Cobweb Express

Streetcars
by Mel McFarland

I told this story a long time ago, but now I have a bit more for this. A low trailer wound its way down 85, heading for Fountain with a yellow streetcar. Over half of its length hung off the back of the trailer. Those lining the streets were amazed that it did not break in half. The truck found its way to Main Street. It stopped at 316 N. Main, on a lot next to Fred Wallace's home. Once it was set in place a very efficient one-bedroom apartment was built inside, without changing the size and shape of the car. The seat stuffings were used for insulation in the walls. Fred Wallace also crafted a house from an old boxcar, remodeled an old railroad station, remodeled an old Fountain house and built other rental properties. He retired from the Santa Fe after Forty years of service. One of four railroad cars he bought to remodel is still visible on Santa Fe. There was quite a bit of dissatisfaction with many of his projects. His later projects were brought to a halt by the opposition from the neighbors. (As one who has had a caboose in his back yard for 25 years, I understand quite well!).

You might think this a bit strange, but I have found others. In Colorado Springs there are two, one is still visible, but only when you go inside the house! There used to be one over on 115 near Cheyenne Mountain, but it had been moved and is being restored at the streetcar museum in Colorado Springs. There is one or more in a building near the 29th Street exit on 1-25 in Pueblo. The cars in that building were used in Pueblo, but they were originally used in Colorado Springs. In Canon City near the cemetery there is a house made from a half dozen old streetcars. I learned about this one from a teacher I worked with here in Fountain. She lived up the street from this place at one time but never knew they were streetcars. I have not been able to learn where they came from, because Canon City did not have streetcars and they do not look like either Pueblo or Colorado Springs cars.

There were two used as restaurants, one in Green Mountain Falls and one up in Florissant. There was one on 115 sixty years ago near where the Fountain water line crossed, but I have not found anyone who knows much about that one. Then there was the old railroad car on a hill east of Peterson AFB that was hit by lightning and burned a couple years ago.

CONTACT THE WRITER • MCMIDLAND@YAHOO.COM

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