Trolley Postcard, 1909

In the early years of the twentieth century, the Wausau area was home to an exciting new development, an electric streetcar line. The Wausau Electric Street Railroad Co began operating in 1906, initially around the downtown area, but with future expansions bringing service further into the west side, up past Bridge Street to St. Mary’s hospital in the north, and down Grand Avenue to Rothschild and Schofield.

This image was a postcard produced by Wausau’s “postcard king” James Colby. It shows a scene looking north along 4th street-showing courthouse park on the left and the Grand Opera House on the right.