The year was 1896 and from Detroit to Buffalo and as far south as Wheeling a new system of transportation was impacting the communities far and wide. In Northern Ohio and specifically in Lake County these changes would influence our county footprint forever. The first electric railway system developed in 1896 ran from Cleveland to Painesville. Shortly thereafter it stretched into Ashtabula and in 1910 beyond Buffalo. The C.P.&E. (Cleveland,Painesville and Eastern RR) and the C.P.&A. (Cleveland, Painesville and Ashtabula RR) were their official names. Their hub was located in a depot in downtown Willoughby. Also located at the depot/barn hub was an electric generating plant. This railway syndicate was conceived, developed and operated by two local gentlemen Edward Moore and Henry Everett. In time this partnership added the LSE line (Lake Shore Electric) to their venture. The year was 1901 and the routes now covered Cleveland to Toledo and spanned passenger lines to Willoughbeach, Fairport and Painesville. The main line ran from Public Square to Painesville. Stops 40-49-55-89 traversed Lake County.
The impact of Moore and Everett's syndicate of electric railways was far reaching in many ways. First farmers from Lake and Ashtabula counties now had a means to move their produce more economically to Cleveland. Conversely, consumers now had access to downtown Cleveland and the shops located in the heart of the city. Secondly, the C.P.&E. line allowed the beginnings of the 'country estates' era in Lake County. The Halle Farm, Couallenby, Rockefeller Estate, Hanna Estate and Mooreland Mansion are just a few famous names from our past. Third electricity came to Lake County due to the interurban. Homes in Willoughby, Mentor, Madison and such now had low cost power as a reality.
Some Interurban Trivia -
Willoughbeach (Lakeshore in Willowick) and Euclid Beach Park tourism and amusement seekers used the interurban daily.
The last numbered stop was Park Place in Painesville - number 89.
Rockefeller and Moore both had private interurban lines on their properties.
Gavi's catering in Willoughby now occupies the old electric plant.
The old barn and hub depot is now occupied by Willoughby Brewing Co.-stop #40.
The James A. Garfield residence had a stop - number 55.
The interurban railway line changed an 8-hour carriage trip to an hour.
The Little Mountain Estates of the 1800's gave way to summer farms for the wealthy.
The Willoughby Brewing Co (now closed by the Ohio Dept of Taxation) is in one of the CP&E repair shops (there were three when active). In the 1960's this building housed James Campell Smith, a division of Sticker Corporation (still in Willoughby). The depot building was moved forward to directly front Erie St; it includes a hallway from front to back. It has never been part of the brewery. There has been a barber shop in the front left unit for the better part of sixty years. Also, stone supports for the trestle can be seen on either side of the Chagrin River: one behind the repair shop/brewery, the other on the other side of the river.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Willoughby (South '75) and visit on a regular basis.
You may have this in another post (I haven't searched); the Moore estate became the location of Lakeland Community College. I have a Boy Scout patch, "Lakeland Now," from a camping event held on the site in about 1969.