Historical Images of Porter County
Valparaiso-Flint Lake Interurban, First Trolley
Valparaiso, Indiana
Date: July 4, 1910
Source Type: Postcard
Publisher, Printer, Photographer: Unknown
Postmark: November 23, 1910, Station 10,
Chicago, Illinois
Collection: Steven R. Shook
Remark: This real photograph postcard was taken on July 4, 1910, near the
Methodist Church on Franklin Avenue in Valparaiso,
Indiana. This public gathering commemorated the first run of the Valparaiso &
Northern Railway interurban on the new line running from
Valparaiso northward to Flint Lake. The first interurban left Valparaiso at 9:00 am in charge of
Conductor C. C. Metsker. Valparaiso Mayor William F. Spooner, Valparaiso City
Clerk Clem Helm, and other local notables were passengers on the inaugural
sixteen minute, three mile trip to Flint Lake. An engine operated by Frank Chowdrey, hooked
to two flat cars with seats and decked out in flags and bunting, followed the
interurban to Flint Lake. A total of 3,500 passengers were transported to Flint
Lake that inaugural day for the festivities. Incorporated in August 1908, the
Valparaiso & Northern Railway construction was financed by citizens of
Valparaiso and outside investors; the railway was to become one of the feeder
lines the the Chicago-New York Electric Air Line Railroad. A section between
Chesterton and Goodrum, located just north of Woodville, was completed and put
into service on February 18, 1911. The section between Flint Lake and Woodville
was completed on October 7, 1911; between February and October of 1911, a bus
was used to transport passengers between Goodrum and Flint Lake. Complete
interurban through service between Chesterton, Valparaiso, and LaPorte was
possible after a bridge was constructed over the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad on
February 17, 1912. Interurban service to Valparaiso ceased on October 23, 1938,
largely due to the increasing use of automobiles, an improved highway system,
and the financial depression.
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Image and related text prepared by Steven R. Shook