Horse and buggy transportation was the rule in Niagara County’s earliest days. As the county’s villages grew and became cities in the late 1800s, crowded streets became the norm. To help alleviate the crowding, most cities installed public transportation systems with railroads or trolley cars. Lockport was no exception, with the completion of the Lockport Street Railway Company on December 30, 1886. Eight trolley cars pulled by horses composed the new rail line with a ticket depot on the corner of West Main and Transit.

The Lock City Electric Railroad Company began operation in 1896 with motorcars working a route on most of the city’s major streets. On a humorous note, Lockport suffered the dubious distinction of once losing its entire streetcar system. City fathers who lose track of a piece of equipment, today, can take heart from this story. At least they’ve never lost an entire railroad company!

Charles K. Lawrence, a very likable man, for a stranger, came upon the Lockport scene in 1893. He was described as genial, generous, cheerful and charming. He quickly moved up the ranks in the fledgling Lock City Electrical Railroad Company that was preparing to bring to Lockport its first electrical streetcar system.

In due course, the New York Central Railroad brought all of the necessary parts to complete the streetcar system. It included the railroad ties, rails, the trolley, the cars, and even the heaters that would be used to warm the cars in winter. Lockportians went down to the railroad siding and beamed with pride over what was to become their new streetcar system. They could picture themselves riding along swiftly, with their hair aflutter, upon the streetcars.

Charles K. Lawrence had other pictures in his mind – mostly larcenous. One evening, after providing sufficient hush money to several NY Central trainmen, an engine was hooked to the railcars loaded with the streetcar equipment, and a solitary passenger was on his way – Charles K. Lawrence.

The dastardly deed was soon discovered, and it really was not hard to find Charles K. Lawrence. The authorities just had to follow the tracks! It was said, that despite this shortcoming, Charles K. Lawrence remained a very likeable man. It was hard not to like a man that would think and act so big.

Douglas Farley, Director
Erie Canal Discover Center
24 Church St.
Lockport NY 14094
716.439.0431
CanalDiscovery@aol.com
www.NiagaraHistory.org