Central City Railway

Central City Railway
Locale Syracuse, New York
Dates of operation 1859–1890
Successor People's Railroad which merged with Syracuse Rapid Transit Railway
Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Headquarters Syracuse, New York

The Central City Railway was chartered on April 19, 1859, and was the first street railway company in Syracuse, New York. It began operations in August 1860, as a horse-drawn rail.[1] The road was discussed for many years before it was actually constructed as a link between the First Ward and Erie Canal at Salina Street.[2] The train line commenced at South Salina Street opposite the Syracuse House and terminated in the First Ward.[3]

The road was extended to Onondaga Lake about 1872, and a branch line was constructed from North Salina Street along Court Street to Third North Street (now Driscoll Avenue) in Solvay, New York, a suburb.[2]

During 1890, the company merged with People's Railroad[4] which merged again into Syracuse Rapid Transit Railway in 1896.[5]

History

The route was originally designated in the charter to run through Lodi Street, Lock Street and Wolf Street, but it was subsequently changed to Salina Street.[2]

The road was built during the first half of 1860 and opened in August with a "public demonstration."[2] The first car was a small, single truck car drawn by one horse. There were no lights and no heat in the cars and often straw was placed on the floor to keep passengers feet warm. Cars were driven by one man, who acted as both driver and conductor. The track consisted of a narrow strip of strap iron spiked to wooden stringers, and had practically no foundation and was about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in length. Fare was only five cents and there were no transfers.[4]

In 1862, the company business office was located in "Room No. 1" of Corinthian Hall on North Salina Street. The Syracuse terminal was situated on North Salina Street at "Church Street Crossing." Additionally, the Salina (First Ward) terminal was located on North Salina at the corner of Wolf Street. Cars departed both terminals every twenty minutes beginning every morning at 7am, with the exception of Sunday, when the first car departed at 10am.[6]

The line was extended to Onondaga Lake about 1872 and a branch line was constructed from North Salina Street along Court Street to Third North Street (now Driscoll Avenue) in Solvay, New York, a suburb. The expansion increased the total distance covered by the road to approximately 4.5 miles (7.2 km).[2]

During 1879, the company business offices were located in the Mechanics Bank which was located in the Syracuse Savings Bank Building at the corner of North Salina and James streets.[7]

Company management

Directors of the company in 1862 included; George F. Comstock, Thomas G. Alvord, John A. Green, Jr. and B. Austin Avery. Company president was John A. Green and treasurer and secretary was James Noxon. Superintendent of the rail was B. Austin Avery and assistant-treasurer was Charles B. Wright.[6]

In 1875, James M. Ellis was president; Joel Thayer, vice-president; T. H. Fitch, treasurer; J. C. Chase, secretary; and S. D. Evans was superintendent. The business office was located in Mechanic's Bank at Warren and East Genesee Streets in the Larned Block.[3]

During 1889, directors of the company included Daniel Pratt, Jonathan C. Chase, F. S. Wicks, James Barnes, all of Syracuse and Hy. T. Webb of Skaneateles. Frederick S. Wicks was president, James Barnes was treasurer and secretary and George Crampton was superintendent.[2]

By 1890, Frederick S. Wicks was president, Jonathan C. Chase was vice-president, James Barnes was secretary and treasurer and George Crampton was superintendent.[1]

Operations

During 1890, the company employed both 47 and 51 pound rail. They owned 18 rail cars and 64 horses.[1]

People's railroad

On April 4, 1889, People's Railroad, founded in 1860, took control of the rail[2] and on November 1, 1890, they obtained a perpetual lease of the Central City Railway and the Syracuse and Onondaga Railway and both lines then merged into the company.[8]

In 1896, People's Railroad merged into Syracuse Rapid Transit Railway.[5]

By 1948, the company was part of the Syracuse Transit Corporation.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Whipple, Fred H. Whipple's Electric, Gas and Street Railway Financial Reference Directory. Electronic Library, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Bruce, Dwight Hall. Memorial history of Syracuse, N.Y., from its settlement to the present time. Electronic Library, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  3. 1 2 Boyd's Syracuse Boyd's City Directory 1875. Andrew Boyd, 1875.
  4. 1 2 "First Streetcars Operated Here in 1860 l". Syracuse Herald. Syracuse, New York. December 14, 1922.
  5. 1 2 American street railway investments. The Street Railway Publishing Company, 1899 p. 262. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  6. 1 2 Syracuse Daily Journal City Directory 1862. Truair, Smith and Miller, Daily Journal Office, 1862, pg. 55.
  7. ↑ Boyd's Syracuse Boyd's City Directory 1879. Andrew Boyd, 1879.
  8. ↑ Poor, Henry Varnum. Manual of the railroads of the United States, Volume 27. Poors, 1894 p. 262. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  9. ↑ Hillenbrand, Dick. "A List of Syracuse Businesses". Rootsweb, March 4, 1999. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
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