‘Return of the Trolley’

in Keyport Sept. 8-10

The Keyport Historical Society will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Jersey Central Traction Company with a three-day event Sept. 8-10, at the Steamboat Dock Museum, Broad Street, Keyport.

Trolley tours will be offered Sept. 8 only and will leave promptly on the hour between 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Exhibit hours are Sept. 8 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sept. 9 from noon-4 p.m.; a slide presentation will be given Sept. 10 at 8 p.m.

The Jersey Central Traction Company was established in October 1901. Several companies statewide competed with each other and the railroads as they created a transportation spider web across New Jersey.

The 40-minute trolley-bus ride will follow the original trolley route through Keyport. The trip begins near the original car barn and powerhouse in Union Beach and enters Keyport on First Street. It will continue up the steep hill on Broad Street and travel along Broadway, the original site of another car barn, and follow Maple Place and Main Street.

The museum will also have an operating HO scale trolley and train layout, artifacts, and models. A mini-exhibit featuring the CNJ’s "Blue Comet" in G scale, commemorates the 60th anniversary of the last run of the train.

The slide presentation "Trolleying Through Keyport" will be given by Bill Longo and Tom Gallo Sept. 10 at 8 p.m.

The event will be held rain or shine, and museum admission is free although donations are welcome. Trolley tickets are $5 per person. Refreshments will be for sale at tented tables outside the museum.

For information or trolley tickets, call Angel Jeandron at (732) 264-6119 or Tom Gallo at 264-1581.