2020.02.06 THROW BACK THURSDAY - LITTLE ROCK'S LAST ELECTRIC STREETCAR AND NEWEST ELECTRIC TROLLEY plus Class News
THROW BACK THURSDAY - LITTLE ROCK'S LAST ELECTRIC STREETCAR AND NEWEST ELECTRIC TROLLEY plus Class News
1947:
Digging a little further, the last trolley car on the line to the Heights actually operated on August 31, 1947. Gasoline buses operated on this line for several months while the overhead wire was rehung for the trolley bus operation. Electric buses started December 25, 1947. The last trolleys in Little Rock, operating Christmas 1947 as pictured with employees, were cars on the Fair Park-East 9th line. The driver would get out of the bus/car at the most extreme west end of the Kavanaugh line where Pine Valley Road intersects and go to the rear of the vehicle and switch the power cables to begin the trip back east on Kavanaugh—lot of sparks and electrical flashes—this was in early ‘50’s I think.
2020:
Many vibrant destinations in Little Rock and North Little Rock are linked by the 2.5-mile River Rail Electric Streetcar line. Hop on one of the replica vintage trolleys and travel from one of a number of hotels along the route to a concert at the 18,000-seat Alltel Arena or an event at the 220,000-square-foot Statehouse Convention Center. The line will also take you to fascinating shops and art galleries as well as restaurants and nightspots in both the River Market and the historic Argenta neighborhood. From the trolley line you can easily walk to destinations like Dickey-Stephens Park, where you can catch a minor league baseball game.
Riders can also glimpse some amazing views of the Arkansas River and Little Rock skyline from the streetcars as they cross the Arkansas River on the Main Street Bridge. Points of interest along the route include the Historic Arkansas Museum, the Museum of Discovery, the Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center and the main branch of the Central Arkansas Library System, as well as Robinson Center Music Hall, Riverfest Amphitheater, Heifer International's Headquarters and the Clinton Presidential Center.
Round-trip River Rail fares are 50 cents for adults and 25 cents for persons with disabilities and senior citizens. A day pass is $2. To find out more, call 375-6717 or visit www.cat.org. River Rail hours are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 11 a.m.-12 a.m. Thursday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.
Class News
As soon as Gwen Shepherd, Edwina Keith and I heard that Jackie Bush was in rehab following a stroke last November, we rushed over to visit him. I think he was happy we were there. You judge from the picture! ha He says he is feeling fine and has no problems at all EXCEPT every time he stands up, his balance is capoot and he starts falling. He's been in Baptist ICU, Baptist Rehab and now Briarwood Rehab. He's ready to get home to his 4 horses and 14 dogs! If you live here, go visit him, Room 519.
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Monday night, 21 showed up for CEO Dinner (Classmates Eat Out). Again, if you live anywhere near, let me know if you'd like to join us the first Monday of each month. Charlie and Sherlyn Cale even drive down from FAYETTEVILLE to join us. Now that's loyalty!!!
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Still have responses coming in from our "former Newsboys"!!!
I can identify with Jim and Jimmie, as I threw a 125 paper Arkansas Gazette that started on
Asher Ave. I threw papers to a small trailer park that had about a dozen trailers. At the end
of each month I would go to collect my fee, without fail a couple of the trailers would be gone,
each month a repeat. I normally didn't get paid by about 50% of my customers, complaining
to my route manager was useless, never got his assistance. The final straw was when a lady
refused to pay me by telling me that she was the mid-wife that delivered me into this world,
so she didn't feel that she owed me anything.
Don Szurgot
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I'm falling down on birthdays! I'll get caught up next week!
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One more thing. Mark your calendars now - TIGERFEST 2020, FIRST THURSDAY IN MAY,
MAY 7. MORE LATER!
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ML