Ohio Forgotten

Lock 27 – Johnnycake Lock

Andrew — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:12:35 +0000

During the spring of 1828, a flood caused the Furnace Run Culvert to fail and the canal to silt.

Several canal boats ran aground and were stranded at this canal lock.

As supplies ran low, canal passengers and the crew ate johnnycakes to survive.

Sources and Related Links

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Cleveland Coast Guard Station (#219)

Andrew — Sun, 24 May 2009 00:06:00 +0000

This station was designed by Cleveland architect J. Milton Dyer and built in 1940. It was designed to resemble a lake vessel and create the experience of being on board a ship. The United States Coast Guard was stationed here for over 30 years when they left in 1976 and moved to the East 9th street pier.

Image borrowed from Cleveland Memory.

The coast guard left for three reasons: poor access to the island, no connection to municipal sewage treatment facilities, and the fact that water lines ran through exposed pipes along the side of the pier. If they turned the water off in the winter, the pipes would freeze.

In the 1984 a disco/night club and bar occupied the building, but due to it’s location at the end of a federally owned pier and on the tip of privately owned land, customers arrived at the club by water taxi.

The remoteness was part of its charm, but also its downfall. The Island, as it was called, was removed from the foot traffic and excitement of the other clubs, and not enough people were willing to take the ferry trip. The water and sewer issues also remained a problem and The Island closed after one season of operation.

There are talks of making the station into a park-related facility or the end of the towpath for the Ohio and Erie Canal towpath. It is currently under renovations.

Past Pictures and Postcards

All old photos and postcards are from Cleveland Memory.

Sources and Related Links

Chippewa Lake Park

Andrew — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:35:26 +0000

Hidden on a lakeshore in Medina County are the remains of an abandoned amusement park called Chippewa Lake Park. The park has been abandoned for more than 30 years after closing in 1978, though the park did open once more in 1979 for an Oktoberfest. After 100 years in operation, the park is overgrown, but barely forgotten.Every year people plan trips to visit the park and in past years it has been easy to go back into the park behind the NO TRESPASSING signs, but now, until the fall, the owners of the park are allowing people to come inside the park from 11am to 5pm on one Saturday a month for free self-guided picture tours.

After driving down Main Drive in Chippewa Lake Ohio, the road dead ends to the old enterence gate.

Apon entering the park you can find the following…


The “Big Dipper” Coaster	Ferris Wheel

The Tumble Bug	Stand A “Hamburger Factory”

Ticket Booths	Hotel Chippewa

The Starlight Ballroom	Send Us Stuf

The Big Dipper

Photo from the Internet Archive, by bill bouslaugh.

“My most vivid memory was the click, click of the roller coaster as it slowly ascended to the top of the first hill, having come out of the dark weaving tunnel where, if you were quick and lucky, you could steal a kiss from your girl!” -Chad Grub

The coaster, also know as the Big Dipper, was built in the 1920′s by the Pearce Family. It was one of the three coasters in Chippewa Lake Park by the time the park closed.

The Big Dipper is thought to be the first coaster in the park, but there was a coaster of an unknown name that existed prior to this coaster. The previous coaster required the cars to be pushed to the top of the hill and then people rode down the hill and the cycle continued.

The Big Dipper is an out and back coaster, meaning that the cars leave the station and make a long trip away from the station, then make a turn and head back to the station.

Ferris Wheel

“The Ferris wheel turning at night with its white lights that we could see from our beach, way down the lake.” -Jean

The ferris wheel was replaced with the a newer one in 1946. The same ferris wheel stands today, although without its cars. Sometime in the 1940′s, they sped the wheel up and it because know as the “Fastest Ferris Wheel in the World!”

Photo used with permission from Jalebe.

Today it stands with a large tree growing right through the center of it. I’ve heard that the seats, were removed by locals who would remove one, then turn the wheel by hand to remove the next, and so on. They also could have been sold at auction. I’m not sure which is true.

The Tumble Bug

“Every ride had its own unique sound the ‘Bug’, the ‘Train’ with it’s whistle, and many others all joined in to say, ‘Come to Chippewa Lake Park for fun and play’.” -Chad Grub

Tumble Bugs, which are rare today, were very popular rides in the early amusement park days, and Chippewa Lake Park had one called simply the “Bug” or “The Tumble Bug”. This ride was built by the Traver Company in Beaver Falls, today you’ll find only a few still in operation, such as “The Turtle” at Kennywood, as most of them have been scrapped. It was installed in 1927 where it stands to this day.

The ride is just a round track with steep up and down dips. There are bug shaped cars in a train that circles the track going up and down those dips. The riders sit on a flat bench seat in a circular car while holding on to a wheel in the center.

Today, the bug sits in the newly cleared park and I have heard that someone in the Chippewa Lake Park Yahoo! Group has permission from the current owners of the park to renovate the Bug and there is talk of moving the bug and the ferris wheel across the lake to operate.

Stand A “Hamburger Factory”

Quote wanted! Contact me at ohioforgot@yahoo.com.

The burger factory, also known as Stand A for many years, stood not too far inside the entrance to the park, overlooking the lower midway area from its patio and looking across to the hotel on the opposite side.

The building served various foods, including burgers, and was in use until the park’s closing days. It also served the late night dancing crowds from the Ballroom.

From pictures I’ve seen, there is a lot of junk in the basement, like a speaker, sign that says “The Original Hamburger Factory”, and the famous Chippewa Lake Park 100 years of fun cups.

Ticket Booths

Photo from the Internet Archive, by bill bouslaugh.

Quote wanted! Contact me at ohioforgot@yahoo.com.

These ticket booths didn’t always exist. At one time, there was simply an entrance arch. The arch was removed in 1960 and a new entrance was built. Then in the 70′s the park was fenced in and this current ticket booth was installed.

Hotel Chippewa

Quote wanted! Contact me at ohioforgot@yahoo.com.

One of park’s greatest treasures was the Hotel Chippewa. It provided a great view of the lake and the hotel was the source of countless memories for the park’s visitors over the years. The hotel dates back in to the 1800′s, and was still standing in the years after the park closed.

The lower floor of the hotel was a food service area which was originally operated by Mac Beach’s mother. The upper floors were the hotel area and the hotel was often fully booked. I heard that many of the guests remember nice nights sitting on the porch watching the time pass as the lights from the park reflect off the lake.

After the park closed, the hotel was burnt down. A man who witnessed the fire said that some youths had been yelled at for causing trouble at the hotel, and then possibly later coming back to light it on fire. When the fire was over, the hotel was almost a complete loss. Only a small section still stands today, but it really does not show much of the original building.

The Starlight Ballroom

Quote wanted! Contact me at ohioforgot@yahoo.com.

At the close of the 1922 season, the old dancing pavilion was razed, and a cavernous new ballroom rose on its site. The new ballroom featured a huge dance floor, ample seating, and a refreshment bar. The ballroom has hosted countless dances over the years, once a 5,404 paid crowd came to see Vaughn Monroe. The motto of the park was “Dancing Every Night”, and for many years it lived up to its name. The number of couples that met here is unimaginable. One of the ballroom’s many claims to fame is that Lawrence Welk did his first major audio broadcast from the ballroom in 1937. Things like church services were held there on Sundays and food was served along side the dance floor. There were car shows, dances, concerts, battles of the band, and much much more.

After standing for around 80 years, the Chippewa Lake Park Ballroom was lost to fire on June 13, 2002 at around 5pm. A young girl from the area was playing with fire or matches in the ballroom and accidentally started the blaze. The girl, under 18 years of age, eventually confessed. The ballroom was then a total loss.

The Future of Chippewa

Thanks and Credits

First of all I would like to thank the people who own the park now for letting people come inside and take picture tours, second this page wouldn’t be possible with out the wonderful people at the Chippewa Lake Park Yahoo! Group.

I would also Chad for putting together that great Chippewa Lake Park Documentry that you see above, and for Chad Grub for providing me with some quotes. There are many people on Flickr who allowed me to use their pictures, so thank you to them!

Most of the pictures are copyright me, and they can be found on Flickr under a creative commons liscene, if you would like to use them. Other pictures have credits under them, some pictures I couldn’t find an owner, so they were left unmarked.

I had so many source that I used for info and pics that I might have forgotten a few, if you notice someone or something I forgot, please contact me at ohioforgot@yahoo.com.

Come back soon! We’re open everyday! There just isn’t anymore dancing!

This page is never going to be finished, there is a lot happening with the park, first some big resort is coming then they run out of money, so who knows what’s next.

Even if the park is gone, there is still all of the memories that poeple have and here and the Chippewa Lake Park Yahoo! Group would both be great places to share them. You can e-mail your memories to ohioforgot@yahoo.com.

Sources and Related Links

SBNO: Chippewa Lake Park
Forgotten Ohio: Chippewa Lake Park
Defunct Parks: Chippewa Lake Park
Negative-G: Chippewa Lake Park
Brad’s Defunct Parks: Chippewa Lake Park
Ohio UrbEx: Chippewa Lake Park in Winter
Yahoo! Group: Chippewa Lake Park
Wikipedia: Chippewa Lake Park
Amusement Parks – Chippewa Lake
There’s More >>
Information is from Standing But Not Operating.
Pictures were taken by myself or there is a credit link under it. Some of the old photos, I could not find an owner, so they were left uncredited.

Tinker’s Creek Cemetery

Andrew — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 22:40:41 +0000

Tinker’s Creek Cemetery, also know as Old Indian Cemetery, Terra Vista Cemetery, Hillside Cemetery, and Pilgerruh Cemetery, is the burial ground of early settlers of Tinker’s Creek. It is also said the Ottawa Indians are buried there, most likely because of the name Old Indian Cemetery that it has historically been referred too.

Located on top of a BIG hill, this abandoned graveyard is widely reported to be haunted.

In this cemetery, accounts of an evil dark shadow figures, ghostly phenomenon, and even cult activity.

The above broken tombstone marks the grave of a Comstock family pioneer. Sources say that he was one of the first white burials in this cemetery. He died in 1810 at the age of 40. The bottom of the tombstone reads:

Adieu, to all things here below,
Vain world, I leave thy fleeting toys.
Adieu to sin, fear, pain and woe,
And welcome bright eternal joys.

When early settlers needed to burry the dead, they didn’t have the benefit of an undertaker. Instead, a log was cut and split and then was hollowed out, and the body placed inside. After that, it was put together and sealed with wooden pins.

In the 1800′s it was common that many pioneer family members died young. This maybe the cause why people report hearing the faint laughter and giggles of children at this cemetery.

That about wraps it up, be sure to check out the links below, including Haunted Cuyahoga because of his great night pictures.

Grave Pictures

Sources and Related Links

Fitzwater Truss Bridge

Andrew — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 21:25:19 +0000

Fitzwater Road extends from Canal Road and ends at the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad maintenance yard. Along this road in the Fitzwater Truss Bridge, it was constructed in 1922 and it approximately 200 feet long and 28 feet wide.

The National Park has closed of the bridge while they try to remove of renovate the bridge. Plans have been mad to re-route the road so it lines up with a four way intersection at Canal Road. (see below)

That’s about all. The bridge isn’t 100% abandoned, but close to abandoned. The plans are set to happen this spring, 2009, so the bridge might not be around much longer.

Below is a picture taken in 2004, borrowed from Cleveland Memory.

Sources and Related Links

Lock 24 – Niles Lock

Andrew — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:45:16 +0000

In 1836, Peter Voris laid out and founded the small village of Niles. Only a small amount of people actually purchased a plot in the village. Nicholas Botzum and Thomas Owen operated rival mercantile stores on opposite sides of the canal. But, the village never grew and Voris sold the property to the Vallen Brothers who then converted the property back to common land.

Located right next to the lock is a spillway.

After walking a few miles down, you will find the remains of an old aqueduct that carried the canal over the stream. Now it carries the road and railroad tracks over the stream.

360 Tour

Sources and Related Links

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Lock 25 – Mud Catcher Lock

Andrew — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 16:12:31 +0000

The front wall of the lock was demolished when Riverview Road was widened in the 1930s, and most of the canal in this section was filled in.

360 Tour

Sources and Related Links

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Helltown Barn

Andrew — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:02:44 +0000

Here’s another Helltown related location. This barn, called Helltown Barn my me and another site, is located at a curve on Stanford Road. I walked down the horse trail which splits to a trail that goes to the barn.

From what I hear, the barn was owned by Bob and Evelyn Lindley. There was a house that had been in the Lindley’s family for at least 4 generations.

The house sat in front of the barn, but was demolished when the National Park Service needed their property for visitor purposes. After the park service destroyed the house they left the barn to rot.

The barn continues to rot, but has some new braces holding it up. Most of the time the barn goes unnoticed until someone like me goes and explores it. Speaking of exploring, it can’t be too forgotten because on the same day I went, one of my flickr friends also went! Though we both went at different times, it really is a small world!

Barn Basement

Once inside, a quick turn to your right and you will find the open area. I have know idea about farming or barns, so bare with me as I try to explain the things in here.

Walking to the right side of the barn you find these stalls, and then in the corner of the barn is this door.

Below are some more pictures of the back corners on the right side.

In the middle of the right and left side there was a shelf, like one from an office or storage. Also, on the ceiling there is this rail. I don’t know what it’s for, but it must be there for a reason!

On the left side of the basement there is this little room with a cage like mesh over the upper openings.

Below is a picture of the basement looking from the right corner.

Another instering find is a sign from Park used to cover a hole in the barn.

And the last sight in the basement is this pile of bricks that match the bricks on the foundation.

Barn Upstairs

After a climb up the dangerous stairs, you reach the upsatirs.

Below is a picture of a shoot like thing.

Below are some more pictures of the upstairs.

A few feet from the top of the stairs is this hole in the floor. I would not reccomend going here at night without a powerful flashlight!

Right next to the stairs is this small room filled with stalls.

Corn Crib

Well from my research online I found that a corn crib is a type of granary used to dry and store corn.

Corn cribs were first used by Native Americans and were quickly adopted by European settlers. Struggling European settlers often raided corn cribs for food. As a result, at least some Native groups abandoned the corn crib and buried food in caches.

After the harvest, corn, still on the cob, is placed in the crib either with or without the husk. A typical corn crib had slats in its walls. These slatted sides of the corn crib allow air to circulate through the corn and allowing it to dry initially and it helps it to stay dry. The slats expose the corn to pests, so corn cribs are elevated above the ground beyond the reach of rodents.

Oddly enough, the corn crib had electricity at one point.

Above is a picture of a metal junk laying around back of the corn crib and below is a picture of a door and a tank laying in the back.

Desktop Wallpaper

Click on the picture below to open up the large size, then right click and click set as desktop wallpaper.

Sources and Related Links

Ohio Urbanites: helltown barn

Tiffin Mall

Andrew — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 21:58:49 +0000

The Tiffin City Mall was opened on Wednesday September 17, 1980. The mall is now considered a Dead Mall. The stores in the original mall included Hobby Center Toys, B. Dalton Books, Kinney Shoes, Jo Ann Fabrics, Rite Aid, Petries, Zale Jewelers, Nobil Shoes, House of Cards, Musicland, Osterman Jewelers, Carousel Snack Bar, and Play Palace.

Anchor stores were K-Mart and JCPenny. Stores later opened were Ponderosa, Baskin Robbins, Fashion Bug, and Peanut Shack. Around the same time in October a quad cinema was opened.

The mall hasn’t changed much in the 28 years since its opening. Decor is the same simple 1980′s benches and wall coverings. The mall has been kept in relatively good shape.

The mall was built by Developers Diversified Reality based out of Cleveland Ohio. DDR is the same firm who owns the mall to this day.

The mall has always had this kind of hardship since it’s opening. This is mostly due to slow economic growth in the small town of Tiffin. Also since Findlay is 25 miles away, most people take their shopping to their mall which is far superior then Tiffin’s mall.

The Toy store was one of the first stores to go. That space was later occupied by Big Lots. Closed, and re-opened as several different retail stores since then. It now remains vacant, leased short term by a local college as a training facility.

Over time other stores starting closing like Rite Aid. Then Dalton Books became Sue’s Hallmark, which is now closed. Nobil Shoes closed eventually, and was re-opened years later as Shoe Beliee.

Musicland was later called Sam Goody, and then closed in 2003. The larger section Rite Aid was in later joined with the empty Sam Goody and another vacant unit to become East of Chicago Pizza.

Jo Ann fabrics was open sometime into the late 90′s, was closed, then later opened as Dollar General. K-mart was of course closed shortly after the company filed for bankruptcy, and remained vacant for a few years.

Ponderosa was open until about 2001, and then closed. Several years later, was re-opened as a Mexican restaurant.

The Quad cinema was later leased by Regal Cinema’s. Then later turned over to Marquee Cinema’s. DDR has been making strides to improve mall traffic. In 2005 DDR demolished the K-mart anchor. And built a brand new 8 Cinema Theatre, state of the art, stadium seating, and all the best stuff. The theatre was first owned by Marquee Cinema’s, a small franchise who owns theatre’s in the Midwest.

But in March of 2006 Marquee moved in the dead of night and closed up. They didn’t notify DDR or the general public, the theatre sat vacant for several months before a new tenant was found.

Fortunately, DDR persuaded Cinemark Theatres to move in, which is the largest theatre chain in the country. The theatre is the only part of the mall packed, and is what saved it from becoming a true dead mall.

Picture from Photobucket.

So, slowly the stores inside the mall are dropping off. When DDR built the theatre, they did not connect an inside entrance to the mall. The builders made mistakes laying the footprint of the building, and had to tear down and rebuild. Needless to say, DDR lost the possible tenants who were supposed to move in the two vacant restaurant units in front of the theatre complex.

Picture from Photobucket.

Rumor was the vacant units in front of the theatre were supposed to either an Applebee’s or similar restaurant. The stores that recently moved out either went out of business, or moved to the newer modern mini-malls scattered around town.

JCPenny and Regis Salon are the only original stores in the mall. JCPenny or Regis hasn’t changed since 1980. I was actually surprised that JCPenny didn’t have and appliance section. Also, Radio Shack has been in the mall since the 80′s.

On the mall map an available out parcel is shown; though I don’t believe it was ever occupied. The future expansion was never built either; a large empty corridor leads to where it should be.

This mall is in deed need of an overhaul, un-fortunately this area is too blue collar to support the nicer stores. However, Tiffin is starting to become a booming college town. There are two universities, which support the economy decently. If the mall could target stores that are not in Findlay, or stores beneficial to the public, the mall would bounce back.

I broke rule #20! It really didn’t seem like people cared. They just looked at me like I was an idiot with a camera!

NOTE: Many of the stores listed are gone or replaces by non big name stores like arcades and churches!

Picture from Photobucket.

Sources and Related Links

Republic Cemetery

Andrew — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:18:46 +0000

A train bridge in the little town of Republic passes by a small cemetery. Late at night, mysterious lights are seen on the bridge’s span.

It’s not known whether this has something to do with the railroad, the cemetery, or both.

If you have some more information, please contact me.

Grave Pictures

Graveyard Pictures

Sources and Related Links

Forgotten Ohio: Republic Trail Trestle

Lock 34 – Red Lock

Andrew — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 23:06:49 +0000

This canal lock acquired it’s name from it’s red lock gates and the abundance of red clay that was found along the canal in this area.

Is Red Lock Haunted?

Many workers died of malaria when building the canal and it’s possible that they haven’t left yet.

The spirits seem to focus around this small cement bridge. It could have been built over a mass grave for workers, maybe too poor for a Christian burial.

While I were there we got some weird whitish spots in some of my pictures. Using the orb chart we found that the color white means protection. Could the ghosts be protection there grave?!?!

Sources and Related Links

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Lock 33 – Wallace Lock

Andrew — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 22:31:00 +0000

James Wallace and George Wallace Jr. owned a large farmstead that stretched from the village of Brandywine, which their father founded, all the way to Boston.

James Wallace served as a contractor to help build the Ohio & Erie Canal.

He helped build sections in Boston Township and Massillon, and the aqueduct in Roscoe Village.

On top of all of that, he even worked on a canal boat for 2 years.

Sources and Related Links

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Lock 35 – Whiskey Lock

Andrew — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 20:30:49 +0000

This canal lock acquired it’s name from the whiskey produced at a nearby distillery during the Civil War. It was also known as the Kettlewell Lock.

Sources and Related Links

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Jaite Paper Mill

Andrew — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:23:17 +0000

Paper Mill

Used with permission, from tmrc54 on flickr.

The Jaite Paper Mill opened in 1909. It employed hundreds of workers, up to 250 at one point. The workers lived in the houses in the Town of Jaite. It also produced a lot of paper, up to 8 tons per day. In 1984 the mill closed simply due to competition.

The Fourdrinier Line

Built in 1927, partially from components used in the mill’s original 1905 cylinder machine, the Fourdrinier line is over 200 feet in length. The Fourdrinier is only thing left after the mill was demolished be the National Park.

Railroad Sidings

After the railroad spur crosses the bridge it devides into different sidings for different loading areas of the mill. Many tracks are scattered behind the mill fence in the back.

More bridge pictures in the Railroad Spur section.

Foundations

This is all that is left after the mill was demolished in the spring of 2006.

More to Come

I have hundreds of pictures to share as well as an interactive images map that will be coming soon.

Company Town

The Jaite Company Town currently serves as offices for the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

The town is located at the intersection of Riverview and Vaughn Roads. The buildings were constructed between the years 1907 and 1917.

They were built to serve as housing and support facilities for the mill employees, which numbered some 250 at the peak of production in the 1930′s.

Sources and Related Links

Akron Civic Theatre

Andrew — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 02:54:11 +0000

On a cold winter day, I headed to the Akron Christkindle Market with my German class. During my free time I stopped to take some pics of the civic theater.

One of the stories of the civic theater is that a janitor, named Fred, haunts the theater.

He died on the premises, but still tends to his duties, usually keeping vandals at distance.

Several people have even reported being attacked by Fred after they attempted to vandalize.

Another story is that a ghostly crying woman is sometimes seen along the canal that runs underneath the theater.

Sources and Related Links

Jaite Rail Spur

Andrew — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 02:42:35 +0000

The paper mill was a short distance from a railway line running between Cleveland and Akron. In 1907, the Jaite Company obtained right-of-way from the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to construct a sideline to the mill.

Between 1907 and 1909 the spur was completed, with B&O Bridge No. 451/1 providing the crossing over the Cuyahoga River.

Trains used the railroad line until it closed in 1985. The track hasn’t been used since then. The switch to the spur was removed sometime in 2002.

Sources and Related Links

Champion Electric

Andrew — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 01:08:24 +0000

In 1920, Willis Hale built the Champion Electric Company near the ruins of the old gristmill.

Here he produced restaurant appliances until 1937, when his factory was destroyed by lightning.

These cinder block ruins are from the last industry in Brandywine Village.

Sources and Related Links

Haunted Cuyahoga: Brandywine Falls
Information is from the sign located at the site.

Stanford Road (a.k.a. Highway to Hell)

Andrew — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 18:35:37 +0000

To legally access the road, you need to park at the Brandywine Falls parking lot and hike down the road from there. If you go from the bottom, you can’t park there, you can only get there by hiking.

I didn’t need this sign to tell us that this was some rough road.

After walking a little farther, I found an old guardrail.

After that the road starts to get washed out, which is one of the reasons the road is closed.

Now the road starts going down hill a little.

Now the road gets really steep.

As we reach the end of the closed section it starts getting flat.

This section or the road doesn’t look too bad.

Now we arrive at the other end of the road. You might remember this if you visited the Helltown page.

Well that’s it for now! If you want to take a walk down the “Highway to Hell” you are welcome to but just look out for the “Cult Members” and “Killers” in the woods! You can read more about Stanford Road and Helltown here on the Helltown page.

Sources and Related Links

Ohio Forgotten: Helltown

Blue Hen Falls

Andrew — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:51:24 +0000

Hidden places are not only prime places for murder to take place, but also for the spirits that come from such horrifying experiences.

This small peaceful place is just one example.

About 20 years ago, a young adolescent girl was found strangled here. The the caution tape and police have left, but her spirit is said to be found roaming these woods near the falls.

Many people believe the strange blue orbs captured during daytime hours along the creek are her wandering spirit.

I have never seen any orbs in pictures of the falls, but if you have one please send it to me!

Sources and Related Links

Haunted Cuyahoga: Blue Hen Falls
Pictures submitted by Bob Borgen

Deep Lock Quarry

Andrew — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 01:03:48 +0000

This quarry was a major source of Berea sandstone in the northeast. Sandstone has been excavated here since the 1830′s. The sandstone was used to build and repair locks along the Ohio and Erie Canal. They were used during the construction of various buildings and houses as well.

A view from the top of the quarry.

A short track ran through the woods surrounding the quarry. Flatcars were loaded with sandstone blocks and millstones, then transported down to the Ohio and Erie Canal for shipment.

The Cleveland Stone Company eventually purchased the quarry. They faced little competition and basically held a sandstone monopoly in Ohio. This particular quarry was known as Quarry #15. Sandstone was excavated here one last time in the 1930′s. The stones were used during the construction of the local metro parks.

In 1879, Ferdinard Schumacher bought part of the quarry to make millstones for his American Cereal Works Company in Akron. Schumacher was known as the Oatmeal King. In the 1860′s, Schumacher introduced oatmeal to the United States by supplying the Union Troops during the Civil War. Schumacher’s company eventually became part of the Quaker Oats Company.

Schumacher’s Millstone Plant

Walking off the main hiking trail you come across the ruins of the Schumacher Millstone Plant.

You can find an old millstone on the path up there.

After walking a few yards you find poles sticking out of the ground.

Some old foundations sticking out of the ground.

When I was poking around on the ground I found some old bricks.

And last but not least a few random items for your enjoyment. They look like foundations and poles.

I really don’t know much about the Mill Stone Plant, so if you know something that I don’t please E-Mail Me.