"Ken McCutchan is a life-long resident of Vanderburgh County, Indiana, descended from pioneer families that entered the area in the early 1800s. He is veteran of WWII, having served with Army Corps of Engineers in both North Africa and Europe. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Composition and Modern Language from the University of Evansville, a certificate in French Language and Culture from the Sorbonne in Paris, and an Honorary Doctor of Letters Degree from the University of Southern Indiana. His other books include: The Adventures of Isaac Knight, From then Til Now, Saundersville, An English Settlement, At The Bend in the River, and Dearest Lizzie. Mr. McCutchan's books may be purchased at Willard Library in Evansville, IN.

Evansville's First Street Car    - History

by Kenneth McCutchan

Evansville's first streetcar was strictly a one-horse affair. In 1867 the city had progressed to the point where putting in a street railway system was the up-to-date thing to do. The first streetcar line was about a necessary and useful as a gift copy of the latest novel to a blind man.

The line stretched from Water Street (now Riverside Avenue) to 8th and Main streets, and back again. There probably were a few on the sidewalks at that time who could not have walked the distance faster than the car could have made it, but ride they did because it was a great novelty.

On the day of the first run a huge crowd gathered to see it, and the seats were filled with the city's dignitaries when the whistle blew. The motorman-driver cracked his whip. The horse made a try of it, but his feet slipped on the steep incline coming up the river. The car didn't budge. Another try and still a no go. Finally the driver said, "Some of you folks will have to get off or I'll have to get another horse."

It ended up that everybody got off and pushed until they got it up past Firsrt Street, a rather inglorious beginning for a new project.

Since the incline in those days was so steep from Water Street to First, that part of the track was taken up and the car then ran only from First to Eighth, and the horse was replaced with a team of mules.

After the primary Main Street line became firmly established, another track was laid from Main Street out to Cook's Park, a popular amusement center located on West Maryland and Pigeon Creek. The line was several miles long, and its laying was regarded as a stupendous engineering feat.