Chatham Wallaceburg & Lake Erie

Company History: The CW&LER was established in 1903 and within five years had built a 39 mile electric interurban and freight railroad from Wallaceburg, Ontario south through Chatham and on to the port of Erie Beach on Lake Erie plus a branch from Chatham to Paincourt. The mainline ran down city streets in Chatham which eventually drew the ire of local officials (despite the fact that CW&LER was granted a franchise by the city to do just that.) The officials suggested the railroad build a belt line around the city which would cost the railroad a fortune and lose them local business in Chatham. The owners offered to sell the railroad to the city or to Ontario Hydro but they refused. The dispute dragged on until 1930 when the city canceled the franchise and the entire CW&LER was abandoned.

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