August 28, 1873 First Train to Carry Passengers

The July 2011 issue of the Interlaken Historical Society’s newsletter carried a reprint of a letter/article written by Wheeler A. Bassett, long the local historian. It is reprinted here to honor that first passenger train trip.

To learn more about the various methods of travel over the years, join the Historical Society and Town of Covert Bicentennial Committee as we celebrate 200 Years of Transportation on September 9, 2017 at the Brook Farm Barn.

Editor Review:

The first waiting room in Farmer village, on the Geneva and Ithaca R. R., was the McCarthy House, just east of the old tracks on Cayuga street. Pete Arcangeli owns the place now. The time August 28, 1873.

The occasion was the first train to carry passengers on the road. An excursion train was gotten up to Ithaca and return. I have my ticket yet—the first one to be stamped, G. & I. R. R.

People gathered along the tracks on Cayuga street waiting for the train, when someone thought to go over to the McCarthy house and sit on the porch. The porch soon became full of people and some went inside. It was the only house anywhere near the railroad.

The train was made up of flat cars with planks laid across for seats. I think it stopped at the crossing near Abram Peterson’s house (now Earl Wilson’s), to take on passengers also. It was a gala day for everybody. Ed Knight and wife, I remember in particular, cut up like school children. On arrival at Ithaca, we all had to walk up town, as that was before streetcars were running. Where did we get our dinner? I don’t remember, but I think it was a sort of picnic basket affair. At least, I spent only 21 cents all day besides my ticket, which was 25 cents. People did not spend money as they do now. If any took their dinner at a hotel that day, it was a very small percentage of the party. As for restaurants, I doubt if there were any in Ithaca at that time, although I may be mistaken.

We stayed until 6 o’clock, and on the return trip, they took us down to the end of the road, in the town of Romulus. Some ride for 25 cents, but think of accommodations! Imagine scrambling up the end of a flat car and then taking several acrobatic leaps or steps over the tops of the seats to gain the middle. This, however had its compensations, as it afforded them a fine chance to show their gallantry to the ladies. The sides of the cars were protected with boards to keep the passengers from being strewn off along the way when the train made a sudden jolt.

The road was newly built and consequently rough, the cars had no springs, and you, probably by this time, have formed the conclusion that that must have been a terrible ride. Not at all. For many of us, it was the finest and most unique ride we had ever had, for it was our first ride on a railroad train.

All that first winter the only waiting room we had was Ira Hall’s coal office and practically the same building is now the office of Mr. A. O. Emmons.

Mr. Hall was the first ticket agent. He and his father, John C. Hall, began a partnership in the grain and coal business right from the start. Mr. Hall continued to be ticket agent as late as 1877, and perhaps later. I remember that Fremont Cole attended school here, the winter of ’76-7, and he helped Mr. Hall in the freight office nights and mornings. I remember how he used to show us his hands, cut and bruised from handling freight. The next year he went to Watkins and entered a law office.

Two trains each way was put on the road November 19, 1873, or two months after the last spike was driven at Romulus.

The road was bought by Lehigh Valley in February 1875. I remember it, because one morning, at school, Fred Troutman said: “Boy, this is now the Lehigh Valley.”

The railroad meant more to us boys than anything that ever happened before or since. We would watch the trains go by, sitting in school, and thought it a wonderful sight.

Dewitt’s Diary, Saturday, August 28, 1948

Hot, temperature 82 at 5 o’clock this morning. 102 this afternoon on the south porch

Thunder showers this afternoon but no cooler. Not much rain but plenty lightening.

Went fishing with Lem this morning. I caught one 3-pound bass off S[Sheldrake] point. A fierce storm south of here around Ithaca. Much damage to trees in city and lighting.