Fun on the Ice
Jan 16, 1891 An
evening in mid-January 1891 the temperature was about 0 degrees A crowd
of young people were skating on Kearney Lake.
They had a bonfire on the shore for warmth. The
electric cars did quite a good business carrying skaters to and from the ice
and were a great convenience.
Baseball Aug 1, 1891
---Base ball makes street car business lively, and the electric cars have
completely knocked out the ten cent hacks that used to do such a thriving
business.
Labor Holiday Observed Sept 7, 1891
Labor day parade started at the court house 3
electric cars holding Prof. Drapers band and electric company employees
At 24th street it turned west to the school grounds where the speeches were
held.
No mention if the street cars made the turn
B. Routes 1. Central Avenue and West -
From the courthouse to the Midway Hotel on corner of 25th &Central
West on 25th to Kearney Lake but somewhere near the lake turned north one
block to continue down 27th street to put the streetcars in line with the
power house where they were housed. (through door on south side of the
building) From south of the power house
it was extended west across the tailrace bridge, then southward on a curve
to 24th St. to the Frank House this added about ½ mile, half way to West
Kearney.
2. Kenwood Addition South from 25th on 8th Ave through Kenwood Addition
3. East
Lawn
East on 25th
to Ave E, north to 27th St.; then continue east on 27th through East Lawn to
Grand Avenue.
Plan then was to follow Grand northeast to 35th which put it out to Ave Y;
then turn west back to Central.
Dont believe that was all completed since Central dead ended at 31st.
C. The End
of the Streetcar Business When did they stop running? Timeline 1887
Horse drawn streetcar
1889 Summer Plans for electric streetcar
1890 May construction began
July first ride from Midway to railroad down Central
To courthouse about 3 weeks later
Sept eastern route determined
Oct construction of eastern route
Oct 26 extended west as far as Geo. W. Franks residence.
Nov 17, 1891 George Frank, Jr. took over management of the Kearney
Electric Company.
1. Implemented an improvement in the way the cars were heated.
The heat was produced by a current of electricity running through a cast
iron tube
6 wide x 2 thick 2 ½ feet long
It was hollow, and filled with some fibrous substance like asbestos
Four heaters per car, placed under the seats.
2. Adjusted the payment scale for the electricity to operate the cars [and
heaters?]
3. A pass system - $1 per month, ride on the electric cars as many times as
he likes
Averages 3 ½ cents per day.
A radical change.
1893
June 14 Street Car company dispensed with conductors on the streetcars
As a result, four men lost their jobs
Also a system of collecting fares in a box was adopted
Rare mention of the streetcar after this:
1894 Sept. - Mr. Gow, living on West 27th St. waited in front of his
residence 3 hours one morning for an approaching street car that he had
sighted out at the end of the line.
[He usually walked to work but today his corns hurt so he thought he would
take the street car.]
After 3 hours it suddenly occurred to him that he had seen the same car in
that same place for about 30 consecutive days
[with several words his pastor would not approve of, he walked to work,
arriving just as the noon whistle blew.]
1894
Dec. Moving a Heavy Building A 30x70 feet iron structure in the yard of
the former Kearney Stone company was to be moved to a site adjoining the
power house.
It was to be placed over the wheel pit and tracks laid so the electric cars
could be run in under cover during the winter storms.
The cars had been left out in the weather ever since they stopped running
[date not given]
1895
June ---The electric cars will carry passengers to base ball park tomorrow
afternoon.
June 7, 1897 A Runaway
While out driving Sunday, W. D. Oldham met with a serious accident.
On Central avenue near Seventeenth street the horse made a quick turn.
The buggy struck the street car track and turned throwing Mr. Oldham to the
ground with great force.
[He was bruised but not seriously injured.]
The horse ran off to a nearby barn, and entered, dragging a large part of
the wrecked buggy behind him
There were
apparently four streetcars although original plans had been for six.
After
closing, the cars possibly went to Boulder, CO That is the unconfirmed
story