Molley has been parked.
Fearless Fred is ready to roll.
A small group gathered at the Iola Area Chamber of Commerce Tuesday for the maiden voyage of Fearless Fred, the name given the Chamber’s recently acquired 2005 trolley.
The newer vehicle replaces the 1988 Molley Trolly that had roamed Iola the past decade.
The older trolley had begun to show its age, to the point drivers were hesitant to take it out of town, or drive it after dark.
The name Fearless Fred came about because of the trolley’s connection to Iola’s Maj. Gen. Frederick Funston.
Jonathan Helmken of Ashland, N.C. sold the trolley to the Iola Chamber. Helmken’s mother, Debbie, is a descendant of Funston and even had paid a visit to Iola in 1995 during a rededication of the Funston home when it was moved from north of Iola to the west side of the courthouse square.
The visit so impressed Helmken that when she saw the Chamber’s ad on Craigslist in search of a trolley she contacted Carol Sager, Chamber director.
In fact, the Trolley Board, which paid for the vehicle, was given a significant discount, noted Donna Houser, who helped secure the sale.
A towing company brought the vehicle to Iola in early October. It was unveiled at the Farm-City Days Parade, then parked until new decals and lettering could be added.
It was Iola attorney and Funston historian Clyde Toland who suggested the “Fearless Fred” moniker, which was heartily endorsed by the Trolley Board.
THE NEWER vehicle has several advantages over the old trolley, which is up for sale.
At about 100,000 miles, the newer vehicle still has plenty of life left in its diesel engine, Sager said. The trolley also is larger, fitting 31 passengers to the old one’s 20, with padded seats, a functioning heater and air conditioner. And, unlike the Molley Trolley, the newer vehicle has perfectly functioning headlights, Houser joked.
The decals, including a pair of photos of Funston, were created by Gail and Steve Norman of Ravin Printing, plus a distinctive blue and gold “Iola” painted on each side.
SAGER sees the new trolley getting significantly more business because of its reliability, its larger size and its functioning heater and air conditioner.
The public will get its first chance to ride the trolley on Thursday evening from 5 to 7 while Santa’s House is open on the southeast corner of the courthouse square. Trolley rides are offered each Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon from 1 to 3 while Santa’s House is open.
A Christmas lights trolley tour is planned for Dec. 17. Tickets for the 90-minute ride sell for $8 apiece. Organizers must have at least 15 tickets sold for the tour to take place.
Sager also is eager to once again see the trolley used for such things as weddings and group tours. For booking information, call 365-5252.
PHOTOS: Above, Donna Houser gives some remarks Tuesday shortly before the maiden voyage of “Fearless Fred,” the name given to the newly acquired trolley by the Iola Area Chamber of Commerce. Free trolley rides sponsored by PSI will be offered each Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon while the Santa House is open on the square. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
