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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Two events planned for this month will spotlight a preservation group&#8217;s efforts to rescue and restore the city&#8217;s last known trolley car.</p><p>Volunteers with Anthracite Trolleys Inc., and are raising funds to extricate 95-year-old car 790 from its longtime resting place and restore it to running condition.</p><p>They have until the end of 2019 to remove the car from a summer house that was built up around it 70 years ago, and need to raise $30,000 for that work, which will be the first step toward restoration.</p><p>So far, they have raised about $10,000 according to one of the volunteers, Conrad Baut, although some of those funds have already been spent on tree removal at the site.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve also been writing applications for grants,&#8221; Baut said, adding that the group is hopeful they will be able to secure matching funds for the effort.</p><p>Once the trolley is removed from the remote site in Franklin Township, the real work of restoration can begin, which the group has said could cost about $300,000 and require at least two-and-a-half years to complete.</p><p>At two upcoming events local residents can learn more about the trolley system that served Wilkes-Barre and the Wyoming Valley until 1950, as well as about the group&#8217;s efforts to save 790:</p><p>&#8226; At 2 p.m. March 16, Harrison Wick will discuss his book on the history of Wyoming Valley trolleys at Wilkes University&#8217;s Henry Student Center, as well as discussing Project 790.</p><p>&#8226; At Noon on March 23, the Luzerne County Historical Society will host a presentation by Anthracite Trolleys secretary/treasurer James Wert entitled &#8220;Let&#8217;s Take the Trolley,&#8221; which will look at public transportation in the valley from horse-drawn days up through the end of trolley service.</p><p>As well, Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tony George is expected to proclaim March 16-23 &#8220;Trolley Week&#8221; in the city.</p><p>Built in Philadelphia in 1924 for service in Pottsville, car 790 came to Wilkes-Barre in 1933 and operated here until the last streetcars ran between Nanticoke and Wilkes-Barre on an October morning 17 years later.</p><p>The car was purchased for use as a cottage overlooking Perrins Marsh by the late Walter and Mary Krakowski. One other Wilkes-Barre car was known to survive. It was turned into a diner, but has long since been lost to history. All the rest are believed to have been scrapped.</p><p>Those wishing to support restoration efforts can send donations to the group&#8217;s treasurer, Emil Augustine,at 282 Pollock Drive, Pittston, PA 18640. Anyone with questions can contact Baut at 570-855-3977 or cdbaut@gmail.com.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">One end of Wilkes-Barre trolley car 790 can be seen poking out of the Franklin Township summer house that was built up around it nearly 70 years ago. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_TTL092318Trolley8.cmyk-1-1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>One end of Wilkes-Barre trolley car 790 can be seen poking out of the Franklin Township summer house that was built up around it nearly 70 years ago. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader file photo </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Roger DuPuis</p><p>rdupuis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Events spotlight group’s effort to save Wilkes-Barre trolley