Jump on the Front St Streetcar
Orson Peck's 1906 Composite Photo of the Streetcar in Traverse City that could have been. Peck was a well-known photographer in the region known for playing with "reality".
According to Lawrence & Lucille Wakefields’ book Sail & Rail: A Narrative History of Transportation in the Traverse City Region there was a 10 year period beginning in 1897 where an electric Streetcar running along Front St. and continuing out to Old Mission was on the agenda. The idea generated creation of a corporation to promote the idea and bring together the needed investors. The concept obtained a charter to go ahead, but each year passed without any tangible progress and was finally abandoned in 1907.
The automobile soon entered the picture and the idea disappeared.
Perhaps as Traverse City proceeds it might consider the concept once again. If we want to increase pedestrian trips around the city, we will also need to offer some quick & easy “boosts” to help navigate the city.
A streetcar could also help slow and calm traffic.
Could you imagine a use for an electric streetcar running back and forth on Front St. from Division St. to the Holiday Inn or further?
This isn’t such a crazy idea when compared to some of the ideas that the Grand Vision inspired.
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Sail & Rail: A Narrative History of Transportation in the Traverse City Region is available at the Traverse City District Library. To view more historic postcards of Traverse City, go to TC Postcards
An open letter to President Tim Nelson @ NMC..
Good morning Tim!
I hope this note finds you happy and healthy!
NMC deserves a HUGE round of applause for the care and commitment the grounds and maintenance crews display, with snow and ice removal.
I feel NMC should be considered the “Gold Standard” for dealing with winter snow and ice conditions….on ALL of your campuses.
The excellent care the parking lots and sidewalks receive at NMC, FAR exceed any other municipal or institutional surfaces I know.
This excellent care should not be taken for granted! Students, faculty, staff and visitors can walk safely, any time, all winter at NMC.
Please spread the word, your staff is doing a great job.
NMC “gets it”!
It snows here in the winter! NMC has planned, prepared and deals with the snow.
If downtown Traverse City streets, sidewalks and parking lots received as much care and attention as NMC does, it would be a far safer, inviting and vibrant place for shoppers, and visitors.
We have a lot to learn.
NMC should “educate” regional institutions and municipalities to its approach on dealing with winter precipitation.
Job well done. Know it! Pass it on! Thank YOU!
John Robert Williams