Milwaukee Street Railway Company

You will receive the exact certificate pictured Over 100 years old Capital stock Circa 1800's Unissued, uncanceled Franklin Bank Note Company Not signed 11 1/2" (w) by 7" (h) NA Historical Context The Milwaukee Street Railway Company was the first electric streetcar company in the city of Milwaukee. It commenced service in 1890 as a business incorporated in New Jersey and owned by the North American Company of New Jersey (an umbrella entity with other municipal streetcar holdings). In that year, North American’s owner, a national railroad magnate and celebrated East Coast newspaper publisher named Henry Villard, took a special interest in Milwaukee. A German immigrant, he was particularly drawn to the city due to its reputation as the German Athens of the United States. Enlisting the help of silver-tongued local Republican leader Henry C. Payne, Villard began buying up, converting, and consolidating all of the horse-drawn rail trolley systems in Milwaukee. Before the