WHEN PHOENIX HAD STREETCARS, by Jim McAllister
(source:
http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/Jim8413/Page90)
Here is a question to test your knowledge of Phoenix transportation history: Where did the slogan "Ride a Mile, and Smile the While" originate?
This is a tough one and if you are not a long time resident of the Valley, be prepared to say "Huh?" The answer is that it was the slogan of the
Phoenix Street Railway, a company that provided trolley streetcar service in Phoenix from 1887 until 1948. Within the next couple of years,
Phoenix will have a light rail system but any similarities between it and the old Phoenix Street Railway are coincidental.
The first public streetcars in Phoenix were horse drawn and ran between 7th Street and 7th Avenue. By 1893 the system was electrified and
expanded to 8 miles of track. By 1911 there were 17 miles of track within the city and a 12 mile track to Glendale. Fares in Phoenix were 5
cents and a ride to Glendale cost 35 cents one way. By 1925 the streetcar line was in disrepair and the owner, a Mr. Sherman, offered the
dilapidated company to the City of Phoenix. For $20,000 Phoenix was suddenly in the streetcar transportation business.
By 1929, the first indication of the decline of streetcars took place when the city added 2 motorized buses to the streetcar fleet. In October
of that year the Depression ensued and caused a drastic disruption in service. This was due in large part to raised fares and bad service. By
1933, maximum service had returned along with the old 5 cent fare which pulled the company out of a slump.
During 1937, eleven more motorized buses were added to the fleet thus reinforcing the coming doom of the streetcars. By 1940, the decision
was finally made to eliminate the remaining streetcars in favor of motor buses. Because of World War II, the streetcars managed to hold on
until 1948 when in February of that year, the final 7 cars were retired.
Thus ended the streetcar era in Phoenix and many other cities in the U.S. at about the same time. The buses were more flexible in their routes
and cheaper to operate. Today, you can relive trolley history at the Phoenix Trolley Museum at 1218 N. Central. It’s a fun trip back to an era
that will never return.
(above three photos courtesy of Jim McAllister)
1888 military parade in downtown Phoenix:
1905 bird's eye view of downtown Phoenix:
(above two photos courtesy of Arizona State Archives)
(All remaining photos courtesy of:
http://www.leifswanson.com/history.htm)
Old Hotel Adams (now destroyed):
Old sahuaro lamp-post by Westward Ho (now destroyed):
Downtown Phoenix in 1920s, looking south:
Uptown Phoenix in late 1950s, looking north:
Central Avenue in the 1940s:
Another view of Central Avenue in the 1940s:
Aerial shot, 1940s:
1947 trolley car shot:
Another 1947 trolley shot:
Central Avenue shot looking north:
A 1920 shot of the Hotel Luhrs (razed in 1960s for parking lot east of Patriot's Square Park today):
A tranquil view of Central Avenue looking north in the 1920s:
Downtown Phoenix in the 1950s:
Downtown Phoenix in the 1940s:
Washington Street around 1905:
1902 Washington Street shot:
Central Avenue in 1904:
1920s downtown Phoenix shot:
Those who do not remember the lessons of the past are doomed to repeat them.
--don
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Haha, hilarious. Willo is a coffeehouse which would be cool except for the lacklustre coffee. Spent WAY too much of my teenage years there thinking it was cool. They did have a great lunch sandwich menu though when I got older....the veggie sprout sandwich.....mmmmmmm.
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