SCLT Holds Streetcar #115 Celebration Party

On Friday, July 17, The Sheridan Community Land Trust invited the public to Tracks Through Time: Celebrating Streetcar #115, a celebration recognizing the ongoing restoration of Wyoming’s last remaining streetcar. The event took place at the SCLT Welcome Center and the Big Goose Natural Area at 14 Lane Lane, and there were snacks and beverages for those attending.

This event marked a major milestone in the restoration of historic Streetcar #115 and offers the public an opportunity to see the streetcar up close, learn about restoration progress, and hear the story of its journey from Sheridan’s streets to its new home at the Big Goose Natural Area.

On July 14, several community members volunteered to help get the streetcar and the area ready for the celebration. They painted window frames and benches, replaced some of the glass and touched up sections of the streetcar’s exterior.

At the July 17 event, organizer and SCLT History Program Manager Kevin Knapp talked about some of the history of the Sheridan Railway Company.

In 1910 Albert Emanuel and William Sullivan, of Electric Street railway in Dayton, Ohio, proposed to build and operate a local electric streetcar system

Deadman’s Draw is now known as Hume Draw.

He added another line went to the mining camps, and that there were two sizes of cars on the line, some were train car size, and others were a customized size. At one time there were 18 miles of track within the town of Sheridan.

The interurban line to the coal mining camps was the last active line in Sheridan, but it was discontinued in June of 1926, 100 years ago this year.

Knapp talked about the first restoration of the old streetcar in 1976 for the U.S. Bicentennial.

Knapp also read a poem that someone wrote about the streetcar on the back of a poster from the Parkman Hotel. The poem is on display at the SCLT Welcome Center.

After hearing the history, the audience took a short walk from the center to tour the street car and had an opportunity to see what it looked like inside. Knapp talked about some of the other improvements he would like to see on the old streetcar, such as adding several more seats, and redoing the interior to make it look more authentic and attractive.

He said that they don’t have to keep it 100% historically accurate, as it is more like a prop rather than an historical restoration.

The streetcar is currently under a shed at the Big Goose Natural Area, and the community is welcome to come and see the old streetcar and watch the restoration as it happens.

Also on display at the Welcome Center is small authentic replica of the car made by Nat Foy of Story.

For more information contact the Sheridan Community Land Trust.