East Hill, Pensacola

The growth of the East Hill neighborhood in Pensacola was destined to happen once the city council passed an ordinance on November 15, 1882 that would allow for a steel track streetcar trolley system to run in Pensacola. 

 

Conrad Kupfrian, a German immigrant was vital in bringing his vision to the Pensacola area and along with two other investors created the Pensacola Streetcar Company.  The first street cars began running in 1884 and were inspired by the horse drawn streetcars that Kupfrian had witnessed in St. Louis, Missouri.  The trolley tracks first started on Palafox Street downtown and it was not until 1890-1891 when the Pensacola Terminal Company took over operation of the streetcars that the lines were extended into East Hill.  The East Hill Line, as it was called, ran through East Hill to Blount Street and east with a bridge built over Bayou Texar.  By 1925, the East Hill Line had been extended north to Moreno Street and east on Mallory ending at the magnificent Bayview Park.  

 

The trolley system was crucial in the development and growth of the beautiful, historic neighborhood.  Most people lived south of Gregory Street before 1900 but the extension of trolley lines into East Hill brought people away from the Yellow Fever-ridden port and to a neighborhood where beautiful plots of land had been set aside for public parks.  By 1910, East Hill was flourishing with the help of the expanded trolley lines and both electricity and city water.  In 1905, 35 residents called Jackson Street home.  By 1910, that number rose to 55 and by 1915, Pensacola residents were living as far north as Lakeview Avenue. 

 

Before the slow demise of the trolley system, ownership changed hands several times.  In 1897 it became part of the Pensacola Electric Railway Company, the direct ancestor of Gulf Power, and in 1906, the Stone and Webster Firm purchased it.  Had it not been for the beautiful parks throughout the historic neighborhood and the streetcar system that brought potential residence and lovers of the outdoors to the area, East Hill might not be what it is today.  The streetcar system helped ignite the flame of growth north of Gregory Street and changed the lives of many visitors and residents in the process.