every
pasture, and the new line seems destined to increase the trade of Milwaukee
with this favored people,
In the party were: F. A. Simmons, superintendent of construction
and maintenance of way; E. W. Olds, superintendent of rolling stock; George Kuemmerlein, superintendent of transportation; O. M. Rau,
superintendent of lighting and chief electrician; R. H. Pinkley,
superintendent of the draughting bureau; C. N. Duffy,
comptroller; C. J. Davidson, superintendent of power plants; H. L. Everest
superintendent of printing; F. G. Goetz, roadmaster
in charge of construction; C W. Lamb of the publicity bureau; George Hubbell,
assistant superintendent of rolling stock; C. A. Cahill, assistant
superintendent of power plants; Fred Yeo, clerk in
the transportation department; E, D. Whitcomb, claim department; E. B. Meisner, chief clerk; Anthony Killa,
interurban division foreman, C. J. Munton and J. E.
White division foremen; Carl Riegle, Chris Priener and James McCuen,
instructors, and Nels Renquist
of the chief clerk's department, Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light company,
and representatives of four Milwaukee papers.
President Beggs had expected to
accompany the first car, but a bank directors' meeting held him in the city.
The first regular car will leave Watertown for Milwaukee at 6
o'clock this morning in charge of Henry Bence,
motorman, and Beart Olson, conductor. Cars will run
every hour thereafter until 10 at night. The first car from Milwaukee will
start at 5:30 a. m. and the last at 11:30 p. m.
Watertown Intercity Fair
When
the Interurban Railway came to Watertown in 1908, it laid tracks down Second
Street to the fairgrounds on the south side of the city, site of the Watertown Intercity Fair (held 1905-1927),
charging a nickel for the ride. The cars were always crowded. On one "Watertown Day" - always the
Wednesday of the four-day fair - 11,000 people attended. But by 1927 interest
had waned and Watertown called it quits with the fair for the last time.
Interurban Terminal
200 S Second
Kiessling,
Elmer C., Watertown
Remembered (Watertown: Watertown Historical Society,
1976), pp 202-203
. . .
The Interurban made an attempt to bolster its failing business by opening a
fine new depot on Second Street (later
the Ford garage), adding plush new cars and reducing the time of the
Milwaukee run. When the new electric train came to town for the first time, it
stopped at the city limits to pick up the employees of the Electric Company,
who had been taken out there to board the train and make the entry more impressive.
The ride to Milwaukee was much more pleasant than it had been on the old
trolleys. But the Interurban could not compete with the automobile, and it
followed the fair into oblivion in 1940.
1909
01 01 Watertown to become center for interurban
traffic; a junction point; eventually a Iine will
be built west to Madison WG
01 15 Request to build
interurban this year as far south as the fairgrounds so that it could be of
use in time for the 1909 annual fair WG
02 05 Winter storm
brings interurban to standstill WG
04 23 Franchise to go down
Second Street considered WG
05 14 Interurban excursion to
Watertown on Memorial Day, Milwaukee Northwestern University Club WG
05 28 William Gruetzmacher
Watertown agent for street railway guide
WG
06 25 Waukesha Beach resort,
daily interurban cars to WG
1910
07 01 Matinee Races;, interurban carried crowds to main
gate WG
09 16 Inter County Fair,
interurban carried crowds to the grounds
WG
1913
Killed by Interurban Car
Watertown Gazette, 04 10 1913
The eleven
o’clock interurban car from the east last night brought the body of Owen
Collins to the undertaking establishment of Thos. Brooks, West Main Street, this city.
It is
supposed he was struck by the outgoing interurban at 10 o'clock and instantly
killed. The accident happened about five
miles east here near the Sauerkraut Club crossing (i.e., Hustisford
Rd). His skull was cracked but otherwise his body was not injured.
Deceased
was about 60 years of age, was unmarried and made his home with his sisters on
the Oconomowoc Road (i.e., Highway 16) about five miles east of here.
At
this writing the arrangements for the funeral have not been made and the exact
manner of his death we are unable to ascertain.
Deceased
was well known hereabouts and looked after the farm interests of his sisters,
with whom he made his home in a most faithful manner.
He was
a hardworking, genial man and his sad death is sincerely regretted by a large
acquaintance.
It is
said Mr. Collins took the 8 o’clock interurban car out of this city for his
home, getting on the card at the corner of 3d and Main streets, so it seems
there is some question as to how he met his death.
1920
Interurban, TMER&L Co Express
truck, plow, winter 1919-20, spring 1920, WHS_006_Semrich_series of images
1922
Profile of Frank J.
Boehm of the Wisconsin Gas & Electric Co, an associated company of The
Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Co, owner of Watertown gas works
1940
1940, Pipersville Station 
1940, Turning onto Western Ave
Watertown Daily Times, 01
31 1940
1990 50th anniversary of last interurban
Last Street Car Will Make Run Here Tonight
Bus Service Inaugurated
The
last interurban electric cars will run in and out of Watertown tonight and
tomorrow morning a new bus service will be inaugurated between here and
Oconomowoc, connecting with the electric line there for Milwaukee.
In
accordance with a ruling of the state public service commission granting the
Milwaukee Electric Railway and Transport Company the right to abandon its
electric line from here to Oconomowoc, the company announced it is abandoning
the service tonight and replacing it with the bus line between the two cities.
Meanwhile, the city of Watertown has started suit in the Dane County circuit
court seeking to have the order of the public service commission set aside.
However, the company is not waiting for the outcome of the court action and is
going ahead with the abandonment of the service.
Open Ticket Office
With
the abandonment of the electric line will also come the closing of the terminal
here. Beginning tomorrow a new ticket office and waiting room will be
established in the Hotel
Carlton.
A new
time schedule for service has been worked out but no copy of it was released
today for publication. However, it was announced information for the present
could be obtained at the terminal until closing time tonight or at the new
ticket office tomorrow morning.
Six
through bus trips daily to Milwaukee, via Okauchee,
Hartland and Pewaukee will be made and direct connection at Oconomowoc with the
interurban trains will be made at Oconomowoc for Delafield and Waukesha, it was
announced by the Wisconsin Motor Bus lines, operated by the Milwaukee Electric
Railway and Transport Company.
End 32 Year Service
With
the closing of the electric line here, the company will bring to an end 32
years of service. It was on July 30, 1908 that the first street car came into
Watertown. The year before the service had been extended from Milwaukee as far
as Oconomowoc and in 1908 the tracks were laid to this city. At first the line
ran to Main and First streets. A short time later it was continued all the way
to the Chicago and North Western Railroad tracks at the West Main Street
crossing of the railroad.
Coming
of the first car into Watertown over the line was the subject of a civic
celebration such as Watertown has rarely seen. Thousands were on hand to view
the arrival of the car. There was band music and the evening was an event that
was hailed at the time as the beginning of a new era for Watertown. It was the
late Haney Bence who was the motorman to bring the
first street car into the city. Mr. Bence died in
1935. Bert Olson was the conductor.
Arthur
Mulberger was mayor of Watertown at the time and
Joseph E. Davies, late ambassador to Russia and Belgium, was city attorney.
Huge Yellow Cars
The
first street cars, which were huge yellow affairs, were later replaced with
more modern cars as the trains were gradually improved and years later when the
new terminal was established fast and the most modern cars were put on the
line.
Several
months ago the utility company announced it had filed a petition with the
public service commission seeking permission to abandon the service. Following
a hearing at which the company introduced testimony as to its losses in
operating the line and at which the city fought for retention of the service
the commission made public its report and announced that it had granted the
utility’s petition.
The
city then asked for a rehearing of the case but was turned down and the city
council ordered filing of the suit in the Dane County court.
The
suit was filed a few days ago by City Attorney Harold W. Hartwig
in accordance with the council s resolution.
Kiessling,
Elmer C., Watertown
Remembered (Watertown: Watertown Historical Society,
1976), pp 202-203
The
last train pulled into Watertown on January 31, 1940 and that night left for
the last time. Alas, Watertown’s affair
with the electric interurban was over.
The
T.M.E.R.&L. had come to Watertown 32 years before,
in 1908. It once ran the length of Main Street, from Fifth to the Northwestern
depot. The screeching of its wheels as it rounded corners was a familiar sound,
and the owl car, coming in around one in the morning and bringing home a few
late Milwaukee visitors, would often awaken sleepers until they heard it rumble
on, realized it was only the owl car and went back to sleep again.
This
interurban depot location later became the Ray Miller Ford garage.
Image Portfolio
Click
to enlarge
|
Interurban
book; general, not
Watertown specific |
1908,
laying of track, 100
block of East Main |
1908,
laying of track, 100 and 200 blocks of East Main |
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1908,
first interurban enters
Main St |
1908, Main St, looking east from First and Main |
1908c, Fifth St, South, looking north from Western |
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1908c, Main St, West, looking east from Water |
1909,
Crowd arriving at fairgrounds
via Interurban fair line |
1910c, Lewis Fountain and St. Bernard's |
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Third
and Maine (sic), looking
west |
Main
Street at night |
Last
interurban, interurban terminal, 200 S Second, 1940 |
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1915, map, route through Watertown |
1926, Birney 63, along Main St between bridge and First St |
Jan 28, 1940, Motorman Kopitzke & Conductor
Miller, |
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John I Beggs |
Aug 11, 1937, M-1, Western Ave |
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Cross-References:
A street car
apparently zips along down the main street of the Wisconsin Dells and is one of
a vast series of fake trolley photos published in the first decade of the
1900's.
Interurban Buffet and Restaurant, 415 E
Main, 1914, Richard Pouchert, Prop., “Hot Lunch
Served All Day”
