
Past meets the present in Chicago: Frank Parmelee's
omnibus company has become the Continental
Airport Express shuttle fleet.
AN
HONOR IN CHICAGO
Chicago -- The city
saluted Franklin
"Frank" Parmelee on Wednesday, Sept. 24,
2003, by naming a street after him!
Over
the years so many of you have asked about the Parmelee
Transfer Co. of Chicago, which shuttled people between
depots, hotels and the docks over the years by wagon,
omnibus, taxis and vans. The firm had its beginnings as
Parmelee's omnibus line in 1853. Previous to that, the
Windy City's various hotels ran their own wagons to and
from the train depots for their guests. Frank's stables,
at Franklin and Van Buren streets, were among the first
structures destroyed in the Great Fire of 1871; eight
weeks later, he was back in business. (Parmelee Transfer
passes, like the one at the right, can be found in The Attic.) Today the company is
known as the Continental Airport Express, which
transports more than 1 million passengers annually to and
from Chicago's airports.
The company celebrated its 150th
anniversary with a small ceremony at Monroe
Street and Racine Avenue in downtown Chicago. Braving
the rain that day were cousin Robert Parmelee (in costume
as one of the old-time omnibus drivers), several other
family members, company representatives and city
officials. Bob, as you recall, has written a book about
the company.
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Joining in the celebration above are, from
left, Byrd F. Parmelee, Nancy Parmelee, Robert
Parmelee, Alderman Walter Burnett Jr., Richard
Parmelee and John McCarthy, company president. At
left, Bob displays the interior of one of the old
carriages with company president McCarthy and
Alderman Burnett. |
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