This is a “Sidetracks” feature written for the Trolley Project website.
For a basic understanding of the trolleys that served SW Portland, please go to:
dialectrix.com/trolley.
Congregation Beth Israel Cemetery
The Metropolitan Railway Co (MRC) electric trolley came out from downtown to Fulton Park, then traversed Carson Heights, crossed Taylors Ferry Road and ran along the western edge of Beth Israel Cemetery. When the trolley was being built, it ran only as far as the edge of the cemetery for a few days or weeks.. People got off and walked "a stone's throw" to the other cemeteries. Here is an account from the Morning Oregonian, Saturday, May 30, 1891:
"The track of the Metropolitan Street Railway Company has been extended out to the Hebrew Cemetery and the cars will be running out there today for the accommodation of persons wishing to visit the cemeteries. They will land passengers within a stone's throw of the Masonic cemetery and only a short distance from the western boundary of Riverview (sic), and persons going out this way will be saved the long walk up the hill in the cemetery."
End quote, from Morning Oregonian, Saturday, May 30, 1891
Trolley Passing through Beth Israel Cemetery
The above Map shows the trolley line (labelled Fulton Park Electric Trolley) at the western edge of Beth Israel Cemetery. The map is contained in Lewis & Dryden's 1893 Atlas of Portland and Vicinity. We accessed the atlas at the Multnomah County archive facility.
The trolley went as far as Beth Israel in May 1891, but was extended to other cemeteries in June.
Trolley using Right of Way as described in the 1890 agreement below.
The line was designed to transport visitors to three cemeteries in the area, Beth Israel, Greenwood Hills, and River View. At the time, Greenwood Hills Cemetery was a Masonic Cemetery established around 1882, Beth Israel Cemetery having been established ten years earlier.
About the "Red House"
In the past, there was a Red House located
where south of modern day Tryon Creek Grill, in the parking lot area. See the Teriwillger Center history in 'References' for background.
A man who worked on the trolley built the house, and lived there.
The trolley could stop in the cemetery next to the Red House.
The house had a veranda on the east side so that that trolley-man could just step onto or off of the trolley.
1890 Right of Way Deed from Congregation Beth Israel to Metropolitan Railway Company
We have a copy of an 1891 agreement between MRC & CBI, recorded with Multnomah County. The agreement lists 7 conditions agreed to between MRC and CBI corporate officers (S. Blumaeur, President, and S.L. Wiener, Secretary).
The agreement details the location of the right of way and provisions such as providing Funeral Cars, fencing, moving a water tank, and provision of electricity to operate a water pump at the cemetery. The seven terms are given below in plain english.
RoW.
CBI Grants a 25' wide right of way through the cemetery on the west side.
Rails are to be laid flush with the grade.
MRC will macadamize or gravel the entire width of the lane.
The operation will not interfere with any other part of the grounds.
Fence.
The lane is to be fenced by MRC, and MRC will maintain the fence.
Water tank.
MRC will move a Water tank currently in the lane, as designated by Congregation Beth Israel, at the expense of the Metropolitan Railway Company.
Get rail line running in one year.
At least one track shall be finished within one year from the date of the this agreement and that MRC will have cars running to the cemetery within one year.
Funeral Cars.
MRC will furnish Congregation Beth Israel funeral cars to the cemetery as needed. Compensation to be agreed upon between the parties.
Fares. MRC agrees that the fare from the City of Portland to the cemetery shall not at any time exceed ten cents for each passenger.
Electric power.
MRC agrees to furnish free of charge (in consideraton of the above granted right of way) electric power sufficient to operate a motor of not more than two and a half horsepower. The motor is to be used to pump water for irrigating the cemetery grounds.
Electric power is to be furnished through a connection with the main wire of Metropolitan Railway Company at or near the cemetery grounds. The connection is to be made and maintained at the expense of Congregation Beth Israel.
Here is the full text of original language of the 1890 Right of Way Deed from Congregation Beth Israel to Metropolitan Railway Company, along with a scan of the source document.
[PDF]
We still have questions, like
Where did the cemetery pump water from and to?
Did they need to have a transformer to step down the (trolley) voltage, or did they use a Sprague motor like the trolleys used, and belt it to the drive wheel of a pump?
Is there any vestige of this water system / pumphouse?
We've heard that a guy who worked on the trolley line built the "Red House", knowing the trolley line was under construction. Who was that man? Was he a conductor?
