Atlanta Street Railway Company
Encyclopedia
The Atlanta Street Railway was the first streetcar system in Atlanta.
Originally chartered by the state of Georgia
on February 23, 1866 by George Hillyer
, Dr. John Westmoreland and John Thrasher
soon after the city put such onerous demands on the company – including paving large chunks of the then totally unpaved town – that it lay dormant for years.
On January 1, 1869 the city reduced the bulk of these demands and in April 1871, Richard Peters
and George Adair
bought out the charter and on September 1st of that year opened the first section connecting Five Points
to the West End
– a route that passed by both of their homes.
In the years to follow they established more of these cast iron
rail lines with cars pulled by mules and horses:
The car and animal shed was located near Five Points on both sides of Line St (now Edgewood) at Ivy (Peachtree Center Ave). In 1878, Adair sold his interests to Peters giving him 80% control and with Peters' death in 1889 control went to his son Edward Peters. At that time the line owned 15 miles of track, fifty streetcars and 200 horses and mules.
In 1891 the company was absorbed into the Atlanta Consolidated Street Railway.
Originally chartered by the state of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
on February 23, 1866 by George Hillyer
George Hillyer
George Hillyer was an American politician, serving as the 29th Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, as well as a state assemblyman and senator...
, Dr. John Westmoreland and John Thrasher
John Thrasher
John Thrasher was the founder of the city of Norcross, Georgia, an original pioneer of Atlanta, and a well-travelled entrepreneur throughout the American Southeast.- Founding of Atlanta :...
soon after the city put such onerous demands on the company – including paving large chunks of the then totally unpaved town – that it lay dormant for years.
On January 1, 1869 the city reduced the bulk of these demands and in April 1871, Richard Peters
Richard Peters (Atlanta)
Richard Peters was an American railroad man and a founder of Atlanta.Grandson of Judge Richard Peters, Jr...
and George Adair
George Adair
George Washington Adair was an important real-estate developer in post Civil War Atlanta.-Early life:...
bought out the charter and on September 1st of that year opened the first section connecting Five Points
Five Points (Atlanta)
Five Points is a district of Atlanta, Georgia, United States, the primary reference for the downtown area. The name refers to the convergence of Marietta Street, Edgewood Avenue, Decatur Street, and two legs of Peachtree Street Five Points is a district of Atlanta, Georgia, United States, the...
to the West End
West End (Atlanta)
The West End neighborhood of Atlanta is on the National Register of Historic Places and can be found southwest of Castleberry Hill, east of Westview, west of Adair Park Historic District, and just north of Oakland City...
– a route that passed by both of their homes.
In the years to follow they established more of these cast iron
Cast iron
Cast iron is derived from pig iron, and while it usually refers to gray iron, it also identifies a large group of ferrous alloys which solidify with a eutectic. The color of a fractured surface can be used to identify an alloy. White cast iron is named after its white surface when fractured, due...
rail lines with cars pulled by mules and horses:
- March 30, 1873 – Taylor Hill (high spot one block south of the Georgia DomeGeorgia DomeThe Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the...
) line to the near west side which failed the next year - May 26, 1873 – Washington St down McDonough St (now Capitol Ave)
- 1874 – Peachtree to Pine. Later to Ponce and Ponce Springs
The car and animal shed was located near Five Points on both sides of Line St (now Edgewood) at Ivy (Peachtree Center Ave). In 1878, Adair sold his interests to Peters giving him 80% control and with Peters' death in 1889 control went to his son Edward Peters. At that time the line owned 15 miles of track, fifty streetcars and 200 horses and mules.
In 1891 the company was absorbed into the Atlanta Consolidated Street Railway.