The 8th in a series of articles for
the 175th Anniversary of Bonham

Bonham, Texas -- Between 1891 to 1915 street cars provided transportation to Bonham citizens.

When first installed, these street cars were the newest and most up-to-date system of public transportation.  At that time private automobiles were many years away and methods of transportation were buggies and carriages.

The private Bonham Rapid Transit Railway was chartered in 1890 by local businessmen and a two and one half mile system was built in Bonham.

The northern terminus of the line was in the Russell Heights addition in northwest Bonham.  Recreation facilities such as the recreation area at Lake St. Clair, the Fair grounds, the racetrack and Bonham’s baseball park were in Russell Heights.

The southern terminus was on Main Street at the Texas and Pacific Railway depot.

The first method of propulsion utilized a steam "dummy" locomotive. This was simply a streetcar with one end partitioned off and a boiler located behind the partition.

In 1896 the line was electrified and the company was changed to the Bonham Electric Railway, Light and Power Company. At this time the original small open car was retired, except for special occasions, and two closed electric cars were purchased. One way fares were a five cents. Monthly passes were also available for school children at $1.25 each. Adults who wished to purchase similar passes paid $2.50.

An unadvertised service was to provide grocery delivery.  The lady of the house, or her cook, would meet the car and give the driver a list of needed groceries.  When the driver passed the grocery store, he rang his bell and the order went to the store, to be picked up on a return trip.

It was rumored that some love affairs began on the street cars.

As more and more automobiles took to the streets of Bonham, revenues on the line began to decline. After two or so years of losses, the company board voted to discontinue operations and on February 1, 1915 the Bonham Rapid Transit Railway was no more.

Some of the track at the northern end was taken up soon after the shutdown and other sections were removed over the ensuing years. In 1943 a large section of track along Main Street and the west side of the square was dug up and donated to a scrap metal drive for support of the U.S. Armed Forces. Occasionally along Main Street as potholes appeared some sections of the track were still to be seen just below the surface of the asphalt paving.

“It was a treat and a pleasure to ride the street car.  It made Bonham one of the few places in Texas enjoying the facilities of street car transportation.”

Note:  Derived primarily from an article by Tom Scott.  Photos from the Fannin County Museum of History.