The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1899-08-11
Fairfield County.
SHELTON.
NEW TRoLLEY LINE OPENED.

NEW VhOLt<EI LINE OfENEOs i
) The trolley line between Shelton and
Stratford was opened on Thursday and
was quite an event for this place, giving
it direct communication by rail with the
outside world. 1t was in 1888 that the
charter was granted, but OWING TO the
great opposition of the steam railway
and OF the inhabitants of Derby, 1t 10 OF
ly now that the line has been completed
so that the company can run their cars
over the line. Invitations were extend
ed to the town and borough officials and |
to quite number of our citizens to 60 |
TO Bridgeport and participate in the |
opening. About 40 went down by rail-
road and at IL. DO the trolley cars started |
with the Ansonia band in the lead. There
were six cars containing so persons or
more each, every car being crowded.
Demonstrations were made by the citi- |
Zens all along the route and on the arrf- |
val Of the cars at Bridge street there was
q large crowd gathered. There was Inn
mense cheering and waving of flags and
all the steam whistles and factory bells
were doing their utmost to give che Joy
ous welcome. The cars proceeded co
the terminus at the Derby end of the
Housatonic bridge and there were
switched on to the Derby line and pass
ed through Derby! to Ansonia on the
east side and returned on the west side,
la car of the Derby line plotting them. 1t
was $50 o'clock when the return was
made from Shelton and the guests were
taken from Stratford to Meadows End,
Milford, when a fine shore dinner was
given them and the return here was
made at 8 30 O'Clock. Soon after the ex-
cursion train left Bridgeport the regular
cars were put on and they are running
every half hour. They were we'll pat
ronized on Friday, people from Bridge
port and Stratford coming here and peo-
pie here taking the ride for pleasure, it
being very pleasant route beside the
Housatenic river. Also on Saturday
from the middle of the forenoon on to
late In the evening every car was filled
or nearly 20. On Saturday the local
lagent, e. J. .Barden, sold about $50
tround trip tickets to Bridgeport, the
price being 40 cents each. On Sunday.
after early morning the cars were well
filled and in the afternoon there was q
llarge traffic each way. At q, 3 and
to'clock, three cars left at each hour al
filled with people, and then after ar
hour, no cars returning. an accident was
lsurmised, which proved too true. About
$50 O'Clock car came up and when il
:, returned there were nearly 100 on it. -
The news of the awful accident on TIT
trolley at Peck's Mills on Sunday, reach
ed here about 5 O'Clock, and there wa
much anxiety to learn the particulars
Some of the citizens were at the plac'
shortly after and one was ON car wait
ing to cross the bridge and saw the Ca
take the fatal plunge. After the" recep
ton of the news, Howe avenue was linet
with vehicles and bicyclists goiug to tn
scene or the terrible tragedy. Their
:. were no Shelton people on the fatal Car
: One young man left on the car at Bridge
e port, but stopped off at Stratford ant
: thus saved his life. The sad news wa
i the topic of conversation all over th
: village and at the corner of Bridge stree
Q and Howe avenue many people wer
eongregated until late at night.