Bartlesville Area History Museum Announces Interurban Exhibit Opening
"We will build a city here yet!" proclaimed young William Johnstone on the porch of the new Johnstone and Keeler Store, at First and Delaware in 1884. Time and Providence demonstrated Mr. Johnstone's insight into Bartlesville's fledging efforts to grow . . . and grow they did.
Jo Crabtree, Volunteer Coordinator said, "A short twenty-four years after that declaration, Bartlesville was entering an age of travel heretofore unexplored and with the onset of the Interurban, doors began to open areas of possibility. The prospect of electrical energy in homes and businesses were just one side benefit from the transportation aspect of the Interurban."
On January 18, 2012, the museum and staff will present Steel Rails: The History of Bartlesville's Interurban, featuring an exhibit in photos and documentation of the fascinating subject of Bartlesville's sophisticated public transportation in early 1900.
Special guest, retired engineer Rudy Geissler, whose many interests includes researching area history, architecture, photography, etc. will speak on the subject of Bartlesville's Interurban.
Geissler began his career of industrial material handling systems' engineering design and maintenance experiences over 50 years ago in the steel industry. His interest in railroads, including electric powered interurban railways, began as a child riding Chicago's street cars and the "EL", Chicago's electric powered elevated railroad system with his parents. It was further peaked by the fact that his father was employed for several years as a maintenance master electrician for the Chicago, South Shore and South Bend Railroad, an electric powered interurban that connected several northern Indiana cities with Chicago. This interurban railroad began at the start of the 20th century and is often referred to as the "Last Interurban Railroad" since it is still in operation today, 2012.
Geissler, a major contributor towards the development, research, and photography of the 2010 Annual Statewide Historic Preservation Conference award winning "Bartlesville Heritage Trail Downtown District" magazine, has also devoted many hours to research and documentation, of any remaining remnants of the Bartlesville Interurban Railway around the landscape of the Bartlesville and Dewey communities.
Rudy and wife Sue, originally from the Chicago, Illinois/Michigan City, Indiana area, moved to Bartlesville from Ft. Worth, Texas in January of 2007, after multiple career related periods of residence including New York, Colorado, and Texas.
This museum program will begin at 11 a.m. and Mr. Geissler will speak at 12:15. The public is invited to bring a brown bag lunch. Beverages and cookies will be provided by Friends of the Bartlesville Area History Museum. The museum is located at 401 S. Johnstone, 5th floor in City Hall.
Open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Admission is free and donations are always welcome! Join us on January 18th at 11:00 a.m. to honor the memory of the Bartlesville Interurban Railway.
See link to KJRH Channel 2 News website about this event:
http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/bartlesville-area-history-museum-to-open-exhibit-on-old-bville-
Rudy Geissler