Grand Rapids & Reeds Lake Railway
Encyclopedia
The Grand Rapids and Reeds Lake Railway Company was organized in 1872 as a horsecar
tramway
company. Initially, the streetcar was to run down Sherman Street south of Wealthy Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan
. Property owners along Wealthy Street raised $17,000 in subscriptions as an inducement and donated it to the Grand Rapids and Reeds Lake Railway. This contribution paid the cost of construction of the streetcar tracks along Wealthy Street, with the railway company agreeing to operate and maintain the line. This line began downtown, running from Fulton Street to LaGrave Avenue then along Wealthy Street to Reeds Lake
and Ramona Park
, providing general access the entire length of the route for a ten cent fare. On March 23, 1875, the city of Grand Rapids authorized the use of some of its streets for the tramsway. Service began in 1875. In 1877, the company replaced horses with a ten-ton steam locomotive capable of pulling three cars.
In 1883, the company merged with the city's three other streetcar companies to form the Street Railway Company of Grand Rapids.
Horsecar
A horsecar or horse-drawn tram is an animal-powered streetcar or tram.These early forms of public transport developed out of industrial haulage routes that had long been in existence, and from the omnibus routes that first ran on public streets in the 1820s, using the newly improved iron or steel...
tramway
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
company. Initially, the streetcar was to run down Sherman Street south of Wealthy Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
. Property owners along Wealthy Street raised $17,000 in subscriptions as an inducement and donated it to the Grand Rapids and Reeds Lake Railway. This contribution paid the cost of construction of the streetcar tracks along Wealthy Street, with the railway company agreeing to operate and maintain the line. This line began downtown, running from Fulton Street to LaGrave Avenue then along Wealthy Street to Reeds Lake
Reeds Lake
Reeds Lake is a fresh-water lake in the city of East Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States.A good way to enjoy Reeds Lake is from one of the many benches located along the shoreline at John Collins Park. Named for John A...
and Ramona Park
Ramona Park
Ramona Park was an amusement park located in the city of East Grand Rapids, Michigan between 1897 and 1955.The amusement park, owned and operated by the Grand Rapids Street Railway Company, was a destination spot for thousands of families...
, providing general access the entire length of the route for a ten cent fare. On March 23, 1875, the city of Grand Rapids authorized the use of some of its streets for the tramsway. Service began in 1875. In 1877, the company replaced horses with a ten-ton steam locomotive capable of pulling three cars.
In 1883, the company merged with the city's three other streetcar companies to form the Street Railway Company of Grand Rapids.