Opening in 1896 to carry passengers and freight, the Shelburne Falls & Colrain Street Railway changed lives and businesses in the two towns until the coming of the automobile bankrupted the line in 1927. Shirley Pelletier will tell the story at the next meeting of the Colrain Historical Society on Thursday, October 13.
Image credit: Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum screenshot. |
Note the special location! The event will be held at the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum, 14 Depot Street in Shelburne Falls(*). The program begins at 7:30 p.m., following the annual business meeting at 7:00. From 6:30 to 7:30 attendees can ride the renovated No. 10 trolley. The program is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served.
(*) The SFTM has a GPS warning on their website and provides a link to correct directions. See http://www.sftm.org/contacts.shtml
Sat. Oct. 15 – Trolley Bus Tour – Ride along the Route of the SF&C
The Colrain Historical Society will take passengers on a trolley bus ride along the route of the former Shelburne Falls & Colrain Street Railway on Saturday, October 15, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. The ride will begin at the Trolley Museum in Shelburne Falls, following the old line to Colrain and back, with commentary describing what riders would have seen 120 years ago.
Map credit: Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum |
Tickets to ride cost $10, which includes ice cream, recalling the time when Shelburne Falls residents took the trolley up to “Coleraine City” to enjoy ice cream at the Colrain Inn. There are seats for only 26, so early registration is advised. Call Belden Merims at 624-3453 to reserve seats. She must have your name, phone number and check or cash, no credit cards, no later than October 10.