Bob Johnston, founder of the Jamestown Street Railway Trolley Car No. 93 Restoration Project, has recently published two books. Submitted photo

Bob Johnston, founder of the Jamestown Street Railway Trolley Car No. 93 Restoration Project, has recently published two books to help raise funds for the project.

Back in 1996, the original trolley car was pulled out of the woods in Dewittville. An endowment fund was then set up with the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation to support the project’s goal of restoring and preserving the trolley car. Restoration officially began in 2014.

Johnston reported a good year for the project overall.

“Trolley trucks or wheels were delivered from the Seashore Trolley Museum, and our annual fundraiser, the Chautauqua Region Vintage Book and Paper Show brought in over $3,000 for the trolley building fund,” he said. “The show is all set again for the first Saturday of August, Aug 3, 2024 at the Chautauqua Suites in Mayville.”

Johnston said that historical preservation is tougher these days as it is harder to get the younger generation interested. He added that the cars are pretty much complete but now they need somewhere to call home.

“At the start of the project, I thought, ‘Who wouldn’t be interested in seeing these old trolley cars?'” Johnston said. “These days, I am working to get people interested in the community.”

As part of trying to pique interest, Johnston recently completed his reference book, “Early Chautauqua County New York Brewers and Bottlers.” The book is a reference for most every county entity that was in the business of brewing and bottling before prohibition, including pictures and a collection of information.

“This is something I did on my own and put together so that people can use it to look things up if they are so inclined,” Johnston said.

Since Johnston graduated from college in the 1970s, he said he developed an interest in local history, whether that was just old photographs and postcards or finding Trolley Car No. 93 in the woods and starting the restoration project.

A few years ago, he found an interest in early brewing and bottling businesses when he saw bottles that were embossed and came from Boat Landing Bottling in Jamestown, Nickel Plate Bottling in Dunkirk, and Jamestown Brewing Company, along with many others.

Johnston said they tied in with his local history interest.

“Old local photos, postcards, ephemera and now antique bottles have provided the impetus to not only write this book, but to update and reprint, with her permission, Alberta Oonk’s ‘Milk Bottles of Chautauqua County and Their Stories,’ book,” Johnston said. “Both books are available for purchase, possibly as a gift for the holidays.”

The reprinted book on milk bottles is $15 and the 140-page book brewers and bottles is $25. Proceeds go directly into the Trolley No. 93 Non-Endowed/Jim Mitchener Memorial Fund with the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.

“Money in this fund is used for restoration costs, but primarily is used to grow our building fund to someday house No. 93 and preserve it for future generations,” Johnston said. “The books can give you more information on historical aspects of the county, so you can support the project while also getting something in return.”

For more information on the restoration project, visit jamestowntrolley.org. Johnston said there is more information on how to donate to the project on the website as well if anyone is interested. To purchase a book, learn more about the project or share information, contact Johnston at 716-338-5051. Donations can also be made by contacting the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation directly at 716-661-3390.

Johnston added that visitors are welcome to come see the trolley with advance notice, including groups and students wanting to see and hear about the area’s trolley history.