From 1909: Trolley Now Runs to Middletown

From the Hartford Courant, May 25th, 1909.

Note: This is quite a long article, it appears that 100 years ago there were also some rather windy writers (at least they had the excuse of getting paid by the column inch). I've transcribed it all because it has some gems sprinkled throughout. My favorite one is the list of Middletown's "chief objects of interest"; Wesleyan ranks third, after the Connecticut Hospital for the Insane (CVH), and the Industrial School for Girls (Long Lane).


Last Link in the Line Was Inspected Yesterday

HOURLY SERVICE TO AND FROM HARTFORD.

Twenty-five Cents is Fare For the Trip

The trolley line between this city and Hartford is at last complete. The railroad commissioners inspected the last link between this city and Cromwell today. The road is to be opened to the public tomorrow morning, the first car leaving the Hartford city hall for this city at 5:07 a.m. The first car to leave Middletown for Hartford at 5:23 a.m. The trips are to continue hourly during the day, the last car leaving Hartford at night at 11:07 p.m. and the last car leaving this city at 11:23 p.m. Two crews from each city are to be used on the line. The day men from Middletown are to be A. Barrett, motorman; E.S. Holmes, conductor. The night crew will be C. Johnson, motorman; J. Murnane, conductor.

The running time between the two cities will be seventy-four minutes, the distance being a trifle over sixteen miles. The rate of fare is to be 25 cents the fare zones being from Middletown to Cromwell, from Cromwell to Rocky Hill, from Rocky Hill to Griswoldville, from Griswoldville to Wethersfield, and from Wethersfield to Hartford. The line from this city to Cromwell will cost 5 cents or to Rocky Hill 10 cents.

The road has been completed as far as the Cromwell railroad station for over three months the first car having been run to that town for passengers on February 6. The road to Rocky Hill was opened a few weeks previous to that and the Griswoldville line a month or more earlier.

From Cromwell to this city the cars run over the tracks of the Valley road, the connection between the steam and trolley tracks being made just south of the Cromwell passenger depot. Considerable signal work had to be put in place before this part of the line could be opened, and as the manufacturers of the signals did not fill the order for several months the work was delayed accordingly. The signals are operated by two dispatchers, one at the Middletown end, and the other one at the Cromwell depot. They communicate with each other by telegraph so no accidents can happen. When the road was first surveyed it was planned to have the trolley tracks parallel those of the steam road, but later it was decided to run the cars on the railroad tracks.

The cars are to start from the post office in this city and run up Main street to Rapallo avenue, where they will turn down to the railroad depot and onto the railroad tracks. At Cromwell the cars leave the railroad tracks and follow the highways as far as Rocky Hill. One or two slight detours are made, however. From Rocky Hill the road goes over through the Griswoldville section and from there to Wethersfield, and then to Hartford. The route traveled is a pretty one and will undoubtedly be largely patronized especially in the summer.

The opening of the road will be of great benefit not only to Middletown and Hartford, but to every town along the route. The road opens up a new section of the state, as no other trolley line passes near this line.

The matter of a trolley line between Hartford and Middletown has been agitated for years, and a number of charters were granted at various times by the Legislature. The Connecticut Company finally promised at the last session of the Legislature that it would build the road. Later they tried to back down and a citizen’s trolley committee was formed to compel the company to stand by its agreement. Practically all the leading men in Hartford and all the other communities interested joined in the movement. They protested so loudly that the company again changed its mind and finally commenced work on the line last fall. Representative George B. Chandler of Rocky Hill was especially active in the work of the citizens’ trolley committee.

The opening of the line will be a great boon to Middletown people, as it will enable them to get in and out of town easier. Many will doubtless avail themselves of the opportunity to attend the Hartford theaters. None of the local commuters will use the trolley, as the train service is much quicker. It seems to be the general opinion about town that the train arriving here at 11:40 a.m. from Hartford and returning at 12:35 p.m. will be taken off after a time, as the trolley line will probably take care of all the traffic.

Many Hartford people will doubtless avail themselves of the opportunity of visiting Middletown. The city is a beautiful one and the public institutions located here make it an object of interest.
The Connecticut Hospital for the Insane, the Industrial School for Girls, Wesleyan University, and Berkeley Divinity School are among the chief objects of interest.

A number of Middletown people are intending to make their home in Cromwell, which is only a 5-cent ride from this city. They will be able to commute cheaply and conveniently by means of the trolley. Cromwell itself should attract many visitors, one of the largest greenhouses in the world being there. The plant is an enormous one and is owned by A.N. Pierson. He started in on a small scale many years ago but has built up an enormous business. His houses are a beautiful place to visit at any time.

The first car run over the line arrived in this city at 12:58 p.m. today and had on board William O. Seymour and Andrew F. Gates of the board of railroad commissioners; General Manager A.J. Punderford of the Connecticut Company; Calvert Townley, one of the vice-presidents of the road; C.R. Harte and R.W. Wade, the engineers who had charge of the construction of the road; and Superintendent Hewett of the local trolley lines. The car left Hartford at 11:33 a.m., but was delayed in Cromwell some time, waiting for a north-bound passenger train to pass. There was no demonstration when the car arrived in this city, only about twenty-five people having gathered to see it come in. On their arrival in this city, the party adjourned to the Chafee House for lunch. After lunch a trip of inspection was made over the local lines. The commissioners both expressed themselves as well pleased with the entire line. The trip was made without incident. The crew was composed of local men, John O’Neill, the chief motorman, running the car, and Everett S. Holmes being the conductor.

The same cars are to be used on the line to Cromwell. They seat about forty people.