Sterling-Rock Falls Historical Society will take you on a memory ride aboard the historic Sterling-Dixon, IL, Trolley, at their Sunday, May 15, 2022, meeting and program. The location is the Lincoln Learning Center, 611 E. Third Street, Sterling, with a start time of 2:00 p.m. After the program, enjoy refreshments.
Did you know that you could once take an electric trolley car, all the way from Sterling to Dixon? Tom Wadsworth will tell the story of “the Interurban,” that provided hourly transportation between the cities for 21 years. Officially titled Sterling, Dixon and Eastern Electric Railway, it was more often known as the S D & E. Wadsworth’s professional, PowerPoint presentation tells how the service started, where it ran, how it affected life in the area, and why it ended.
He will explain connections between the trolley line and ladies’ dresses, milk cans, and the Temperance movement. Included are many historic photos of trolley cars, that once clanged constantly down East Third Street in Sterling all the way to Dixon.
In the 1980s, Tom was the morning personality and news anchor on WSDR radio. He recently retired from a career as Writer and Speaker, having addressed audiences from coast-to-coast. Wadsworth holds two Master’s degrees and a PhD, but local history is his favorite passion.
