The Peter Witt Streetcars of Cleveland

The Peter Witt Streetcars of Cleveland

Cleveland was a dynamic leader in many areas at the start of the 20th Century. One such pace-setting sector was its street railway system whose lines crisscrossed the city. Perhaps its most significant contribution to public transportation came in 1915 with the invention of the Car Rider s Car, designed by Cleveland Street Railway Commissioner Peter Witt. James A. Toman was born in a southeast suburb of Cleveland. At an early age, he became fascinated with streetcars, and his first college research paper was on the history of the streetcars in Cleveland. With time, his interests broadened to encompass many aspects of Cleveland history. One result of that interest was his co-founding Cleveland Landmarks Press in 1980 to publish books about the city s history. He has authored or co-authored 18 books on various Cleveland topics, particularly those relating to the downtown district and to public transportation. An inveterate collector of Cleveland streetcar photographs, he has also photographed most of the streetcar, light rail, and subways systems in North America. He holds a doctorate in education/clinical counseling, and retired in 2006 after 43 years in the teaching field.. His last educational post was as dean of the Social Sciences/Human Services Division at Lorain County Community College. He lives in the Shaker Square neighborhood of Cleveland.