[PRCo] The need for trolley cars....

[Fred Schneider]

There were perhaps a few died in the wool railfans out there who took  
offense with me a few years ago when I made the remark, summing up  
the automobile versus trolley war, that went "he who doesn't have a  
car doesn't have a woman."
Every Monday evening the Lancaster (Pennsylvania) New Era publishes  
about 24 column inches of events in the past ... nothing over 100  
years ago probably because no one is old enough to remember.    There  
was a great piece this Monday that sums up dating from 75 years ago   
and whether or not you really wanted to throw two tokens into the  
trolley fare box to take your squeeze out on Friday night.   It read  
as follows:

"NECKING PARTIES:  A local constable promised to make arrests if  
"necking" and "petting" parties continued in automobiles parking  
without lights along public highways.   According to the constable,  
deserted roads leading into Gable's Park were crowed at night with  
parked cars.  The threat followed complaints lodged by a New Danville  
Pike resident against a half-dozen motorists who had parked their  
cars on his property.   Oct. 3, 1930. "

Two columns over to the right was a piece announcing the opening of  
the Terre Hill trolley line in October 1905.   It was built as part  
of that last great boom that included routes out of the city to  
Christiana, Quarryville and Elizabethtown.   They were gone seventeen  
months after the necking party incident.

When my mother and dad met, she told me he had two important things  
on his wish list.   One was a vacuum tube radio to replace the  
crystal receiver (some of you might just be old enough to understand  
what I'm talk about).  His other wish was for a new Model A Ford.     
He built one, bought the other.    I think I know why.
☺