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P6302

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ID Number: P6302
Item Name: Image
Title: Official Opening of the Windsor Electric Railway / Ouverture officielle du tramway électrique de Windsor
Title (Fre): Ouverture officielle du tramway électrique de Windsor
Date: 06/09/1886
Description: Black and white photograph of the opening of the first electric streetcar for the Windsor Electric Railway (WERy) taken June 9. 1886 in front of the British American Hotel; there are two cars to the streetcar, both of which are filled with men, women and children; the front car (on the left) has a hard top with bell on the roof and "Windsor Electric Street Railway" painted just below the roof; the sides are closed but the windows are open; the second car has an awning and open sides; there are men and boys and a dog standing in front of the first car; behind the streetcars is the British American Hotel; the hotel is tall (two storeys visible) and there is a carving of a beaver above each window; on the main floor of the hotel behind the streetcar is J.A. Grosscup Merchant Tailors; only the sign and awnings of the store are visible in the photograph.
History: The Town of Windsor in 1886 had the first electric streetcar in Canada which went in service between Windsor and Walkerville. The Windsor Electric Railway (WERy) originated with Richard Bangham, a Windsor street commissioner who was inspired while on a trip home to England. He contacted J.W. Tringham, an electrical enthusiast, to see if a line could be built from Windsor to Walkerville. Charles Van Depoele, an ex-Detroit electrical engineer and furniture builder, was hired to build the line. The Van Depoele Company supplied the traction motor, wire and power supply and the WERy constructed the 25 foot car and trailer at the company shop. Like the typical horse car, bench seats were along two sides. A barn was built at the Walkerville end of the line. The car reached Walkerville about every 12 minutes and for the passengers waiting for it, benches were placed inside the car barn. To warn of an approaching car, a push button was installed on a pole at the end of the track. At the Windsor Terminus there was no need since the car was in sight of the British American Hotel. The motorman of the first Electric Car was Lindon Clark Brooks, an electrical engineer and inventor who was born in Shelbyville, Indiana in 1853. Brooks was appointed first official Lineman for the project and lived in Windsor 1880-1935 where he was a prominent black property owner. The British American Hotel was located on the northeast corner of Ouellette and Sandwich (now Riverside) Streets. The building began as the Hirons House Hotel. It survived the Great Fire of Windsor in 1871, was enlarged and became the American House/American Hotel. In the mid-1880s it became known as the British American Hotel. The building was demolished in 1975 and the Piazza Udine, part of the riverfront park system, now sits in its place.
Place made: Canada - Ontario - Windsor
Collection Name: Museum Windsor