IPB

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

 
Reply to this topicStart new topic
> La Porte to Valparaiso Stagecoach Line
diggler
post Oct 11 2012, 08:01 AM
Post #1


Really Comfortable
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 1,177
Joined: 19-November 09
Member No.: 969



IPB Image

La Porte and Valparaiso were connected by a stagecoach line from the 1840’s to 1870.
Westville’s William S. Parkinson was the line’s last owner.
The fare to Valparaiso was $1.25; La Porte to Westville cost 75 cents.
The coach carried nine people crowded inside, and ten outside on top.
The trip from La Porte to Westville took about 2 hours.

QUOTE
The stage coach ended in the 1870's when Mr. Parkinson who lived on Valparaiso Street in Westville, conducted the last stage route between Valparaiso and La Porte over the Joliet Road through Westville. He had the contract for carrying the mail and his low bid, combined with a falling off of passenger traffic due to the advent of buggies, put him out of business.


http://www.dunelady.com/laporte/histories/Stage_Coach.htm
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Southsider2k12
post Oct 11 2012, 08:02 AM
Post #2


Spends WAY too much time at CBTL
******

Group: Admin
Posts: 16,409
Joined: 8-December 06
From: Michigan City, IN
Member No.: 2



Some days if you get stuck behind the right person on highway 2, I swear it feels like two hours from LP to Westville!
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Ang
post Oct 11 2012, 08:13 AM
Post #3


Spends WAY too much time at CBTL
******

Group: Admin
Posts: 5,171
Joined: 11-December 06
From: Indiana
Member No.: 10



That's so wild you posted this. I was JUST reading about it yesterday.

Speaking of which, something else I was reading has sparked a question I'm having trouble finding the answer to....

Does anyone know where Seller's Four Corners was in LP Co?
Also, where was Indian Point?


Signature Bar
Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind~Dr. Suess
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
taxthedeer
post Oct 11 2012, 10:47 AM
Post #4


Really Comfortable
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 2,005
Joined: 6-July 09
From: In Front of a computer screen
Member No.: 929



QUOTE(Ang @ Oct 11 2012, 09:13 AM) *

That's so wild you posted this. I was JUST reading about it yesterday.

Speaking of which, something else I was reading has sparked a question I'm having trouble finding the answer to....

Does anyone know where Seller's Four Corners was in LP Co?
Also, where was Indian Point?

I've also once heard that there was a Union Civil War Camp at some place called "Satan's Hallow".
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Ang
post Oct 11 2012, 11:02 AM
Post #5


Spends WAY too much time at CBTL
******

Group: Admin
Posts: 5,171
Joined: 11-December 06
From: Indiana
Member No.: 10



I believe that is in Kingsbury, but I could be wrong.....


Signature Bar
Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind~Dr. Suess
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
diggler
post Oct 11 2012, 12:46 PM
Post #6


Really Comfortable
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 1,177
Joined: 19-November 09
Member No.: 969



QUOTE(Southsider2k12 @ Oct 11 2012, 09:02 AM) *

Some days if you get stuck behind the right person on highway 2, I swear it feels like two hours from LP to Westville!


Indeed, especially with all that road construction currently going on 421. Its even worse when an accident happens. A bit of a trivia: They actually had a stagecoach running between Chicago and Laporte.....which took around six hours.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
southyards
post Oct 12 2012, 09:26 AM
Post #7


Advanced Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 188
Joined: 10-April 08
Member No.: 783



QUOTE(diggler @ Oct 11 2012, 08:01 AM) *

IPB Image

La Porte and Valparaiso were connected by a stagecoach line from the 1840’s to 1870.
Westville’s William S. Parkinson was the line’s last owner.
The fare to Valparaiso was $1.25; La Porte to Westville cost 75 cents.
The coach carried nine people crowded inside, and ten outside on top.
The trip from La Porte to Westville took about 2 hours.
http://www.dunelady.com/laporte/histories/Stage_Coach.htm



Along the same lines. . . . at one time there was an electric trolley service, similar to the South Shore Railroad cars, that connected (among other stops) Michigan City, LaPorte, Waterford, Rolling Prairie, New Carlisle, and South Bend. The service went as far as South Bend, Elkhart, Goshen, Benton Harbor, Niles, Buchanan, and Berrien Springs. The company was eventually named the Northern Indiana Railway, Inc. The cars travelled at approximately 11 mph and rides, at one time, were priced at 5-cents each. There was service on the Michigan City line, in both directions at about two-hour intervals. The service began in South Bend in April of 1886 and consisted of a small, black and white horse drawn carriage. After an interesting early history, the electric trolley car service followed. At one time the company was named the LaPorte and Michigan City Traction Company and, in 1904, constructed a line between LaPorte, Michigan City, and South Bend. From then until the mid 1930’s, the company had acquired new owners and occasionally fell on hard times. It appears that service was discontinued in June 1, 1934. Over the years, I’ve heard (unsubstantiated) rumors that there are still railroad tracks from this line embedded underneath Franklin Street.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
diggler
post Oct 12 2012, 10:41 AM
Post #8


Really Comfortable
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 1,177
Joined: 19-November 09
Member No.: 969



IPB Image

If I'm not mistaken, the Heston steam trains travel faster than that.

http://www.hesston.org/

.....and likewise with the Hoosier Valley train that I might see this weekend.

http://www.hoosiervalley.org/
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
southyards
post Oct 12 2012, 12:49 PM
Post #9


Advanced Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 188
Joined: 10-April 08
Member No.: 783



QUOTE(diggler @ Oct 12 2012, 10:41 AM) *

IPB Image

If I'm not mistaken, the Heston steam trains travel faster than that.

http://www.hesston.org/

.....and likewise with the Hoosier Valley train that I might see this weekend.

http://www.hoosiervalley.org/




All the above are rockets, compared to the old electric trolley. But maybe not the stage coach. That was only four horsepower. smile.gif
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
diggler
post Oct 12 2012, 02:38 PM
Post #10


Really Comfortable
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 1,177
Joined: 19-November 09
Member No.: 969



QUOTE(southyards @ Oct 12 2012, 01:49 PM) *

All the above are rockets, compared to the old electric trolley. But maybe not the stage coach. That was only four horsepower. smile.gif


Only problem.....is they sure don't sound or even look like steam trains:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L-A4YwbZqQ

_
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
southyards
post Oct 12 2012, 06:59 PM
Post #11


Advanced Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 188
Joined: 10-April 08
Member No.: 783



QUOTE(diggler @ Oct 12 2012, 02:38 PM) *

Only problem.....is they sure don't sound or even look like steam trains:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L-A4YwbZqQ

_



Perhaps there are folks out there who can remember when the coal tower by the tracks on Highway 12 (just east of where Josam was and Pioneer Lumber now is) was functional. It’s still there; I’ve seen large black birds, either vultures or buzzards roosting in it. You could see and hear the steam locomotive coming a long ways off. It would stop under the tower to take on coal and water. Quite impressive. And, then at the north end of Franklin Street, there was the roundhouse where the engines would turn around on the turntable so they could head in the opposite direction.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
diggler
post Oct 13 2012, 06:37 AM
Post #12


Really Comfortable
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 1,177
Joined: 19-November 09
Member No.: 969



IPB Image

I once rented out the: 'America's Railroads: The Steam Train Legacy 3-Pack' from the MC library. Highly recommend watching this fascinating RR history.

QUOTE(southyards @ Oct 12 2012, 07:59 PM) *

Perhaps there are folks out there who can remember when the coal tower by the tracks on Highway 12 (just east of where Josam was and Pioneer Lumber now is) was functional. It’s still there; I’ve seen large black birds, either vultures or buzzards roosting in it. You could see and hear the steam locomotive coming a long ways off. It would stop under the tower to take on coal and water. Quite impressive. And, then at the north end of Franklin Street, there was the roundhouse where the engines would turn around on the turntable so they could head in the opposite direction.


So did that coal tower on 12 service this train when it departed MC back in 09:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY_h5asQ_ZU

_
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
diggler
post Oct 13 2012, 06:59 AM
Post #13


Really Comfortable
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 1,177
Joined: 19-November 09
Member No.: 969



IPB Image

Oh my......IT DID !

Looks familiar.....and sometin you don't see everyday:

http://bit.ly/QXrsLi

MORE: http://bit.ly/TKOOWC

User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post

Reply to this topicStart new topic
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 



Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 28th March 2024 - 03:39 AM

Skin Designed By: neo at www.neonetweb.com