Down the center of the dusty road known in the late 1800s as the Chicago Road (today Michigan Avenue) came the interurban car. The tracks were not paved and the wooden ties held the rails in place.
The schedules were set for half hour service, but there were many delays because of the single track system that demanded the use of switches for passing. We often sat for what seemed like hours on a switch waiting for the car from the opposite direction. The trolleys sometimes came off the overhead line and the conductor would have to go out on the platform and adjust the trolley before we had electric power to move.
The fare was only ten cents to Detroit and there were similar rates to other places.
There was a motorman and a conductor on each car. The smoker in the front section had about ten double red velvet seats. The back part had a stove at the rear and the conductor had to tend the fire as part of his duties. He would shake the fire and add more coal as it was needed. I can assure you there was never any blast of heat in the old interurban.
The street car company installed electric lights at the main corners. Five or six little dim bulbs were strung above the street. They were little more than a feeble flow in the darkness. Mr. L. Somers, who lived on the corner of Michigan and Tenny, turned the lights on each evening.
At night we lighted newspaper torches in order that the motorman might see us in time to stop.
The first service began in 1897 and continued until 1929. The Detroit Street Railways extended their lines over the old interurban tracks as far as Telegraph Road at that time, but after several months tryout, this service was discontinued and in 1933 Michigan Avenue was resurfaced and the tracks west of Shaefer Road were removed or covered over.
She describes the scene so well. I love it.
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