Several months ago, I was contacted by Mr. Allen Prame of Grand Island, New York. Mr. Prame had visited our history room several years ago, and knew much about East Rochester’s history—especially Kate Gleason’s impact on our community. He explained that he had a trailercar which had been built c1914 at Kate Gleason’s Northway Trailercar Company on West Commercial Street. The company had occupied the site where Crosman Seed Corporation is now located. Mr. Prame wanted to donate the trailercar to us. He had completely refurbished it, painted it, and had the emblem plate restored. The trailercar is approximately 14 feet in length and 42 inches wide.
Kate Gleason was involved in a number of ventures in the early days of East Rochester. She owned many parcels of land in our community. She was the developer of housing in Concrest and Marigold Gardens. She owned the land which now encompasses Edmund Lyon Park (land she donated to our village). And she owned property for businesses on West Commercial Street. At her Northway Trailercar Company, four-wheel utility trailers were made for many businesses. The wagon-like trailers were meant to be attached to cars or small trucks. Different companies adapted them to fit their commercial purposes, for transporting people, goods, or cattle. Some were used to transport pianos from the Piano Works. Other examples of use included: transporting packages for Parcel Post, delivering flowers for florists, and even serving as camping tents.
For many months I worked with our town/village officials to try to determine where we could house the trailercar and find a suitable place to display it. This fall we finally decided we would be able to accept the trailercar, keep it in temporary storage, and display it at special occasions. On October 24th, Pete Calabrese and Joe Scumaci from the DPW drove their truck with a flatbed attached to Grand Island, and delivered the trailercar to its new home in East Rochester. Two days later it was displayed at the Trunk or Treat Chamber of Commerce Halloween festival in the Mall parking lot. For now, it is safely stored waiting for its next big event.
We are honored to have such a special piece of our history. The donation of the trailercar meant a lot to Mr. Prame who is over 90 years old. It was important to him that it have a home. We are pleased that we were able to help.
The attached photograph shows the trailercar after its being refurbished by Mr. Prame.