News – Sheridan Media
A historic treasure at is at risk. A rare piece of Sheridan County history is in danger of being lost. The Ol’ #115 —Sheridan’s last surviving streetcar — once carried passengers and freight between downtown Sheridan and Fort Mackenzie. A second streetcar connected Sheridan to the coal mining communities along the Tongue River.
Vannoy photo
Streetcars like the Ol’ #115 were more than just transportation. In their day, miners, families, and schoolchildren relied on the streetcars as a lifeline. Today, it stands as a fragile but powerful link to the past.
But the property where the streetcar sits has been sold, Chris Vrba, SCLT Marketing and Development Contractor, said in the release. If the Ol’ #115 isn’t moved immediately, this one-of-a-kind treasure could be gone forever.
SCLT Photo
Recently, Sheridan Community Land Trust worked with the North Main Association to take ownership of the Ol’ #115 — ensuring that this rare piece of history will have a future.
One of those committed to saving the old car is Kevin Knapp, SCLT Recreation Program Manager.
Volunteers and SCLT have stepped up over the past year to shield it from further decay — boarding windows, adding a tarp, stabilizing the frame, and carefully jacking it onto supports, all to buy time.
SCLT Photo
Their dedication has shown just how much this piece of history means, not only to Sheridan County, but to anyone who values preserving the stories of everyday people and the communities they built.
“This is a beloved and iconic artifact of our community. We have a rare chance to save it for future generations — not just to look at, but to help them experience the lives of the people who rode it,” Knapp said.
Very soon, the Ol’ #115 will be moved to its new home at the Big Goose Natural Area where it will be sheltered and eventually restored, Vrba said. To make that happen, SCLT must raise at least $13,000 right away to safely move the streetcar using a crane and trailer.
Knapp said that prepping the streetcar would take some time,
He said that the street car is deteriorating rapidly and if they don’t move it and began work on it soon, it may be too late to salvage and refurbish it.
Once moved, SCLT must raise an additional $25,257 to build a protective structure that will shield the streetcar from the elements. That means $38,257 is needed as soon as possible.
Every dollar raised beyond this urgent need will go toward the Ol’ #115’s restoration, so it can one day be displayed publicly — inspiring future generations to connect with the ingenuity, resilience, and history of the people who built Sheridan County.
SCLT Photo
Vrba said there are several ways that interested people can help to keep history rolling. One can donate, and your gift today keeps the Ol’ #115 on track for a safe move and future restoration. It will help with crane rental, transportation, building the protective shelter, and preservation costs. You can also donate materials like lumber, roofing, or hardware for the protective structure.
One can get involved, and volunteer your time and skills for construction and restoration as we preserve and restore this one-of-a-kind piece of history.
“Everything will help,” Knapp said. “We don’t want to rush it.”
Another way to help is to spread the word, and share this story with friends, family, and history lovers everywhere.
Knapp added that next year is significant in the restoration process.
Vrba said they are asking for photographer/videographers who would be interested in helping them document this historic “moving moment” (pun very much intended) by taking photos and/or video along the route. The footage will be used in storytelling and interpretation at the SCLT Welcome Center, on our website and YouTube channel, and in signage that will help share the streetcar’s story for years to come.
Possible locations for photos: On Higby Road; Top of Parking Garage; 10 Yards West of the NW corner of Loucks and Brooks; Southside of West Loucks, at the Last curve before Bridges; Underneath bridge near gym; SCLT Shop.
If you’d like to help, please let them know — and feel free to include where along the route you might want to set up for photos or video. Find out how you can help save Sheridan’s last streetcar by going to the link below.
Thanks so much for considering helping us capture this exciting moment for the community, Vrba said. By working together, we can ensure that the Ol’ #115 rolls into the future as proudly as it once rolled down the tracks — carrying the history of Sheridan County with it.
For more information go to: sheridanclt.org/save-sheridans-streetcar
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Last modified: October 21, 2025