First Commercially Successful Electric Street Railway
On August 16, 1886 the Appleton Electric Street Railway Company began operation of the world’s first commercially successful electric street railway. The cars were driven by Van Depoele direct current motors which received power from a hydroelectric generator through two trolley wires. In 1930, the expanded electric street railway system serving the cities of Appleton, Neenah, Menasha and Kaukauna was retired when bus service was begun to better serve the transportation needs of these communities.
Marker is on South Olde Oneida Street south of West Edison Avenue, on the right when traveling south.
Courtesy hmdb.org
