In this episode of "Stories of Kalamazoo" Dr. Willis Dunbar examines the Interurban and electric railroads in Michigan. He shares how in 1890 Junius E. Beale formed a company that laid 7.5 miles of track and used a single steam engine with two cars to connect the Michigan State Normal school and University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, becoming the first interurban train in Michigan. He describes the variety of services the interurban provided beyond simply transporting passengers, and how they built the longest and most expensive interurban bridge in the worlds over the St. Joseph River. Dunbar claims that the company's success with later expansions and consolidations stimulated interurban railways across Michigan, however the advent of automobiles in the 20's led to their decline and eventual demise in 1929. He summarizes that in the 29 years of service in Kalamazoo it broke down the isolation of the rural farmer, helped build up suburban areas, and provided affordable transportation for the lower class, but eventually, lead to great financial losses.
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