Learn About Electric Trolleys in Washtenaw County at Feb. 12 Program

“Electric Trolleys of Washtenaw County: featuring Saline’s Old Maude” is the topic of the February meeting of the Saline Area Historical Society. H. Mark Hildebrandt, a local author who has written about the subject, is the speaker at 2 p.m., Feb. 12 at the Stone Arch Arts and Events in downtown Saline.

A convenient and exciting change occurred when a branch of the interurban was extended into Saline from the east in 1899. The trolley, known as “Old Maude,” gave travelers the opportunity to go to nearby cities every two hours from morning until midnight. Tracks were built along U.S 12 as far west as the cemetery.

A waiting room was available at the Unterkircher building, which still stands at the east half of 112 E. Michigan Ave. where the barber shop is located. The power substation for Old Maude was located on the site of the present-day fire station, at 201 E. Michigan Avenue. It was similar to a station that still stands on the northwest corner of Jackson and Lima Center Roads in Lima Township. One of the stops on the route was in front of the Sidney W. Harwood farm where the house still stands, about 3 miles east of Saline.  Janice Harwood, owner of the home, says as a child her father, Webb, told her how the trolley stopped at his grandfather’s farm and picked up eggs, butter and cream to take to market in Ypsilanti.