2008 trains and trolleys
The May 22, 2008 program featuring the history of the trains and trolleys in Kennett Township was a great success with an overflow crowd of more than 75. Supervisor Bob Hammaker, dressed as a train conductor, welcomed "All Aboard," while Program Chair Mary Keyser blew the whistle to introduce the speakers. A number of Historical Commission members wore railroad caps and one of the presenters, Jay Roland Minshall, dressed as a trainman in overalls, red neckerchief, and cap. Sara Hannum Meadows arranged beautiful bouquets of deep red peonies around the meeting room. Marion Guthrie and Sara displayed memorabilia of the bygone era, including the original Rosedale station sign, and Mary Keyser exhibited three paintings of former train stations. Staff members Cathy Rowe and Elaine Fling made sure the refreshment table abounded with fresh fruit, cookies, and punch. A number of railroad afficionados were in the audience.
Three speakers were featured:
David Shepherd, author of The Kennett Township Railroad Story, gave a slide overview of the development of the railroad and trolleys in the area.
Richard Hall, a well-known railroad and trolley historian, offered anecdotes about the P&BCR line, including details of the 1885 train robbery between Oxford and Kennett.
Jay Roland Minshall, KTHC member, relived personal experiences of riding the train to Philadelphia as a Drexel University student in the 1930s.
did you know?
Did you know the Philadelphia and Baltimore Central Railroad, which came through Kennett and Kennett Township, was probably misnamed?
The original plan for the railroad in the 1850s was to provide a direct connect between Philadelphia and Baltimore through an inland, or central route. This plan was never realized, since the line never did reach Baltimore, but extended only to Oxford. After the Civil War, the line was extended to Port Deposit, Maryland, where a different railroad continued to Baltimore. In fact, for some period of time, passengers were required to spend the night in Oxford before proceeding to Baltimore.
Did you know that stagecoaches were used before the railroad?
As tracks were laid, railroad service was extended to the end of the tracks. In 1857, when the Philadelphia and Baltimore line reached Painters Crossroads (now the intersection of Routes 1 and 202), there was regularly scheduled stagecoach service from Painters Crossing to the borough of Kennett Square with a stop at Hamorton.
Did you know that early railroad travel was not always reliable?
Early engines were small and were often underpowered, especially on hills. On some lines, passenger tickets included a requirement that passengers must get off the train and push when the engine could not climb a hill. There was also a newspaper account of a train stopping between stations so that the passengers could pick blackberries.
Did you know that the arrival of the railroad caused a real estate boom?
A local newspaper reported that before the route of the railroad through Kennett Township was established, a farm was offered for sale for $17,000. There were no buyers. When it was later learned that the railroad line would pass next to the same farm, it was sold for $25,000.
Did you know that the railroad had a very difficult time raising money to lay the tracks and buy equipment?
The Philadelphia and Baltimore Central Line, which came through Kennett Township, initially issued stock at $45 per share. The stock was sold on the installment plan in nine payments of $5. Local newspapers ran notices when installments were due. Suppliers were often paid in stock rather than cash. A newspaper at the time reported that the largest stockholder in the corporation was a Mr. Theophilus Sickels, the contractor who performed the engineering survey to establish the route of the tracks. It is virtually certain that he was paid in stock for a significant part of the survey. The railroad later issued bonds to continue construction. In spite of creative financing, the line went into bankruptcy in 1862, but managed to continue operations and campe out of bankruptcy in 1863.
Did you know that it was hazardous to put one's head outside an open window on a moving train?
Not for the reason you might think. In a time when most men chewed tobacco and spit, male passengers would often spit juice out the windows of the moving train. Enough said!
Did you know that the US Mail "flew" at the turn of the last century?
Well, not very far, but as the train approached a station at which no passengers were to be picked up or discharged, the train would merely slow down. Then the postal agents in the mail car would throw the mail pouch from the moving train onto the platform, and the station agent in turn would throw the outgoing mail pouch onto the moving mail car. An early resident recalled that at times the mail pouch would be thrown onto the train with such enthusiasm that the pouch would "fly" out the open door on the other side of the car!
Did you know that cow catchers on the front of the engine were an important safety device, not for the cows, but for the train?
In 1866, a newspaper reported that the local train ran over a cow, resulting in the derailment of the engine, the tender, and the baggage car. The train was delayed, but only for two hours. In 1869, there was a similar collision with an ox, with similar results.
Did you know that there was a train robber between Kennett and Oxford?
In 1885, a local newspaper reported that two men boarded an eastbound train outside of Oxford. These individuals robbed several passengers and jumped off the train. Authorities promptly apprehended the robbers.
Did you know that when the railroad first came to Kennett Square in 1859, passengers were segregated by sex?
The first passenger station in Kennett Square had two waiting rooms, each with its own ticket window. One was for men and the other for women. We do not know why this occurred, although perhaps it was because of the tobacco chewing mentioned above.
Did you know that the Kennett area had trolleys as well as a railroad?
The trolley came through the Township to Kennett Square from two directions. The first came from the north as an extension of the West Chester Street Railway. This line came from West Chester by way of Lenape and Unionville. The second came from Wilmington by way of Brandywine Springs, Hockessin, and Yorklyn. This trolley entered Kennett Borough along Birch Street and S. Union Street and then turned west via W. State Street to West Grove.