"It was on a ride with Charlie (Williams) when I heard him ring his bell to greet a woman who was out in her yard raking autumn leaves that I was first inspired to write about the trolley," says Children's Author Barbara Joy Hare. Her self-published book, Charlie's Red Trolley, features photos of the City, the trolley, and Charlie Williams as well as Hare herself, who makes a cameo appearance as "a lady in her garden who stops, holds her rake..."

The book, the trolley and Charlie Williams were all celebrated May 26, as the Patten Free Library and the Mockingbird Bookstore came together with Hare and Williams for a fun event. Mockingbird Bookstore Owner Terri Schurz says the author first came to her with the idea to do an author signing. Schurz says she thought it would be a small event, but as interest grew, she recommended approaching Patten Free Library Children's Librarian Katy Dodge to add a storytime at the library to the event.

"There has been a lot of interest from people who have ridden the trolley or seen the trolley," says Schurz. "People who don't even live in Bath have ordered books. That's when I started to think that this might be bigger than I thought."

As it turned out, a significant crowd did gather to hear the story in the children's room at the library, then ride, sing, and attend the book signing. Ms. Katy provided trolley cookies and tiny Bath flag for the children and, with Hare, led a chorus of Wheels on the Bus as the trolley motored them across town to the bookstore.

"The book really isn't about me," says Williams. "It's really about the trolley. I just happen to be in it."

Williams has been driving the trolley since he retired nine years ago after 29 years working for Bath Public Works. He shares the job with another Charlie, Charlie Gableman. The trolley itself, however, is not named for either driver. Rather, it was named to honor Charlie Burgess, a local business owner and active and involved citizen. Burgess owned Burgess Market, which later became Brackett's Market.

Williams appreciates the history of the trolley, which he says does a lot both in Bath and elsewhere. 

"We used to do tours for BIW (Bath Iron Works), we pick people up down at the Maine Maritime Museum from the Independence (cruise ship) and bring them into town. Williams also tells about Maine Senator Susan Collins riding the trolley and other people of note who have come for tours of the City and the shipyard.

Some of those riders would not have been familiar with the red trolley, however, because until several years ago, the trolley was actually green. For a time the city had both the red and the green trolley until the green trolley, known as Emma, could no longer be repaired and had to be removed from service. Regardless of the history, children now know Charlie's Red Trolley and they love getting on when they can to have a ride.