It began in 1844 as the Ranlet Manufacturing Company, building horse-drawn wagons, carriages and stagecoaches. In 1882 the company was reorganized as the Laconia Car Company, occupying seven acres in downtown Laconia.

Local Historian and Author Warren D. Huse will present a lecture covering the history of the Laconia Car Company, Monday, March 28 at 2 p.m. in Taylor Community’s Woodside Building. The event is free and open to the public, but seating reservations are requested by calling 524-5600.

Laconia manufactured railway cars from 1882 to 1923. At its peak, Laconia’s workforce reached 1,000 men and manufactured electric railway cars at the rate of one per day. Their products could be found operating as far away as the Los Angeles Railway. After specializing in building early 20th century streetcars, the company went out of business when automobiles replaced electric cars.