From left to right, Gary Hendrickson; Julie Hendrickson Squibb; Don Hendrickson; Marcia Hendrickson Guider; Mark Hendrickson; Matt Hendrickson; Brian VanHuystee; and Brad and Cindy Hendrickson. Submitted photo

FALCONER — Despite no longer being on display during events at the Jamestown Gateway Train Station, people still want to see trolley car No. 93.

Earlier this month, Bob Johnston, Jamestown Street Railway Trolley Car No. 93 restoration project founder, was asked by the Hendrickson family if they could see the restored Jamestown Street Railway Trolley car even though it was no longer located at the former Erie-Lackawanna Train Station.

“The Hendricksons were all in the area and asked if they could see No. 93. We were happy to oblige, and we were very happily surprised when the family made yet another generous contribution to our Chautauqua Region Community Foundation Fund for the restoration project,” Johnston said.

“The visit by the Hendrickson family, early contributors to the project, reminded us that there is still interest in the project out there in spite of the fact that we are pretty much out of the public eye.”

In October 2016, the trolley car traveled the streets of Jamestown for the first time in nearly 80 years when it was moved by trailer from the downtown train station to Ideal Coatings in Falconer. Ideal Coatings is the temporary home for the trolley car until a more permanent location can be found. The trolley car needed to move to a new location because the east wing of the train station, where it had been located since December 2013, is the future home of the National Comedy Center.

“It was a sad day for us and many of our visitors and supporters when word came down that we couldn’t stay at the station. We were fortunate to have been given the opportunity to continue working there for a while longer, but at the end of 2016 we had to find another place,” Johnston said. “Thanks to a Post-Journal article, we were able to get word out regarding our plight and a joint effort by the (County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency), the Lou Anderson Family and Ideal Coatings, a space was made available for us to continue work in Falconer.”

City officials are working to possibly place the trolley car permanently in the former railroad engine building, which is located west of the train station. In 2014, Lee Harkness, Jamestown Area Railway Heritage Center committee spokesperson, announced plans to renovate the former engine house. Last year, the Jamestown Area Railway Heritage Center nonprofit entity was officially formed to raise money to restore the former engine building.

The trolley car restoration project was first started in 1996 when Johnston was discussing his love of local history with a friend, Sam Lucariello. Lucariello mentioned his parents, Mauro and Harriet Lucariello, had an old Jamestown trolley car they used as a hunting camp near Dewittville. The family donated it to Johnston and the trolley car was moved back to Jamestown.

For years, the trolley car sat in the city’s Parks Department garage before it was moved to the train station in December 2013. Restoration work really started to move forward on the trolley car in 2014 when Jim Mitchener, Jamestown Street Railway Trolley Car No. 93 restoration project skilled carpenter, came aboard the project.

“Jamestown Street Railway Trolley Car No. 93, sometimes referred to as the ‘Swede Hill’ trolley, was purchased by the street railway in 1926 and was in operation on the Willard Street Route until the end of service for the line in 1938,” Johnston said. “The restored Erie railroad train station was the perfect home for what is pretty much Chautauqua County’s last restorable original heritage trolley car. Since December of 2013, when we were invited by then Jamestown Gateway Train Station General Manager Lee Harkness to start a trolley restoration project at the station, the facility had brought a great deal of exposure and support to the project. Just the general traffic through the station along with our inclusion in various events throughout the years, has provided us with the means to bring the project to near completion. The amazing support from rail enthusiasts and Jamestown natives young and old was certainly bolstered by our presence there. It was also because of our move to the train station that Jim Mitchener, local contractor/craftsmen, signed on to the project and provided the expertise to drive the restoration project forward.”

Many local businesses have provided materials and services toward the restoration, and many individuals from around the city, county and country have made contributions to both the endowment and non-endowment funds at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation. For more information on the trolley, visit jamestowntrolley.org. Donations can be made through the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation either online by visiting crcfonline.org or directly by specifically mentioning the trolley project on a check that can be mailed to the foundation at 418 Spring St., Jamestown, NY 14701.

“We would like to remind anyone out there looking for a unique experience to share when company comes to town, that we are happy to provide access for a look see,” Johnston said.

For more information or to schedule a visit to the trolley, call Johnston at 338-5051.