[milwaukee-electric] Re: Fun Billboard, Just in Time for the Spring Construction Season

[William Sell]

Don

At the Hillcrest location, or near it, there was a Co-op.  An actual 
store; I remember buying from there once, but the regular shops were 
closer to our house - east of Highway 100 on Forest Home. But I do 
remember the store; and have a vague recollection of fuel tanks in 
that area.  Not sure if the Co-op and fuel tanks were part of the 
same operation, but I believe they were. I have no recollection of 
Standard Oil - perhaps that was earlier.

Bill



At 12:43 PM 3/16/2011, Don L. Leistikow wrote:
>Bill Sell and list:   Hillcrest, as it was known, was the site of a very
>small Standard Oil facility, a local supply of oil, perhaps, possibly
>gasoline.  No one on duty, just the round storage tanks.
>
>In the old days, tracing old timetables and services, it was apparent
>that while some cars ran through to Burlington and East Troy, it was a
>common practice to run a stub car between St.Martins and Burlington.
>This car, one of the 1107 - 1110 series former MN rebuilds, would use
>the wye to turn the car.  So, an East Troy car would then disembark
>passengers for Stations on the Burlington line.  Eastbound (north)
>passengers coming in from Burlingtion, would make connection with an
>Eastbound car from East Troy at 
>St.Martins.
>
>The old original substation, was cleared out and the mainfloor used as a
>waiting room for those passengers who lived there or simply made
>connecitons.
>
>With he advent of total abandonment of the B and ET lines in 1938 and
>1939, the service was cut back to Hales Corners.  The three wooden
>former MN cars, rebuilt into double-ended, air door suburban cars (1102,
>1103 and 1104) between PSB and WJ, were now to be used for through
>service via WJ to HC
>
>As the Standard Oil facility and the WEPCO Line Pole Yard were still
>located at Hillcrest, trackage was maintained to that location.
>Rush-hour traffic became too heavy with gas rationing during WW 2,
>requiring either duplex trans or two singles in mu, to handle the
>crowds. To accomodate the single ended cars, a loop was constructed at
>Hillcrest. Traffic became so strong that meets were arranged at Oklahoma
>and Brookfield (Layton Avenue) Sidings.
>
>Don L .
>
>

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"So much has been destroyed, I have cast my lot with those who, age 
after age, perversely, with no extraordinary power, reconstitute the 
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