To unravel the mystery of Louisville, Kentucky’s first transportation token you have to go back to the early 1830’s. Louisville developed into a major commercial center and river port because of its location above The Falls of the Ohio River. Boats were forced to stop, unload their cargo and then carry it around The Falls in order to continue their trip South. Portland, Kentucky grew up just South of The Falls because the lucrative transfer business provided the foundation for a strong economy.
With the advent of the steamboat, Lexington, Kentucky needed access to the Ohio River and its new markets. In 1830, the Charter of the Lexington & Ohio Railroad called for connecting Lexington to one or more suitable points on the Ohio River, by way of Frankfort. At the time there was less than 25 miles of railroad in operation in the United States. Much to Louisville’s dismay, they picked Portland to be the western terminus of the line. They began work in 1834 with a link to Frankfort. When they reached the Kentucky River, they needed more capital to build a bridge. In 1836, Louisville came to the rescue. They purchased $200,000 of Lexington & Ohio Railroad stock with one important condition. Louisville must be the western terminus of the line. Louisville agreed it would extend the rail line below The Falls close to the Portland Wharf and in return, Portland agreed it would be annexed.
The National Financial Panic of 1837 prevented the Lexington & Ohio Railway from completing their original goal of connecting to Louisville. They did reach Frankfort but only a 3-mile stretch was completed on the Louisville end. With much fanfare, on February 28, 1838, the steam engine Elkhorn, traveled the 3 mile stretch from 6th and Main Street to the end of the line about 200 yards from the Portland Wharf. It was the third urban railroad in the United States.
The Portland end was always unpopular for those who lived along its route. It was declared to be a nuisance endangering life and hurting business. It was loud and smelly. Wagon transport companies complained they could not make deliveries because the strap iron track fastened to the limestone base obstructed the streets. It ceased operations after 6 months and went out of business due financial stresses in 1840. The Commonwealth of Kentucky finally seized control in payment for its debts in 1842.
In 1844, The Portland Division of the Lexington & Ohio Railroad was transferred by the State to a corporation entitled The Louisville and Portland Railroad Company. There charter called for steam power to be continued. The State also invested in the new company and required a portion of the fares to help fund what would become The Kentucky School For the Blind. It was the first street railroad in the United States. When the line remained unpopular, the new owners quickly transferred ownership to Isham Henderson. He immediately went from steam power to mule and horse. He also continued raising money for The School for the Blind. The Louisville and Portland Railway Company Omnibuses pulled by mule and horse remained the only regular form of street conveyance until near the end of the Civil War. In 1866, the three-mile stretch was sold to The Citizen’s Passenger Railway Company.
According to a 1917 Numismatist article, the 15¢ token pictured here is rare. It would get a passenger and his trunk to and from any point on the line. The 5¢ and 10¢ tokens on the advertisement from the 1858-59 Louisville Directory are rumored, but are not listed.
Sources:
- The Atwood-Coffee Catalogue of United States and Canadian Transportation Tokens, Sixth Edition, by John Coffee Jr. and Harold Ford, American Vecturist Association. 2007
- The Atwood-Coffee Catalogue of United States and Canadian Transportation Tokens, Fourth Edition, Volume Two, History and Encyclopedia of Transportation Tokens, by John Coffee, Jr., American Vecturist Association.
- Memorial History of Louisville From its First Settlement to the Year 1896, Edited by Stoddard Johnson, American Biographical Publishing Co., Chapter XXVII, The Street Railway System, By Carlton Heydon. 1896
- The Encyclopedia of Louisville, Edited by John E. Kleber, University Press of Kentucky. 2001
- In the Beginning: The Rail Road Comes to Frankfort, Kentucky, A History of the Lexington and Ohio Rail Road, Written by Dr. Thomas Clark Captions by Charles Bogart, Republished by the Frankfort Heritage Press.
- Railroads in Cities: The Case of the Unfortunate L.&P., by George Yater, University of Louisville Photo Archives.
- The Numismatist, By H. Glover Bennett, November, 1917.
- The Fare Box, by John Coffee, July, 1968.
- Motor Coach Age, Louisville(1923 to 1945), by Van Wilkins, May-June 1990.
- Motor Coach Age, Louisville(Since 1945), by Van Wilkins, May-June 1991.
