A Classic Trolley

Posted May 04, 2009 at 10:32 AM in General

Do you know that you can catch a free trolley ride up to the main gate of the Britt Pavilion before each concert? That's right! Thanks to the city of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce allowing Britt to lease the trolley, you don't have to lug your ice chest and folding chairs all the way up the hill by foot. Take a free ride and arrive perspiration-free at the front gate. You can find the trolley after 6 p.m. stopping at the main public parking lots and then moving on down the road to the overflow parking at Bigham Knoll.

The history of the trolley is rather unique. A locally owned company "Classic Trolley" built the trolley in 1984, under the leadership of company founder Wally Wilson, who is a native of the Rogue Valley and started the company in 1982. For almost 20 years the company has been producing trolleys and these gems can be found in San Francisco, Honolulu, Alaska, Guam, Switzerland and many other locations worldwide.

Wilson started building trolleys after a friend who owned a tour company in San Francisco asked him to put his construction skills to work in restoring a trolley that he had purchased. Wilson is a man who likes to do things right, so he got a hold of some design prints from 1884 and restored that first trolley to its original glory. After this, he started manufacturing trolleys, creating the highest quality and most accurately detailed replicas of 1890s California street trolleys, including the varnished solid oak wooden seats and shiny brass fittings.

John Hagler, President
Classic Trolley, Inc.

In 1984, the Rogue Valley Transportation District (RVTD) purchased the trolley that is currently in use in Jacksonville from Classic Trolley and leased the trolley to the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and Britt Festivals, along with other local nonprofits and private parties, but in December 2006, unable to afford the operation costs of the trolley, RVTD donated the trolley to the city of Jacksonville.

Classic Trolley is pleased the trolley is now permanently in Jacksonville. "I am so glad that they are running the trolley in Jacksonville. It is part of that town. It warms my heart to know that something that we took great pride in building is recognized and used in the valley," says John Hagler, son-in-law of Wally Wilson and current president of Classic Trolley.

Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce board member Terri Gieg agrees, "The history of this town comes to life on that trolley. The thing about the trolley tours is that it's about so much more than coming to a town of old buildings and riding around. This town has a heart. It's about life and people. There is a rich history here and so much to see!"

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