This
file part of www.watertownhistory.org
website
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
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 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 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 . . . 02 19 1908
o Active
construction operations to commence
as soon as frost out of ground, in time for 1908
Homecoming event. 04 03 1908 WG
o Interurban line rails
laid as far west as Stafeil's farm near Pipersville. 06
16 1908 WL
o Request to substitute wood poles instead of iron poles on
Main St. 07 10 1908 WG
o Petition
against laying track from Fifth to
Second streets along Western Ave. 07 10 1908 WG
o Petition
against change in the sidewalk lines near corner of Main and 5th 07 10 1908 WG
o Oconomowoc
to Watertown extension to be opened
middle of next week 07 17 1908 WG
o Lewis Fountain removed from Main
St while street car tracks being laid 07 31 1908 WG
o Rate to high near city limits; Real estate
booming along route 08 14 1908 WG
o
The first electric car crossed Main Street bridge.
08
28 1908
WG
o
Interurban car kills man. 09 04 1908 WG
o All arrangements completed, including
special trains, for fair to be held Sept 15, 16, 17 and 18. 09 04 1908 WG
1908 07 30 1908
WHS_005_039
Having made the turn off of First Street
on Main, the first street car enters Watertown,
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
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.