Who's Who in Baltimore Transit

Who's Who in Baltimore Transit

First Edition - February 3, 2001

Can't remember who was President of the BTC during the War?!?
Curious as to Who made the decisions in Transit during the 1960's?
Interested in some fascinating trivia?

Then check out this "Who's Who" list of some notable figures in Baltimore's Transit History!

See a name you KNOW should be added to this list, let me know. It need not be a President, Administrator, or "Higher Up," simply someone whose presence made a meaningful difference to the Baltimore Transit Picture. Needless to say, this list is FAR from being completed.

Name:	Brief Bio:s
Allen, Joseph	Emergency Utility Adminstrator of the BTC during the period in which the property of the BTC was seized following the strike of 1956.
Azrael, Louis	Local Newspaper Columnist of the Postwar Era who often made commentary on the BTC's practices and policies.
Baetjer, Harry N.	BTC's Primary Attorney during the late 1940's, and one of the first NCL appointed members of BTC's Board of Directors. Partner in the prominent local Law Firm of Venable, Baetjer, and Howard.
Barnes, Henry	Traffic Commissioner of the City of Baltimore during the 1950's. Barnes was well known for his dislike of rail vehicles. Barnes ultimately went on to a top post in New York City.
Barrett, Dale W.	President of the BTC from March of 1955 until May of 1960. Barrett resigned to head the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Company.
Bauernschmidt, Mrs. William M.	Prominent local citizen who owned several Apartment Buildings in the area, and was a continual headache for the management of the BTC. Known for her vocal opposition to noise, "Mrs. B" threatened suit against the BTC's modernization plan in mid-1940's due to the increased noise of Motor Buses and it's negative effects on her tenants.
Clark, A.T.	Preservation minded United Official, who, following the "Fair of the Electric Pony," saw to it to preserve and hold on to a collection of vintage Baltimore Streetcars dating back to the 19th Century.
Cross, Thomas A.	President of the U.R.&E. from 1917 to 1919, succeeding William House, and suceeded by William Emmons.
Daft, Leo	Professor who came to Baltimore in the 1880's, piloting the experimental electrfication of the Baltimore and Hampden Railway, which on August 10, 1885, reportedly became the first electric railway operation in America.
Duvall, John B. and J.B. Jr.	Father and Son team who ranked high in the BTC Organization during different periods. John was Vice-President and General Manager in the BTC during the early 1940's, while J.B. Jr. was Director of Planning and Public Relations and later Vice-President from the early 1950's to the late 1960's.
Emmons, Charles D.	President of the U.R. & E. from 1919 until 1929. Emmons came from the Boston Elevated Railway, and was succeeded by Lucius Storrs.
Fitzgerald, E. Roy	Head of the National City Lines Organization, which bought into the BTC beginning in 1945. Known for his pro-bus attitude, Fitzgerald was a nightmare to railfans nationwide.
Gray, Claude M.	President of the BTC from mid-1947, until he comitted suicide on February 1, 1948. Gray replaced Fred Nolan after his death, and came from the St. Louis Public Service Company
Hughes, Adrian	BTC's Director of Research, later serving as Assistant to President Claude M. Gray, during his brief tenure. Hughes was a head player in the formation of the "Modernization Plan" that replaced streetcars with buses in the city.
Jannsen, Robert W.	Prominent Rail Photographer, who extensively shot the system during the immediate Postwar Period.
Keester, George	Winner of the BTC's contest to determine a paint scheme for it's new PCC cars in 1936.
Haneke, August M.	President of the BTC from May 4, 1948 until February of 1952. Haneke succeeded Claude Gray, and come from the C&P Telephone Company. He represented NCL's first appointment of a local man to the position of President.
Hood, John Mifflin	Third President of the U.R. & E., serving from 1903-1907. Came from the Western Maryland Railroad, and served as President until his death.
Hill, Bancroft	BTC's President from 1936 until June of 1945, last BTC President that was not appointed by the NCL tea.
House, William A.	U.R. & E.'s Fourth President. Succeeeded J.M. Hood after his death, and served until 1917, to serve the U.S. Government during World War I.
Melchoir, Rosie M.	BTC's first Female Operator, assigned to Roland Park Car House and the #29 streetcar line on October 27, 1942.
Meyer, Louis F. Jr.	Local Attorney and Real Estate Broker who played important part of the opposition to the BTC's plans for conversions. Meyer was a colorful character who was remembered for bringing a satchel full of Streetcar parts into PSC hearings that he had recovered from the Rights of Way, in order to make light of the poor condition of the equipment.
Miller, Edward S.	Prominent Rail Photographer who shot extensive photo coverage of the Baltimore Streetcar System.
Neuberger, Barney	Rail Photographer, who took numerous photos of the Baltimore system during the 1940's.
Nixon, George F.	Curator Emeritus of the Baltimore Streetcar Museum. Nixon was the spearhead behind the effort to save the streetcars held for many years at the direction of A.T. Clark.
Nolan, Fred	Appointed BTC President in July of 1945, Nolan was NCL's first appointed President to head the Baltimore system. Nolan came from Detroit, and served until his death from cancer on December 12, 1946.
Perin, Nelson	First President of the U.R.& E. beginning in 1899. Resigned after little more than a year at the post, resulting from disagreements with the prominent Board.
Perry, Clayton	Representative of the Independent Union of Transit Employees of Baltimore, who became frustrated with being unable to present employee grievances to the Company, and led the efforts in 1941 to form Division 1300 of the Amalgamated Transit Union.
Pratt, Douglas	Coming from Pacific City Lines, Pratt headed the BTC from February of 1952 until March of 1955. Pratt succeeded August Haneke until he resigned from the position to head the Philadelphia Transit Company.
Reavis, C. Frank	New York Partner in the Law Firm of Hodges, Reavis, Pantaleoni, and Downey who would become one of the first two NCL appointed members to the BTC's Board of Directors.
Snyder, Charles A.	BTC Bus Operator who was shot and killed in June of 1968 at Fayette & Fremont on Route #1, by three youths demanding his change fund. Snyder's death prompted a Wildcat strike by BTC operators demanding an "Exact Fare" policy.
Stanley, Glenn L.	BTC's President from May of 1960 until its takeover by the State in April of 1970. Stanley continued in a separate role after takeover to help take care of BTC's financial matters.
Storrs, Lucius	The BTC's First president, replaced in 1936 by Bancroft Hill. Storrs came to Baltimore in 1929, under the U.R. & E., coming from the American Electric Railway Association.
Swann, Thomas	Mayor of Baltimore during the 1850's, proposed the original 5¢ fare that was adopted when Horsecar Service began.
Voith, George W.	Another prominent rail photographer who amassed considerable photos of the Baltimore System in the immediate Postwar Era.
Webb, George	U.R. & E.'s Second President, succeeding Nelson Perin. Like Perin, Webb soon resigned due to disagreements.
Woolston, S.A.	Superintendent of Transportation at the BTC during the Early 1950s.