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FRANK AARON NOLAND

Frank Aaron Noland

FRANK AARON NOLAND

Trolley Bus

Frank Noland and Leland Davis introduce the trolley bus to Kansas City.

Frank Aaron Noland was my maternal grandfather. He died when I was only seven years old. Although my family moved around a lot, mostly outside of Kansas City, I do have many recollections of Granddaddy Frank.

Having come from a long line of Jackson County Nolands, I understand that one of his favorite activities was in the Native Sons of Kansas City.

My grandfather worked for the Kansas City Public Service Company which was Kansas City's streetcar company. Of course, the company transitioned over to buses and was the forerunner of the present Kansas City Area Transportation Authority. He would, no doubt. be very interested in what is presently being done in regard to modern streetcars.

When he died in 1949, his death was covered in the October, 1949, issue of The Railwayan which was a monthy publication by and for the employees of the Kansas City Public Service Company. It said "He joined the Kansas City Public Service Company May 26, 1919, and was employed as a wireman. He was promoted to wire foreman on March 15, 1929, and was made Supervisor of Substations September 1, 1931. On April 23, 1941, he was made Supervisor of Substations and Buildings and was promoted to Superintendents of Substations and Buildings in December of 1941."

My mother told me that he was the third from the top in the management of KCPS. I have notes from my grandmother that Leland Davis (shown in the picture to the left) was his boss. At one point I was told he was superintendent of maintenance, responsible for maintenance of the track, power supply and related facilities, but I am not certain that those duties fall within the titles mentioned at his death.

My mother has, also, told me that he was a strong advocate of trolleys and strongly backed the trolley bus. It should be noted that the trolley bus does not pollute the air as do motor driven buses and improves upon the track trolleys in that the bus could pull to the curb to pick up passengers. Track trolley riders often had to cross to the middle of the street through traffic to reach the trolley.

One thing that I remember very well about my grandfather is that he had a mobile telephone in this company car. It fascinated me and I wanted to try it out, but my granddaddy would not let me because it was his employer's and apparently the cost of using it was very high.

Included in information inherited from my Grandmother Bertha is the picture below that says it was taken in May of 1927 and the address noted was 15- Walnut Sub B. All this would be before The Railwayan said that he was promoted to wire foreman. The way he is dressed, however, indicates to me that he was not a laborer but a supervisor at the time.

Frank & Crew - 1927

FRANK & Crew - 1927

Back Row: Harry Goosch (or Grosch), Frank White; Middle Row: Chas. Steitz, Earnest Cockrell, Albert Nelson, Frank A. Noland, Jack Reddinger, operator; Front Row: Murphy J. Spinks abd Webester Leffeler (Webb), welders

Frank died at 12:40 p.m. on Wednesday, September 28, 1949, at Trinity Lutheran Hospital following his third heart attack. I think I was told that he had been working in the back yard of his home which was in Merriam, Kansas, at that time. I learned of his death when my family was living in Mason City, Iowa. I remember my dad gathering me and my two brothers together to be told. Only my mother, his daughter, was able to go to his funeral. I have visited his gravesite several time, however, since I have been living in the Kansas City area for many years.

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Last revised on November 8, 2025.

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