Fun Freebie: Canada on Our Minds
Looking for something interesting, different, and free (the magic word) to do as you wait for the weekend to roll around? Well, why not head over to Copley Square (Boylston Street and Dartmouth Street, Boston) to experience an authentic 1923 Canadian streetcar? Bet you’ve never done that before!
On Thursday and Friday, May 29 and May 30, a 47-foot-long streetcar designed by Peter Witt will be on display in Copley Square. That’s just the beginning, though, because all sorts of activities are also scheduled to help Bostonians become more familiar with that big country up north we share this continent with, including an opportunity to win a trip to Canada.
Thursday’s theme is Ottawa, and it features performances by Capital City’s International Chamber Music Festival, a Canadian Aboriginal Hoop Dancer, carving demonstrations with Chef Armando of Ottawa’s renowned Le Cordon Bleu school, and oyster shucking displays sponsored by The Whale Bone.
On Friday, the theme will change to Niagara, complete with Aroma Bar demonstrations showing how Niagara wines are made, a photographer to snap photos of interested people in a barrel (they couldn’t very well bring Niagara Falls along, could they?), and Canadian performers demonstrating their stilt-walking and tight-rope skills.
The fun starts on both days at 8am (they get up early, don’t they?) and ends twelve hours later at 8pm. Moreover, in addition to the daily themes, revelers can enjoy a tour of the historic streetcar and take pictures with genuine Canadian Mounties.
I did some research since the name Peter Witt didn’t jump out at me. Now that I’m done, I have to admit I never thought I’d say this about streetcars — particularly after getting a look at so many MBTA Green Line versions in dire need of a good wash — but some are astoundingly gorgeous, especially those designed by Peter Witt.
A transit commissioner of Cleveland Street Railway, Witt is famous for pioneering streetcars that made it possible to decrease waiting times at stops by optimizing embarking and disembarking procedures. New passengers entered at the front door and proceeded to the back of the car, where they were intercepted by a conductor in the middle who collected fares. As a result, waits at stops were significantly shortened because the conductor in the driver’s seat didn’t have to stall the train while passengers fiddled around in their pocket(book)s forever paid one by one as they entered.
Learn more about Witt’s remarkable trolley cars at Gomaco Trolley Company. What a fascinating history lesson! The fact that his streetcars have endured so long and remain in such good condition — refurbished cars are still in use throughout North America and in Milan, Italy — just makes the reality even more incredible.
Tags: boston, canada, copley square, massachusetts, new england, peter witt, streetcars, trolleysRelated Stories
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