Bob Johnston, founder of the Jamestown Trolley Car 93 Restoration Project — which works to restore Trolley Car 93 that was pulled out of the woods in Dewittville in 1996 — said the visit by the Clymer Historical Society came after he visited them and gave a presentation on the ongoing project, something that he said he does for groups every so often if invited.

“There’s not a lot of trolleys in that area and I think I told them some things that they didn’t know, so it sparked their interest and they came to see it,” Johnston said. “They are very generous with their time and donations.”

Johnston said he will have visitors and groups come out to visit the Trolley Car about two or three times a year, though the invitation for anyone to come for a visit is always open. He added it can be hard to get the word out about it sometimes, and that he believes people get it confused with the bus trolleys that came after.

The Jamestown Trolley Car 93 is the last trolley car in existence in the area that used to ride on tracks in the middle of the road. Johnston said these types of trolley cars were edged out by horse and buggies and eventually the bus trolley, which looks like a railroad trolley but can go all over the road.

The Clymer Historical Society sits inside the trolley car during their visit to the Jamestown Trolley Car 93 Restoration Project. Submitted photo

The restoration of the trolley car is itself about 95% complete, though Johnston said he did not know if it would ever be a running trolley car again. The current focus right now is to build a building that can be a permanent home for the car to help continue to preserve it. Funds for the project come in through donations, the project’s Chautauqua Region Community Foundation fund, or Johnston’s three historical books, with Johnston just recently finishing his book on the history of postcards.

“I think people can appreciate that it is something from a bygone era that should be preserved,” Johnston said. “It’s the last one in the area of what used to be hundreds or maybe thousands of trolley cars.”

He noted that the Clymer Historical Society meets regularly as a group for meals and that they aim to try and check out history related things and places, so that was also what drew them to visit the trolley. Johnston encouraged people to keep the trolley as an idea for a history related option of places to visit in the local area for school or just for people with an interest in local history, adding that this specific car used to service Swede Hill in Jamestown. Next year will be the 100th anniversary of when Jamestown Trolley Car 93 was in service.

Johnston acknowledged the Clymer Historical Society for coming to visit, and thanked all other organizations that donate and help out with the project. He welcomed anyone interested to come out and see the car for themselves.

“In our three county area, this is the only trolley car left,” Johnston said. “It would be nice to be able to save at least one.”

For more information, to set up a visit, or to see the Jamestown Trolley Car 93 Restoration Project from the beginning, visit jamestowntrolley.org.