|
Electric Trolleys of Washtenaw County
Author(s): H. Mark Hildebrandt, Martha A. Churchill
ISBN: 9780738561363
# of Pages: 128
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
On Sale Date: 06/29/2009
Read the Reviews
Search Inside
|
Click on the state flag for other books located in "Michigan"
|
Book Description:
Electric streetcars and interurbans appeared in Washtenaw County in the 1890s. Evolved from horse-drawn streetcars, electric cars were ideal for public transportation. They were cheap, fast, and went to plenty of places. The system developed around Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, branching out to Detroit to the east and Jackson to the west. Bigger and better equipment was added, and larger companies took over the small ones. In western Washtenaw County, two interurban railways engaged in a struggle for survival. Occasionally the interurbans crashed into buildings or one another, with disastrous results. Electric Trolleys of Washtenaw County explains how electric mass transportation flourished starting in the 1890s, why it bloomed, and why it suddenly became extinct after only a few decades.
Author Bio: H. Mark Hildebrandt of Ann Arbor offers a wealth of experience and knowledge about electric railway, or traction, lines. Over his lifetime, he has collected countless photographs and memorabilia concerning both steam and electric rail systems. Martha A. Churchill is an attorney in Milan. She has written numerous articles and columns for publication and has traveled on subways all around the world.
|
