Lincoln-Rosehill Streetcar – Historic Summerdale

From 1897 to 1948, streetcars ran along Damen (Robey) to Balmoral and then up to Rosehill Cemetery along Ravenswood.

CSL 840 on Ravenswood Avenue at Rose Hill Cemetery on the Lincoln route circa 1947. (photo credit: thetrolleydodger.com)

According to the Edgewater Historical Society:

It had different names at various times (Robey Street in 1906-1908; Wells St-Lincoln Ave between 1911 and 1922; and #55 Lincoln-Rosehill after 1929), but it was popularly known as the Lincoln-Rosehill line because it ran on Lincoln Aveune and terminated in front of the Rosehill station of the Chicago & Northwestern’s Milwaukee line. Trolleys that ran on Lincoln Ave branched at Irving Park. One branch continued north on Lincoln and terminated at “Bowmanville.” It was later extended a few blocks north and terminated at Berwyn (April 16, 1914) and then again to Peterson (July 26, 1931). The other branch went north on Robey (present day Damen) to Balmoral, then east on Balmoral to East Ravenswood Park (present day Ravenswood) and then north on Ravenswood for only four standard city blocks to the Rosehill station which was just south of Cemetery Drive (5400 to 5800 north).

According to Alan Lind (Chicago Surface Lines), the Robey (Damen) branch was opened by the North Chicago Electric Railway (another of Charles Yerkes properties) in 1897 (approximately 5 years after horse cars first ran on Clark between Lawrence and Devon and approximately 4 years after trolleys first ran on Broadway); however, the 1899 Rand McNally Guide does not show the line. The authorization to operate on Robey and the other streets was granted by the Chicago City Council in July 1896 (Chicago Tribune July 24, 1896).