Hometown Trolley expansion to increase production capacity

Richard d Ackley, Jr.

The Wisconsin north woods has enjoyed a long history as a vacation get-away for many living south of Wisconsin’s border for generations. The phrase “going up north” generally brings happy thoughts of fishing, boating, swimming, camping, clean water and fresh air; immersed in the ever-present fragrance of cedar, fir, hemlock, pine and spruce. Family photo albums contain past photos of that big bass or the trophy musky and memories of that flavorful walleye dinner out by the lake. Crandon remains one of those small rural towns which retains a bit of the old days in America’s past, where the downtown contains the central business district. Crandon is the county seat for Forest County which has a total population of just over 9,000. Yet don’t be mistaken about Crandon, remarkably, it is home to a very unique business called Hometown Trolley, which operates just off the main thoroughfare of Hwy 8 and 55.

Hometown Trolley is a third-generation, family business that is a woman-owned manufacturer of trackless trolleys. The trolleys are designed in replica of the nostalgic streetcars of the 1800s, combining high-quality craftsmanship with the latest innovative technology. From the first trolley built, the company focus has been to preserve the integrity of craftsmanship true to its era. One hundred percent American-made, and hand-crafted using the best materials like traditional spiral brass, exotic woods, quality leather, and decorative pinstripe detailing are at the forefront Hometown Trolley’s products expressing genuine hometown pride.

For the full story see this week’s edition of The Forest Republican.