This post card says that it shows Lawrence's first streetcar, but should probably say Lawrence's first electric streetcar. There was a horse or mule drawn line from 1871 to 1903.

The car pictured is number 109, and several men can be seen in and around the car, which does not have solid sides, so the passenger seats are visible. A note on the back of the card written by Fred (likely Fred Broeker) says that, "He has not yet had a ride on the new car."

"Sunday,September 19, 1909, the electric streetcars made their debut in Lawrence. The Journal / World wrote: "A crowd of several hundred people "yelled and cheered themselves hoarse" as they watched the first electric streetcars jolt south on Massachusetts Street."

The event was billed as being "the beginning of a new and greater town."

The first run took its passengers from 7th and Massachusetts Street to about where 24th Street is today. There was a loop for the car to turn around and head back. By 1910, three routes carried riders to almost every corner of town. Three cars traveled the main line, which covered Massachusetts Street and took passengers to East Lawrence.

Two cars made a run to Kansas University, which started at 8th and Massachusetts, went around campus and return by way of Tennessee Street. One car traveled to 4th and Indiana and back the same way.By 1916, the line had been extended into North Lawrence.

The townspeople came to depend upon the trolley for transportation. However, they also became a source of summer fun. On hot evenings people would ride them to take advantage of the cool breeze coming in the open cars. Elfrede Fischer Rowe remembered:

"There was always a breeze on the hill and when the car left the Robinson Gymnasium switchover and headed south, you coasted along with what seemed like wild abandon."

There were also rides to Woodland Park at 13th and Haskell. The park housed a roller-coaster, merry-go-round, horse race track and dance pavillian. People would take baskets of food and spend the day in the park.

By 1927 the electric streetcars were being replaced by buses. By 1933, the KU line was the only route served by streetcars. On November 9, 1933 the streetcars ceased operation altogether.
Postcard donated to the Watkins Community Museum of History by Margaret Broeker Sanders.