Beautifully engraved certificate from the Mahoning and Shenango Railway and Light Company issued in 1917(Orange) and 1918(Green). This historic document was printed by American Banknote Company and has an ornate border around it with a vignette of an allegorical woman holding an electric light with a generator and electric train in the background. This item is hand signed by the Company's President and Treasurer and is over 87 years old.
Certificate Vignette YOUNGSTOWN TRANSIT HISTORY 1873 - Youngstown Street Railroad Co. introduces horse car service on Federal St. in Youngstown. 1875 - An independent company, West Side Street Railroad Co., introduces horse car service. 1890 - West Side Street Railroad Co. merged into Youngstown Street Railroad Co., forming Youngstown Street Railway Co. 1891 - Youngstown Street Railway electrifies lines. 1893 - An independent company, Youngstown Park & Falls Street Railway, constructs line on southwest side to Idora Park amusement park. 1895 - Mahoning Valley Electric Railway introduces interurban service between Youngstown and Warren. 1901 - Youngstown & Sharon Railway & Light Co. introduces interurban service between those cities. 1901 - Youngstown Street Railway Co., Mahoning Valley Electric Railway, and additional connecting companies consolidated into Mahoning Valley Railway Co. 1902 - Mahoning Valley Railway Co. completes interurban line between Youngstown and New Castle. 1902 - Mahoning Valley Railway Co. and additional companies in Pennsylvania consolidated into Pennsylvania & Mahoning Valley Railway Co. 1904 - Youngstown & Southern Railway introduces interurban service between Youngstown and Columbiana, initially steam powered. 1906 - Pennsylvania & Mahoning Valley Railway Co. and additional companies, including Youngstown & Sharon Railway & Light Co., consolidated into Mahoning & Shenango Railway & Light Co. 1907 - Youngstown & Southern Railway completes line from Columbiana to Leetonia, and adopts electric operation. 1913 - An independent company, Poland Street Railway, constructs line. 1916 - Youngstown & Southern Railway reorganizes as Youngstown & Suburban Railway, and would continue to remain independent from the other area electric railways. 1917 - Youngstown Park & Falls Street Railway and Poland Street Railway absorbed into Mahoning & Shenango Railway & Light Co. 1920 - Mahoning & Shenango Railway & Light Co. renamed Pennsylvania-Ohio Electric Co., separate railway subsidiaries formed including Youngstown Municipal Railway Co. (city lines), East End Traction Co. (interurban line to New Castle), and West End Traction Co. (interurban lines to Warren and Sharon). 1922 - Youngstown Municipal Railway Co. introduces first bus route in Youngstown. 1923 - Penn-Ohio Edison Co. incorporated, acquires Pennsylvania-Ohio Electric Co. as a subsidiary. 1929 - Penn-Ohio Edison Co. merged into newly incorporated Commonwealth & Southern Corp., with Pennsylvania-Ohio Electric Co. as a subsidiary. 1930 - Transportation Securities Corp. formed as subsidiary of Commonwealth & Southern Corp., to control transportation properties. Youngstown Municipal Railway Co. becomes subsidiary of Transportation Securities Corp. 1932 - Interurban railway service abandoned between Youngstown and Warren. 1933 - Interurban railway service abandoned between Youngstown and New Castle. 1936 - Trolleybuses introduced in Youngstown. 1939 - Interurban railway service abandoned between Youngstown and Sharon. 1940 - Streetcars discontinued in Youngstown. 1943 - Transportation Securities Corp. dissolved, Youngstown Municipal Railway Co. sold. 1944 - Boardman Transit Co. introduces bus service south of Youngstown, paralleling Youngstown & Suburban Railway. 1945 - United Transit Co. incorporated, which would acquire Youngstown Municipal Railway Co. 1948 - Youngstown & Suburban Railway abandons interurban railway service, the last interurban service to be abandoned in Ohio. 1957 - Youngstown Municipal Railway Co. renamed Youngstown Transit Co. 1959 - Trolleybuses discontinued in Youngstown. 1959 - Youngstown Transit Co. acquires Boardman Transit Co. 1962 - United Transit Co. acquired by American Transportation Enterprises (ATE). 1973 - Youngstown Transit Co. becomes publicly owned Western Reserve Transit Authority.