Title: Milwaukee Rapid Transit and Speedrail Company Records
Inclusive Dates: 1950-1970

Creator:

• Milwaukee Rapid Transit and Speedrail Company

Call Number: Local History Manuscript Collection 48

Quantity: 0.8 cubic ft. (2 boxes)

Repository:

Milwaukee Public Library, Frank P. Zeidler Room

Archival Location:

Milwaukee Public Library (Map)

Abstract:

Primarily the bankruptcy records of the Milwaukee Rapid Transit and Speedrail Company, which served the Milwaukee area from 1896-1951. Contains legal documents, reports, correspondence, and a scrapbook.

Note:

To request materials from this collection, create/login to your Special Collections Account.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.mwpl-lhmc0048

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Originally part of the Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company (T.M.E.R. & L. Co.), the Milwaukee Rapid Transit and Speedrail Company was purchased by Jay Maeder in 1949. It served Milwaukee and surrounding communities from 1896 until its last run on June 30, 1951. The company mainly operated electric trains (interurbans) between Milwaukee, Hales Corners, and Waukesha. Several combined factors contributed to the company’s demise, primarily competition from other transportation modes (automobile and bus), and a severe, fatal accident in September of 1950. By the end of that year, the company was operating at a deficit of several thousand dollars a month.

In 1950, Bruno Bitker, of Bitker and Marshall, Attorneys at Law, was appointed Trustee of the Milwaukee Rapid Transit and Speedrail Company. The company applied for reorganization pursuant to Chapter X of the Bankruptcy Act in Proceedings for Reorganization of a Corporation in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin as Case No. 27508. Bitker led the company through the completion of the process, which was finalized on 29 September 1952. What salvageable property remained became part of the Hyman-Michaels Company, a Chicago-based salvage firm.

The collection primarily consists of records detailing the reorganization and bankruptcy of the Milwaukee Rapid Transit and Speedrail Company, containing various legal documents such as affidavits, reports, statements, and mortgages. Also included are clippings, correspondence, a map of public transportation in Milwaukee, and a scrapbook.

The collection is arranged alphabetically; the legal documents are arranged chronologically.

Milwaukee Rapid Transit and Speedrail Company Records, 1950-1970, Collection 48. Local History Manuscript Collections, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Archival Collections

• Bruno V. Bitker Papers. Local History Manuscript Collection 354.

Publications and Other Items

Milwaukee Rapid Transit and Speedrail Company [map]

Rapid Transit in Milwaukee [videorecording] : from TMER & L to Speedrail

Speedrail : Milwaukee's Last Rapid Transit?

TM, the Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials. The collection is open to all in accordance with state law. The public may view Local History Manuscript Collections by appointment at the Central Library. To request an in-person appointment, create/login to your Special Collections Account. If you have any questions, please contact the Archives and Special Collections Department at mplarchives@milwaukee.gov.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

Acquisition Information

No deed of gift is currently on file. Materials were accessioned as Local History Manuscripts.

Processing Information

Inventory by Tammera Race, 2007. Processed by Bob Jaeger, 2018.

Box   1 Folder   1	Correspondence, 1951-1952
	Legal Documents
Box   1 Folder   2	Trustee’s Preliminary Report and Notice of Hearing, 1950
Box   1 Folder   3	Statement of Stock Interest, 1951
Box   1 Folder   4	Affidavit of Mailing, 1951
Box   1 Folder   5	Trustee’s Report on Plans of Reorganization, 1951
Box   1 Folder   6	Order for Authority to Abandon the Line and All Freight and Passenger Service, 1951
Box   1 Folder   7	Order Directing Trustee to Negotiate and Report, 1951
Box   1 Folder   8	Order Extending Time for Trustee to File Report, 1951
Box   1 Folder   9	Request of Trustee for Authority to Accept and Pay Out Insurance Monies, 1951
Box   1 Folder   10	Report of Estimated Present Fair Salvageable Value of All Items, 1951
Box   1 Folder   11	Trustee’s Report on Stockholder’s Office, 1951
Box   1 Folder   12	Order Fixing Time for Hearing on Application of Trustee, 1951
Box   1 Folder   13	Notice of Hearing, 1951
Box   1 Folder   14	Order Approving Trustee’s Report, 1951
Box   1 Folder   15	Notice of Hearing, 1951
Box   1 Folder   16	Affidavit of Mailing and Notice of Hearing, 1951
Box   1 Folder   17	Petition for Approval of Immaterial Modifications, 1952
Box   1 Folder   18	Order Approving Immaterial Modifications, 1952
Box   1 Folder   19	Order Allowance Claims, 1952
Box   1 Folder   20	Hyman-Michaels Certificate/Resolution, 1952
Box   1 Folder   21	Indemnification of Trustee Against Liability, 1952
Box   1 Folder   22	Indemnification of Trustee Against Liability for Taxes, 1952
Box   1 Folder   23	Order Confirming Plan, 1952
Box   1 Folder   24	Trustee’s Certificate of Indebtedness, 1952
Box   1 Folder   25	Final Account of Trustee and Application of Discharge, 1952
Box   1 Folder   26	Final Decree, 1952
Box   1 Folder   27	Order for Approving Final Account and Report, 1952
Box   1 Folder   28	Report of Trustee of Compliance, 1952
Box   1 Folder   29	Mortgage and Satisfaction of Mortgage, 1950-1952
Box   1 Folder   30	Map of Public Transportation Routes, undated
Box   1 Folder   31	News Releases and Newspaper Articles, 1950-1970
Box   2	Scrapbook, 1950-1952 Physical Description: 1 volume
Box   1 Folder   32	T.M.E.R. & L. Co., “Condensed Financial and Corporate History” includes Wisconsin Gas & Electric Company, Wisconsin Michigan Power Company, and affiliated companies, undated
Box   1 Folder   33	Timetables and Ephemera, 1931-1940, undated