Bath’s news trolley, shown here during a recent chartered tour, is awaiting a new name. City officials see it as an important promotional tool and part of the city’s culture. (Christopher Cousins / Bangor Daily News)
She’s not a lady of the night and depending on the results of a contest to name her, she may not be a she at all.
She’s a trolley.
For many years, Bath’s streets were frequented by Emma, a green trolley bus that was named after Bath native Emma Eames, a world-renowned opera soprano who died in the 1950s. But Emma’s usefulness faded and late last year, the city opted to buy a near-identical replacement, although the new trolley is maroon.
At a cost of about $123,000 from a New Jersey business called Cable Car Concepts, the new trolley went into service last month, according to Community Development Director Justin Poirier.
Planning and Development Director Andrew Deci said the city has received dozens of suggestions for a new name, ranging from Molly the Trolley to Maury Povich, the talk show host who has roots in Bath and whose family name appears on an historic downtown building. There have also been maritime-themed suggestions that reflect Bath’s “City of Ships” moniker, such as Clipper and Skiff.
Deci said the trolley is an important tradition in Bath.
“People get excited when they see the trolley,” he said. “It’s another way to introduce people to Bath and the downtown merchants are very interested in having this service continued.”
Whatever its named, the trolley will continue its predecessor’s mission of supplementing the Bath Bus Service in the summer months, including chartered tours. Rides cost $1 apiece.
Nominations for names for the new trolley can be submitted by emailing Deci at adeci@cityofbath.com or by filling out a card in either the city clerk’s office at 55 Front St. or the Main Street Bath office at 15 Commercial St. Nominations are due by Wednesday.
For more, see the Bangor Daily News at www.bangordailynews.com
¦ NOMINATIONS FOR names for the trolley can be submitted by emailing adeci@cityofbath.com or by filling out a card in either the city clerk’s office at 55 Front St. or the Main Street Bath office at 15 Commercial St. Nominations are due by Wednesday
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