Authentic Trolley ride offers unique
view of Galena heritage
by Daniel
Hines
Publisher
America's Seniors/TodaysSeniorsNetwork.com
Galena is a travel in time.
That's why we were particularly interested in touring the village on the
authentic turn-of-the-century wooden trolleys that traverse the narrow
winding streets.
We chose Brill's Trolley Tours, which
launches its tours adjacent to the Market House, only one block removed
from Galena's Main Street.
One of the reasons for selecting Brill's was that it offered a chance to
combine several experiences with our tour.
Noreen Brill, the energetic,
personable owner of Brill's Trolley Tours, is also the proprietor of
several other Galena businesses, and she has incorporate those and her
extensive contacts within the Galena community to make her trolley
service an opportunity for a one-stop introduction to the community.
For example, she owns the picturesque
and authentic American Old Fashion Ice Cream Parlor, where, in addition
to purchasing trolley tickets, you can bide your time before the short
block walk to the trolley jumping off point by enjoying a wide variety
of ice creams, old-fashioned sodas and other refreshments.
Want to see the oldest stone house in
the state of Illinois? No problems. Ms. Brill is the
proprietor of Dowling House, just a block north of the ice cream
parlor. And, she is the only trolley service in town with
combination tickets for the trolley ride, tours of the Dowling House,
and the magnificent Belevedere Mansion. She doesn't own the
latter, but is good friends with the owners and has created the package
tour for her customers.
The trolley itself is a handsome
vehicle. It was originally owned by a man from Dubuque, IA,
where it was used on tours before being transferred to Galena. Ms. Brill
purchased the business in 1988.
One of the advantages of her site is
that it is in the heart of town, allowing visitors to visit shops and
other sites, rather than waiting at the edge of Main Street.
Add to this, the fact that the trolley stops at Grant's Home, allowing
passengers time to tour the historic mansion, without additional
charges, and Brill's Trolley Tours represents a true value for
visitors.
The trolley also provides a unique
introduction to the many other historic mansions and homes of Galena, as
it goes past many of the beautiful homes that were residence for
national policy makers and shakers of the mid- and late-l9th
century.
Take the tour, enjoy the ride.
Brill's
Trolley Tours
102 North Main Street
Galena, IL
Phone:815-777-3121
For further information
about Brill's
Trolley Tours, contact Ms. Trill (really, call her Noreen) via e-mail at
ncbrill@mhtc.net or at ncbrill@hotmail.com
