The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-08-25
FIRST TROLLEY GAR HERE JUST
 20 YEARS AGO
Ran From Lower Bridge to
 Stratford Center.
HEFT AND, RADEI
 WERE ITS PILOTS

 opening of the extensive trolley sys- tenn which today honeycombs Bridge port and surrounding towns was cele- brated, when the East End division of the Bridgeport Traction company began operation under electric power.
 The, power house opening and the sendirAx of two trial cars over the line had been done the day Ibefore When near Straford one of the 6cars, had been baptized oy officials of the road in a deiuge oh champagme. The line extended rom the lower bridge, Stratford avenue, 10 the hag-pole at Stratford center
 A party of city officials. traction or fcers and invited guests from tnls clty and elsewhere throughout the East Ter. the lower bridge in a series of eight cars for Stratford center at oclock in the afternoon.
 Manager Andrew Rade1 had charge Of car No. l. but yielded the honor of turning thes current into the moEor If the car to the late Mayor Walter B rsostwick MT Rade1 then took charge, of the car, running 1t to Strat- ford On this car besides the mayor and the officers of the company. III cluding the president, Col. N- II. t1eIt' were State Comptroller Stauo, St1.e s,sae Treasurer Sanger, Secretary of State GTean J. Phe1ans present coroner or Brafrf4eld county. the late postmaster, Aur4lius Steward. Thomas McMuIlen, president Of the board of councllmen, City Attorney Daniel Ravenport, City Clerk Er C. Mullins. ex-AdaLyors Haynes ~ ryewa5-tx and other continent guests.
 T1ae other cars were in charge respec- lively Of. G. Stanley H left, Electrical Engfneer zFIe1ds; Foreman J. McDon-i ol1sh of south Orange, ". Foreman Toseph Porter and James Butler. as ss5stant superdntendent of the local company. MT. Hayward of the General ] F,lec,trfc company and T. J. Monks, H4Fae traction cenpanys electrician, The guests Included the common council, boardA of public works, heads < of city departnents, superior and city < court officials and others, the whole party numbering 400.
 The journey was like a triumphant pageant. Sborekeepers, residents along the line and town officers Of stratford, turned out to cheer the new Iv installed method of transportation Doorways and windows of residences along the route were crowded with people who gave vent to their pleasure in almost every conceivabfe way Broorns. flags, hats, handkerchiefs and other articles were waved and at the street corners the air was rent with cheers and shouts.
 stratford avenue neither before nor since has witnessed such a scene of genuine and universal enthusiasm The people of Stratford joined in a. noisy dernonstr ation to welcome the first trip of the trolley cars.
 Col. Heft, president of the company. occupied the platform of the front car with General Manager Radel, leading the triumphant parade
 Each member of the party wore a wfite satin badge which was particu- larlv Inappropriate to the occasion. It was 1ettered Bridgeport Traction Company, Electric Opening, August 24 1S94.'' Beneath this was a picture 4Tan 011a- = c1e that served our citizens on our street-cars lines from 1886. On this was the inscription Bridgeport Horse R. R. 1S66 Then came the word of a trolley car and the inscription, s4Brfdgeport Traction Company, 1894 .
 After proceeding to 6tratford the party retufa1ed about 2:30 stopping at Avon park, where mammoth clam bake was served The guests consurn- round and long cIa1ns, 1000 pounds of Holsters, 1000 pounds of b1uefsh, 800 pounds striped bass. 500 crabs, 1900 ears green corn, 40 bushels white potatoes, 40 bushels sweet potatoes, 400 water melons 200 caarteioupes, bushels of cucumbers and tomatoes and stacks of celery.
 Besides that there were s.immense bowls filled with a ruby colored fluid in which hoa<ted sliced lemons, oranges,
 
 to act like magic in promoting good spirits if such had been lacking. There were mysterious baskets labeled Pomery Sec or some such foreign in scription and there were half barrels from which after a faucet had been sued. a liquid which resembled root beer but which was not root beer. Those who tasted it, however, said 2 it was just as good.
 The clambake was served on tables &et under the trees and there Con tractor Thomas c. Murray who, in three months had constructed the road, was warnly congratulated by the as- sembled officials and others.
 The trolley ears were open to public travel the following day. The officers of the company were: President, Col. Heft; vice president, Elias $. Ward, of Newark; secretary, Gen T. L. Watson treasurer. William Seherer, Newark; general manager. Andrew RadeL The directors, Henry M. Doremus, Jersey City; .Uzal A. McCarter New Jersey Henry Setzer, Jr., David F. Read, Samuel W. Baldwin, F. M. Benham, all of Bridgeport and Henry Redmond of New York.
 Of the officials Col Heft and Mr. Radel are still residents Of Bridgeport The former, after constructing miles of street railway for the New Haven road, retired from active pursuits and now makes his home with his wife in a handsome home in Park avenue.
 Mir Rade1. soon after he completed the electric line from Bridgeport to Shelton and had witnessed the install lation of electricity as the motive pow CT for the street railway system throughout the city and it's adjacent suburbs built and operated a line from Narragansett Pier, R. l., to the town of Wickford.
 He disposed of all of his railway holdings some years ago and since then has busted himself with develop ing the oyster industry to such an ex- tent that today he is sone of the 1arg- est if not the largest oyster grower Yin the worlds He resides with his interesting family in the former Bish- op home in Washington avenue, and IS the owner of the famous Gladstone