Amos Fitz Gerald (September 12, 1842 – June 14, 1913) was a railroad engineer from Maine, United States. He was nicknamed the "Electric Railway King" of the state due to his building 125 miles of Maine's early railroads.
Gerald was born in Benton, Maine, to a farming family. The family's surname was previously Fitzgerald but was shortened to Gerald after his great-grandfather's immigration from Ireland. Amos was given the middle name of Fitz, though he preferred to use the initial.[1]
On October 23, 1867, he married Caroline W. Rowell. They lived together in Gerald's adopted home of Fairfield, Maine, in what is now known as the Amos Gerald House.[1][2]
He later turned his interests to railways, and he became one of the directors of the Waterville & Fairfield Horse Railroad Company in 1887. The same year, he established, with three others, the Bath Street Railway; however, the line did not open for a further five years.[1]
The Augusta, Hallowell & Gardiner Street Railway was incorporated on March 6, 1889. It was the second electric street railway to open in the state, after the Bangor Street Railway the previous year.[1]
Gerald left Maine briefly for Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where he oversaw the regeneration of the town's failing street railway system.[1]
The only daughter of the Geralds, Helen, died in 1902. She was married to noted Maine poet Holman Day.[1]
In 1903, Gerald was built the short-lived Casco Castle in South Freeport, Maine. He had conceived it as a resort, with rooms for around one hundred guests, to encourage travel by trolleycars. It was Gerald's second such attempt; the first, Merrymeeting Park, in Brunswick, Maine, was a failure.[3]
Death
Gerald died of apoplexy in Portland, Maine, on June 14, 1913. He was 70. He was interred in Maplewood Cemetery in Fairfield, alongside his daughter. His wife, who survived him by thirteen years, was buried alongside them both.
References
^ abcdefgHeseltine, Charles D. The Illustrated Atlas of Maine's Street & Electric Railways: 1863–1946. PWM. ISBN1502406225.
^"NRHP nomination for Amos Gerald House". National Park Service. Retrieved 2015-03-01.
amos, gerald, amos, fitz, gerald, september, 1842, june, 1913, railroad, engineer, from, maine, united, states, nicknamed, electric, railway, king, state, building, miles, maine, early, railroads, bornseptember, 1842benton, maine, diedjune, 1913, 1913, aged, p. Amos Fitz Gerald September 12 1842 June 14 1913 was a railroad engineer from Maine United States He was nicknamed the Electric Railway King of the state due to his building 125 miles of Maine s early railroads Amos F GeraldBornSeptember 12 1842Benton Maine U S DiedJune 14 1913 1913 06 14 aged 70 Portland Maine U S Resting placeMaplewood Cemetery Fairfield Maine U S OccupationRailroad engineerSpouseCaroline W Rowell 1867 1913 his death Life and career EditGerald was born in Benton Maine to a farming family The family s surname was previously Fitzgerald but was shortened to Gerald after his great grandfather s immigration from Ireland Amos was given the middle name of Fitz though he preferred to use the initial 1 The Amos Gerald House in Fairfield MaineIn 1860 aged eighteen he left Benton for New Hampshire where he became a log driver on the Merrimack River 1 On October 23 1867 he married Caroline W Rowell They lived together in Gerald s adopted home of Fairfield Maine in what is now known as the Amos Gerald House 1 2 He later turned his interests to railways and he became one of the directors of the Waterville amp Fairfield Horse Railroad Company in 1887 The same year he established with three others the Bath Street Railway however the line did not open for a further five years 1 The Augusta Hallowell amp Gardiner Street Railway was incorporated on March 6 1889 It was the second electric street railway to open in the state after the Bangor Street Railway the previous year 1 Gerald s son in law Holman DayGerald left Maine briefly for Eau Claire Wisconsin where he oversaw the regeneration of the town s failing street railway system 1 The only daughter of the Geralds Helen died in 1902 She was married to noted Maine poet Holman Day 1 In 1903 Gerald was built the short lived Casco Castle in South Freeport Maine He had conceived it as a resort with rooms for around one hundred guests to encourage travel by trolleycars It was Gerald s second such attempt the first Merrymeeting Park in Brunswick Maine was a failure 3 Death EditGerald died of apoplexy in Portland Maine on June 14 1913 He was 70 He was interred in Maplewood Cemetery in Fairfield alongside his daughter His wife who survived him by thirteen years was buried alongside them both References Edit a b c d e f g Heseltine Charles D The Illustrated Atlas of Maine s Street amp Electric Railways 1863 1946 PWM ISBN 1502406225 NRHP nomination for Amos Gerald House National Park Service Retrieved 2015 03 01 Casco Castle Meander Maine Retrieved 2022 04 07 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Amos F Gerald amp oldid 1153260934, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
