Cape Ann Trolley Program

Main Street, Gloucester

Trolleys--streetcars--the electric railway-- once encircled Cape Ann and linked into a regional network that took passengers throughout most of New England and beyond. Yes, there were steel tracks affixed to the Blynman drawbridge crossing the Annisquam River.

Gloucester resident Paul Harling will present his collected images and research on Cape Ann Trolleys in a Sandy Bay Historical Society program next Monday, October 15, 7:30 at the Rockport Library. Admission is free.

Paul Harling surrounded by trolley memorabilia

Lanesville postcard

Trolley service was completed from Gloucester through Lanesville as far as Mason Square in the 1890s.

Rockport postcard

Proceeding counter-clockwise from Gloucester, tracks were laid to Rockport and Pigeon Cove. While they were being extended to Halibut Point in September 1896  the Village Improvement Society sponsored a Jolly Trolley party to Ipswich for the day, departing Pigeon Cove at 9am, reaching  Ipswich at 11:30. "As it was the first visit of many of the party to this charming place, they were agreeably surprised at beautiful scenery of this most picturesque town." Newspaper advertisements in the summer of 1899 offered trolley linkages from Pigeon Cove all the way to Nashua, New Hampshire.

In 1902 round-the-Cape service was finally completed. Come hear Paul Harling describe the marvels of "The Electrics" at the daybreak of modern transportation.