Piece of History: The trolley to Bever Park

This photograph of a crowd at Bever Park in Cedar Rapids was taken July 10, 1904, near the park shelter, on the first Sunday the new trolley line stopped at the park.

The picture was taken by well-known and prolific Cedar Rapids photographer, William Baylis.

The new trolley line to the park opened on Monday, July 4, for the Fourth of July holiday. Hundreds of people showed up to ride to the park and spend the holiday there with their families.

The opening of the new line had been delayed because a driving pulley for the generator in the power house burst and had to be replaced at the last minute. Once the track was laid and the trolley wire had been strung from 19th Street to the park, the new pulley was installed. It worked.

Interestingly, the street cars could have gone out to Bever Park without the new pulley. But the rail company refused to operate the cars only one way.

On principle, trolley company officials told the Cedar Rapids Republican they would not take a crowd somewhere without having “facilities enough to bring them back at night in short order and with no fear of accidents.”

Tara Templeman is curator at The History Center. Comments: curator@historycenter.org