Happy 4th & 100 Year Celebration

[DF Cramer]

KITTANNING and LEECHBURG RAILWAYS COMPANY


By the late nineteenth century, the entire country was getting trolley fever, including rural Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. Armstrong County is located approximately 45 miles north of Pittsburgh and has Kittanning as its county seat. Ford City is located three miles south of Kittanning and was founded in 1887. The Allegheny River bisects the county from north to south. 

The Kittanning Traction Company was chartered on July 15, 1890 for the purpose of constructing a standard gauge (4' 8 1/2") trolley line in Kittanning. No activity followed until 1898, when the Kittanning and Ford City Street Railway Company was formed with Frank A. Moesta as president, John T. Crawford as secretary and James McCullough as treasurer. These gentlemen plus J.A. Gault and John F. Hileman formed the board of directors of the fledgling company. 

The first trip on the line took place on July 3, 1899 at 10:10 AM with Superintendent A.B. Norton and electrician Greene in charge of the car. They traversed the line from the Valley depot to the lower end of South Jefferson Street and were greeted by hearty demonstrations and fireworks. The car, with its oak interior, could hold 50 persons and apparently caused little concern to the horses pulling rigs that were met along the route.



Happy Fourth of July to All!!!

DFCramer--Teacher-Trombonist-Historian-Conductor           
                      dfc1 at alltel.net
       www.geocities.com/Vienna/6652
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