Railroads In The Ville

With 82 years of railroad experience between them, Wellsville Historical Society members Frank Dalonzo and Bob Lloyd presented a special program on the history of the railroad in Wellsville. Frank Dalonzo started with the railroad in 1950 and retired with 42 years service. Bob Lloyd started in the 1965 and retired with 40 years service.

The program was held last Sunday, August 2, at the River Museum. This was the second in a three part series of special programs being presented this summer on subjects of historical interest to our village. With all that experience I got the idea that Frank & Bob have just about seen it all between them when it comes to trains. They certainly did an outstanding job in their presentation.

In the very beginning of the town Wellsville fast became an important transportation hub moving passengers and goods both coming and going via the Ohio River. With the first train coming to Wellsville in 1852 that grew by leaps and bounds. Wellsville being the closest spot on the Ohio River to Cleveland made it a natural fit for moving people and freight to all points in between in the Western Reserve.

The first railroad depot in town took up the whole block between 6th & & 7th Streets and from Broadway to Washington Streets. It came into town via Yellow Creek up to 7th Street. The locomotive from the construction train pulled into town the evening of February 14, 1852 and according to Edgar Davidson in his book "Before The Memory Fades" it was all uphill for the next 75 years. The first rail company in town was the C&P (Cleveland & Pittsburgh). It was later taken over by the PRR. Connections were made in Salem to Cleveland or Pittsburgh.

It wasn't too many years after that the rail line was relocated along the river to better accommodate the movement of freight departing and arriving via the river. In 1862 a new depot was opened at what is today 3rd & Riverside. It's shown above with the staircase on the side of the building. The depot on Broadway was abandoned. At the western edge of town a huge maintenance facility was located between what is now 12th & 18th Streets. In 1872 a third depot was located at 12th & Riverside behind what is now Village Hall. That railroad maintenance facility brought on the development of the lower end of the village with new homes and shops to accommodate the workers. That third depot is the other picture you see.

I believe it was during the railroad years that Wellsville had its greatest number in population. Over the years with the building of new rail lines and other developments in the growth of this region the industry began to dwindle in town. The depots are long gone and there's not much evidence left of the maintenance facility. Behind the Alumni Center you can see rails that look like they are going to the back door of that building. Bob Lloyd tells me that is left over from the 3rd Street depot. They pulled box cars on that side of the depot to load and unload freight.

It was a quite interesting presentation and explained a lot of the history of Wellsville's development. Next up is a special program on Wellsville Schools. It will be Sunday, August 16 at the River Museum. Sponsored by the Historical Society it will be presented by member Jeff Weekly. As always it's open to the public and free of admission. Copies of the Edgar Davidson book are available at the museum. The museum is open every Sunday afternoon through the end of the month for tours. Special tours are available upon request.

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