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In favor of the home – lot route

Against the route through the street.

   

1. Straight line to (Wapping).

1. Sharp turns, and dangerous

 

curve under railway arch.

2. No excavations or filling

2&3. Costs more to build the road.

3. Less cost to lay track.

4 Grant through the street,

4 Necessary track way at foot of

loaded with conditions.

home lots in many cases given.

 

5 Obviates all turns, especially that

5 Liable to accident, & cause great

under the arch, already dangerous.

costs, at sharp turn under arch.

6 Shorter time.

6 Longer time in running.

7 Less power

7 More power required

8 Greater speed

8 Less speed possible.

9 No concessions

9 Valuable concessions must be

10 Tracks kept clear of snow at

made for use of street. – Such

less cost – No obligations as

just granted in Brookline at great

to condition of Deerfield Street.

cost to road.

 

10. People will expect shops in front

 

of every house.

11. Only 6 stops to the mile.

11 Most beautiful street in N.E.

12. Beauty of the historic town

ruined.

preserved, gratitude and

12 Famous trees ruined, turf destroyed

good will of all citizens and

grassy banks cut away and

property holders.

general disfigurement by this

13. Photographers and artists can still

and by unsightly trolley poles

find subjects

and overhead wires – much

 

worse than telegraph poles against

 

which citizens have always protested

 

13. Danger to children, and to teams

 

and inconvenience to householders

 

in the matter of hitching teams

 

in front of their houses.

 

14. Quiet of the village, which has

 

been the chief attracton, ruined

 

by the bumping and whizzing of

 

car and jingle of bells. – and

(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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Deerfield, Massachusetts, citizens were not against the trolley itself, but argued over the route it should take - down the town's history-laden main street or alongside the existing railroad tracks to the west. Emma Lewis Coleman, who lived in Boston and Deerfield, drew up this list that included thirteen reasons in favor of the main street "home-lot route" and seventeen against. She was convinced that if the trolley came down Deerfield's main street the result would be "the most beautiful street in N.E. [New England] ruined." The track was eventually laid down the main street and opened in December 1901.

 

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Reasons in Favor or Against the Trolley Route in Deerfield

creator   Emma Lewis Coleman (1853-1942)
date   c. 1900
location   Deerfield, Massachusetts
height   9.25"
width   8.0"
process/materials   manuscript, paper, ink
item type   Public Announcements/Roster
accession #   #L99.118


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See Also...

Petition to Selectmen of Deerfield regarding trolley

Letter to George Sheldon regarding trolley

Deerfield Inn and Trolley


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