Syracuse and Geddes Railway
Encyclopedia
The Syracuse and Geddes Railway, a horse-drawn street trolley in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...

, was chartered on July 10, 1863. The line ran from Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...

 to Geddes
Geddes, New York
Geddes is a town in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 17,740 at the 2000 census.The Town of Geddes is west of the neighborhood of Far Westside of Syracuse. The town is a western suburb of Syracuse.- History :...

, a suburb. The route ran from Salina Street and Fayette Street to Hemlock, Bridge and Furnace Street (now Wilbur Avenue).

The company merged with Syracuse Consolidated Street Railway
Syracuse Consolidated Street Railway
The Syracuse Consolidated Street Railway, chartered on May 22, 1890, in Syracuse, New York. On July 1, 1890, the company leased, in perpetuity, several street railroads in the city including Third Ward Railway, Fourth Ward Railroad, Fifth Ward Railroad, Seventh Ward Railroad, Eleventh Ward...

 in 1890, after an agreement was made that allowed the new company to lease the lines.

History

In early 1863, Alfred Hovey, Edward B. Wicks, William D. Stewart, John V. Barker, D. P. Wood, A. C. Powell, D. Bookstaver, and G. P. Kenyon were authorized by the city of Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...

 to lay tracks for a street railway from Salina Street and Fayette Street in Downtown Syracuse
Downtown Syracuse
Downtown Syracuse is the economic center of Syracuse, New York, and Central New York, employing over 30,000 people, and housing over 2,000. It is also one of the 26 officially recognized neighborhoods of Syracuse.- History :...

 to Hemlock, Bridge and Furnace Street (now Wilbur Avenue) but at that time part of Geddes
Geddes, New York
Geddes is a town in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 17,740 at the 2000 census.The Town of Geddes is west of the neighborhood of Far Westside of Syracuse. The town is a western suburb of Syracuse.- History :...

.

The company was organized on May 4, 1863, with funded debt of $25,000 and construction and equipment bonds due on December 1, 1898. Total capital stock was $50,000. Construction began at once.

In 1875, the route commenced at the corner of South Salina Street and Fayette Street and terminated in the village of Geddes
Geddes, New York
Geddes is a town in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 17,740 at the 2000 census.The Town of Geddes is west of the neighborhood of Far Westside of Syracuse. The town is a western suburb of Syracuse.- History :...

. The business office was located at 2 New Savings Bank Building in Downtown Syracuse
Downtown Syracuse
Downtown Syracuse is the economic center of Syracuse, New York, and Central New York, employing over 30,000 people, and housing over 2,000. It is also one of the 26 officially recognized neighborhoods of Syracuse.- History :...

.

Operations

By 1890, the company employed both 30 and 47 pound rail and had 13 rail cars and 35 horses.

Company management

When the company was founded in 1863, the officers included; R. Nelson Gere, president; Charles E. Hubbell, vice-president; R. A. Bould, secretary and treasurer; and William J. Hart, superintendent. Charles Tallman was the first president of the company and R. N. Gere was vice-president Upon the death of Tallman, Gere was appointed president. The first secretary and treasurer was D. Bookstaver. In 1865, he was succeeded by R. A. Bonta.

Officers of the company in 1875 included; R. N Gere, president; Charles Tallman, vice-president; R. A. Bould, secretary and treasurer; and William J. Hart, superintendent.

By 1894, the directors of the company were Daniel P. Wood, Peter Burns, Charles Andrews, George A. Kennedy, Charles T. Redfield, Jonathan G. Wynkoop, George C. Gere, Isaac R. Pharis, Charles E. Hubbell, T. W. Meachem, all of Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...

. R. N. Gere was president and R. A. Bonta was secretary and treasurer of the company. William J. Hart was the superintendent.

Syracuse consolidated lease agreement

The Syracuse Consolidated Street Railway
Syracuse Consolidated Street Railway
The Syracuse Consolidated Street Railway, chartered on May 22, 1890, in Syracuse, New York. On July 1, 1890, the company leased, in perpetuity, several street railroads in the city including Third Ward Railway, Fourth Ward Railroad, Fifth Ward Railroad, Seventh Ward Railroad, Eleventh Ward...

 was chartered in 1890 in Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...

 and by July 1, 1890, the new company leased, in perpetuity, several street railroads in the city including the Syracuse and Geddes Railway as well as the Third Ward Railway
Third Ward Railway
The Third Ward Railway, an electric street trolley line in Syracuse, New York, was established in 1886 and ran a distance of commencing in Park Avenue and terminating at Solvay Process Company in Solvay, a suburb...

, Fourth Ward Railroad
Fourth Ward Railroad
The Fourth Ward Railroad, a street trolley line in Syracuse, New York, was organized in 1887 and opened in 1888. The company was one of three different railways that were awarded operation franchise rights to run cars in James Street....

, Fifth Ward Railroad
Fifth Ward Railroad
The Fifth Ward Railroad was a horse-drawn street trolley line in Syracuse, New York, and was originally approved for construction by New York State in 1850; however, the rail was not chartered until 1867 and finally opened for business in 1868...

, Seventh Ward Railroad
Seventh Ward Railroad
The Seventh Ward Railroad, a street trolley line in Syracuse, New York, was established in 1886 and held the city railway franchise rights to East Fayette Street. The total length of the road was...

, Eleventh Ward Railroad
Eleventh Ward Railroad
The Eleventh Ward Railroad, a street trolley line in Syracuse, New York, was established in 1889 and held the city railway franchise rights to East Fayette Street...

, Genesee and Water Street Railroad
Genesee and Water Street Railroad
The Genesee and Water Street Railroad, a horse-drawn street trolley in Syracuse, New York, was established in 1865. The company was one of three different railways that were awarded operation franchise rights to run cars in James Street...

, Woodlawn and Butternut Street Railway
Woodlawn and Butternut Street Railway
The Woodlawn and Butternut Street Railway, a horse-drawn street trolley line in Syracuse, New York, was established in 1886. The road commenced at North Salina Street at the junction of James Street and traveled to Butternut street and Manlius Street with final destination, Woodlawn Cemetery.The...

 and New Brighton and Onondaga Valley Railroad
New Brighton and Onondaga Valley Railroad
The New Brighton and Onondaga Valley Railroad, a horse-drawn street trolley line, was chartered on May 5, 1869, in Syracuse, New York. The road was also known as the New Brighton and Onondaga Railroad....

. The rail ran a total distance of 24 miles (38.6 km) and had branches every 3 miles (4.8 km). At that time, the Syracuse and Geddes Railway ceased to exist.

Syracuse Consolidated Street Railway
Syracuse Consolidated Street Railway
The Syracuse Consolidated Street Railway, chartered on May 22, 1890, in Syracuse, New York. On July 1, 1890, the company leased, in perpetuity, several street railroads in the city including Third Ward Railway, Fourth Ward Railroad, Fifth Ward Railroad, Seventh Ward Railroad, Eleventh Ward...

 filed for bankruptcy in 1893 and merged with the Syracuse Rapid Transit Railway Company
Syracuse Rapid Transit Railway
The Syracuse Rapid Transit Railway, an interurban rail, was chartered on May 21, 1896. The company was a consolidation of the Syracuse Street Railroad Company, the Syracuse Consolidated Street Railway Company and the People's Railroad Company which was formerly leased to the Syracuse Street...

in May 1896.
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