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 people were not against the trolley itself. Their argument was where the tracks should be laid - down the main street or to the west next to the railroad tracks that were already there. This list of "in favor" and "against" the route through the town street lists 13 reasons for the town street route and 17 against. Emma Lewis Coleman (1853-1942), who lived in Boston and Deerfield, wrote up the list. She was sure that if the trolley came down Deerfield's main street "the most beautiful street in N.E. [would be] ruined." The track was laid down the main street and opened in December of 1901.

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