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 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

   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, 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.