Stepping onto the trolley to travel from one town to another was once was a tremendous form of transportation. This public transit vehicle first developed large scale in Richmond, Virginia, by Frank J. Sprague. The trolley was an easy way to get from point A to point B. Sprague’s work in 1888 based off of Charles Van Depoele’s 1886 Scranton, Pennsylvania line, a much smaller scale vehicle that relied on overhead cables. Sprague’s cars were also electrically powered but now ran on rails embedded into city streets.
The first electric trolley that arrived in Brockton in November of 1888 was a great success. Known as the East Side Street Railway, this trolley traversed the streets giving rides to residents to all sorts of places from work to appointments and simple shopping trips.
Due to the vehicle’s popularity, newer lines began to sprout to further places. In 1896, a line from Brockton to West Bridgewater, Bridgewater and Taunton was installed. On July 4, 1897 Brockton & East Bridgewater Street Railway Company
commenced operations to cheerful crowds and blasting bands alongside speeches from town officials joined together as the first electric trolley made its way down Pleasant St., East Bridgewater. Beginning in the Montello section in Brockton the route followed Montello St. to Plain St. West Bridgewater, onto East Bridgewater center. If a rider kept going, a transfer at Bridgewater Center would be made.
During this time, the trolley allowed travel to almost anywhere in the area with great access ease. During the summer, passengers could sit in open sided cars to enjoy a cool breeze while traveling to and from days spent at Nantasket Beach. Island Grove in Abington or Mayflower Grove in Pembroke were also popular destinations.
Eventually, time took its toll on the trolley systems, as the awe began to wear off for its passengers. Soon, William H. Luddy bus company began to run buses from Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, and Whitman in 1923, leading to the ultimate cease of operation of the trolley lines by September 25th, 1929.
Once teeming with life, the trolley line’s significant history made its permanent mark, connecting our communities.
Written by: Caitlin Shea, Fairfield University BuzzAround Intern
Sources: East Bridgewater Sesquicentennial Commemorative Booklet by David K. Wilson and Old Colony Street Railway on Wikipedia
Source: wikipedia
