Taken from the Pawtuxet Valley Historian Volume 14 Issue 7

Lou Maynard introduced our speaker, Scott Molloy Jr., Associate Professor at URI's Labor Research Center. Professor Molloy has written various articles about labor and industrial history including Trolley Wars: Streetcar Workers on the Line. Smithsonian Institution Press. 1966.

Mass transportation in Rhode Island dates back to the days of the stagecoaches that ran from Boston to Providence. It progressed to the horse-drawn omnibuses that took people along muddy, rutted streets. Shortly thereafter fixed-rail horse trolleys appeared which electrified trolleys later followed. Until 1894 the only way to get to Providence from the Valley was by steam railroad.

Things changed on June 21, 1894 when the Pawtuxet Valley Street Railway Company began serving mill villages in the southwestern part of the state and made an eight-mile run through the Pawtuxet Valley. Everyone celebrated. Jericho and Riverpoint competed for the best celebration. Jericho raised $250 and advertised that "all roads lead to the zenith village of the Valley cluster". They featured road races, a fat man's race, a parade, a high wire act, a greased pole competition, a balloon ascension, and of course speeches. Thousands came out on Main and Quidnick Streets.

Not to be outdone, Riverpoint built an arch over the tracks and hung a huge "welcome" sign, Chinese lanterns were strung over the bridge, Professor Sweet was hired to perform his high-wire act over the electric streetcar wires, a concert was scheduled and fireworks were set off. There is no record as to the judges or who won the competition but it was reported that everyone enjoyed the festivities.

Streetcars transformed the nature of life. It became easier and quicker to go from place to place. Trolleys make for quicker travel. Weekend trips to amusement parks were now something to look forward to. "Bloomer" cars, opened like convertibles, took passengers to Crescent Park to enjoy the rides and eat "bivalve martyrs". Five or six trolleys were rented for a "trolley party" that headed to Rocky Point. A buffet was served on board and to add to the merriment fireworks were thrown out on the street as the trolley sped along its way.

Property values went up everywhere the line was extended. Residences and businesses gradually located close to the lines and to the stations to make the best use of available transportation. Electric, water and telephone lines were laid along with the trolley tracks.

Along with progress problems increased. Cars were now 40 feet in length compared to the old horsecars that were only 15 feet long. The first horse drawn cars allowed 20 to 25 people to share a ride and now over 100 people could board. Accidents increased. In 1894, the last year of the horsecars, there were 24 accidents with 9 deaths. By 1900 there were 111 accidents and 22 deaths.

In the early 20's competition from jitneys and buses brought about a decreased in passengers. During WWII gas rationing increased the number of passengers to 400,000 in one day but after the war rider-ship decreased dramatically as auto registrations increased.

Over the years mass transportation brought about a gradual change in social relations and gave people a sense of freedom. It enabled them to choose to work away from their neighborhoods, to shop wherever they pleased, to enjoy their leisure time going to the beach or to the park.

Today with more discretionary income than at any other time in history people still enjoy the same freedoms but with the independence brought about by automobile there is a significant difference…daily life has changed and social relations have disappeared.
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