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Mt. Hamilton Stage Company Annual Pass (1903)

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Railroadiana, Trains Start Price:150.00 USD Estimated At:300.00 - 500.00 USD
Mt. Hamilton Stage Company Annual Pass (1903)
SOLD
400.00USDto a********o+ buyer's premium (96.00)
This item SOLD at 2016 Sep 30 @ 14:33UTC-7 : PDT/MST
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Headquarters located at the Hotel Vendome in San Jose, California. No. 1318, issued for Jan. 1, 1903-Jan. 1, 1904 to F.W. Thompson. Signed F.H. Ross and Sons. Background vignette of stage at hotel. Reverse shows signs of being removed from an album. Printed on cardstock.



The company was formed in 1888 to transport people who would want to see the Lick Observatory built at the top of Mt. Hamilton. From "Pen Pictures from the Garden of the World, Or Santa Clara County, California" (Foote, 1888):



"A short time ago Messrs. F. S. Chadbourne, the wealthy furniture dealer of San Francisco, San Diego, and Portland; A. H. Boomer, of the California, Oregon, and Idaho Stage Co., and S. D. Brasto, Division Superintendent of Wells Fargo & Co.'s Express, anticipating that the site of the observatory would be a tempting place of resort to the public, formed a corporation called the "Mt. Hamilton Stage Co." for the purpose of establishing a superb line of stages between San Jose and that point. Mr. Chadbourne was elected President, Mr. Boomer, Vice-President, and Mr. Brasto, Secretary and Treasurer. A. W. Ingalsbe was appointed local agent for San Jose, and Jo. Bacon assistant agent. The company sent out agents to purchase the best horses for stage service to be found on the Pacific slope; placed an order for twelve eleven-passenger coaches, constructed in such a manner as to afford to each passenger an outside seat, and began the erection of post-houses, stables, etc., on the route. They sounded the country also for old and experienced stage-drivers, whom they uniformed in corduroy suits and broad-brimmed stage- drivers' sombreros. Tally-ho coaches are also being built, hung very low, which, when completed, will be preceded by a bugler to announce the special points of view, stoppages, etc.



There are two changes of horses, the coaches being four and six horse, one at Hall's Valley, and one at Smith's Creek. At the latter point, passengers stop thirty minutes for dinner at the Smith Creek Hotel, an establishment owned by T. E. Snell & Son, and ably conducted by Mrs. Hattie Garnosset. The Mt. Hamilton Stage Co. contemplates also the erection of a hotel near the summit so that visitors can remain over and by night view the moon and stars through the largest telescope in the world. The return trip is perhaps more enjoyable than the ascent. As the stage sweeps down the road with its many curves, the landscape unfolds, and in three short hours the tourist is again in San Jose, with ineffaceable recollections of the mountain road, the marvelous prospect, the lofty mountain, and the lonely tomb." (Prag Collection)



City: San Jose State: California, Date: Inventory# 39129