A colorized postcard of the trolley, theatre (now Goar Park) and depot near the entrance to Brewery Gulch. The front caption on the bottom reads: “Orpheum Theatre, Bisbee-Warren Streetcar and E. P. & S. W. Depot, Bisbee, Arizona” The postcard is unused, and the publisher unknown. City of Bisbee Collection.

The Orpheum Theater was one of the business ventures built by Joseph Muheim, a Swiss immigrant who came to Bisbee in 1888. The theater marked the entrance of Brewery Gulch and was managed by C.J. Alden. The venue housed a number of different plays and musical performances. Among the more famous performers that graced the Orpheum’s stage was Fatty Arbuckle performing vaudeville in the early part of his career in 1909. Later on, Paramount films were shown in the Orpheum. After the theater closed, the building was turned into a 30-car capacity garage. Among the auto businesses based there over the years was the Muheim Motor Company, the Brophy Garage and the Goar Service & Supply Company. The building was eventually demolished, and several trees were planted transforming the area into Goar Park. - The Bisbee trolley line, officially known as the Bisbee Warren railway, ran between 1908 and 1928. From March 12th, 1908 onward, the trolley provided transportation along its 8-mile-long track for residents going from upper Bisbee all the way down to the Country Club in Warren. The new trolley car had seating capacity for forty people and standing room for another seventy-five more. During baseball games and other special events the trolley offered lower fares. After serving the community for two decades, railway era came to an end when in a public vote. An overwhelming 446 to 35 votes brought in a more efficient bus line instead of replacing the aged infrastructure the trolley line relied on. The Studebaker buses began service on June 1st, 1928. Today, the remnants of the trolley tracks can be seen in front of the Lyric Theater. - The expansion of the railways was pivotal to Bisbee’s development. For new arrivals into town the train provided a far faster, smoother mode of transport as compared to horse or mule drawn stagecoaches. It accelerated the flow of ore outgoing ore and incoming flow of people and product into town. The Copper Queen Consolidated Mining Company built their own railway that laid thirty-six miles to reach the town of Fairbank. The Arizona and Southeastern Railroad Company incorporated on May 24th, 1888 and Ben Williams served as its president. The main line was laid out by El Paso & Southwestern that laid 1,100 miles of train tracks. The train depot in front of the Phelps Dodge Mercantile Warehouse was the gateway for new visitors to Bisbee. In the area were the train depot once stood are three flag poles bearing the American, Arizonan and Mexican flags.

1979.104.240