2014.033.002

This is a scrapbook filled with articles surrounding the subject of trolleys, trolley cars, subways and buses. Most of the articles are written in a language that suggests these forms of mass transportation are “the way of the future” and that these old technologies could become new innovations as the population in industrial cities began to increase. Articles on the creation of the Boston subway, the Massachusetts museum of transportation and the sudden but temporary increase in trolley popularity causing Lowell to re-commission some replicas for actual use are also present in this scrapbook. Most articles are not immediately suggesting that mass transportation would be out the automobile industry, even at the time this idea was farfetched, but means of transport like trolleys and subways were much more reasonable to keep traffic down in larger cities, which is why many of these articles urged city governments to consider limiting automobile sales. Other articles include various trolleys and their routes and destinations. One such picture shows a farming location in Dracut and the first trolley to run there on July 31, 1903, and the last trolley to run at the same location exactly 20 years later, July 31, 1923. Another "announcement" advertises the Merrimack Valley Steamboat Company which leaves Haverhill for Salisbury Beach from June 17 to July 1 daily at 9 a.m. and returns at 6:45 pm. From July 1 to September 8 the times are 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. leaving Haverhill The electric cars coming from Lowell, Lawrence, Nashua, NH, connect with the Steamboat in Haverhill. It is a 40 mile sail at the price of 1 cent/mile. Children 6 to 12 yrs. free. Also in the scrapbook are brochures of various railroads including The Cape Cod & Hyannis RR,Greater Philadelphia Transportation, Seashore Trolley Museum at Kennebunkport, Me. and others. There is also a list of Connecting Lines on the Bay State St. RR.