Union Depot was the name given to two intercity railroad stations in Cleveland, Ohio. Union Depot was built as the first union station in Cleveland in 1853. After a large fire in 1864, a new structure was built, and was the largest train station in the United States until construction of Grand Central Depot in New York City in 1871. The depot was operated by multiple railroads until 1930, when all except the Pennsylvania Railroad dropped their services and utilized Cleveland Union Terminal, which opened that year. The Pennsylvania Railroad continued to use the depot until 1953, and the building was demolished in 1959.
Before 1853, the railroads serving the city each maintained its own small depot. The first union depot cost $75,000 (equivalent to $2.75 million in 2023), and consisted of a group of wooden sheds centrally located at the foot of the hill where Bank (current-day West 6th) and Water (current-day West 9th) Streets met the lake shore. This depot was built from 1851 to 1853, and partially burned in 1864. The remaining structures were retained for housing, cleaning, and repairing train cars, and a replacement station was constructed of masonry nearby. It opened in 1866, with a final cost of $475,000 (equivalent to $9.88 million in 2023), and was dedicated on November 10 of that year.[2][3][4] The opening was celebrated with a banquet for 300 in the station's dining hall. In 1867, the depot's tower was constructed.[5]
During the Civil War, the station was utilized to transport thousands of soldiers to training camps. Additionally, in December 1863, the Cleveland's Soldiers Aid Society constructed the Soldier's Home, a shelter and relief center offering food, clothing, shelter, and medical care to soldiers.[6] U.S. President Abraham Lincoln used the terminal in departing Cleveland during his first inaugural tour throughout the country, on his way to Washington, D. C.[7] After the war, the station was used to carry Lincoln's body on his funeral train to Springfield, Illinois.[8]
By the 1890s, Union Depot was too small for the number of trains and people coming into Cleveland daily, and as it deteriorated and accumulated soot and ash, it became an embarrassment to many citizens. Plans for another depot, part of Cleveland's Group Plan, were begun, though were not completed. In the mid-1900s, the depot was renovated, which included removal of the arched train shed, replaced by individual canopies over each platform.[9]
The Van Sweringen brothers, owners of the Nickel Plate Railroad, persuaded the city and the other passenger railroads (except the Pennsylvania) to allow construction of a new train station as part of a retail and office complex at Public Square.[3][4] This broke ground in 1922/23 and when Cleveland Union Terminal opened in 1930, Union Depot lost the bulk of its traffic. In 1946 it was renamed Pennsylvania Station.[citation needed] Only the Pennsylvania Railroad continued to use the old station, until September 1953. The building was razed in 1959.[3]
The station was constructed along Cleveland's lake front with Lake Erie, between modern-day 6th and 9th Streets, close to the current Amtrak station.[4]
The 1866 depot was designed and constructed by industrialist and railroad director Amasa Stone.[7] At the time of its construction, the building measured 603 by 180 feet (184 m × 55 m), making it the largest building under one roof, and the largest train station, in the United States. It retained those records until Grand Central Depot was built in New York City in 1871. Thereafter it retained recognition as the largest terminal west of New York City.[6] It was also among the first buildings to use structural iron, and had Berea Sandstone exterior walls. Its most iconic feature was a 96-foot clocktower on the south facade, topped with a tin-covered dome.[2][5]
^ ab"Amasa Stone". Magazine of Western History: 109. December 1885. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
^"The Funeral Path of President Lincoln". Cleveland Historical.
^Camp, Mark J. (July 27, 2007). Railroad Depots of Northeast Ohio. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN9780738551159 – via Google Books.
May 02, 2024
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Union Depot was the name given to two intercity railroad stations in Cleveland Ohio Union Depot was built as the first union station in Cleveland in 1853 After a large fire in 1864 a new structure was built and was the largest train station in the United States until construction of Grand Central Depot in New York City in 1871 The depot was operated by multiple railroads until 1930 when all except the Pennsylvania Railroad dropped their services and utilized Cleveland Union Terminal which opened that year The Pennsylvania Railroad continued to use the depot until 1953 and the building was demolished in 1959 Union DepotUnion Depot c 1867General informationCoordinates41 30 09 N 81 42 06 W 41 502403 N 81 701568 W 41 502403 81 701568Key datesOpened1853Rebuilt1866ClosedSeptember 26 1953 1 Demolished1959Former servicesPreceding station Cleveland Cincinnati Chicago and St Louis Railway Following station South Water Streettoward St Louis Main Line Terminus South Water Streettoward Cincinnati Cleveland Cincinnati Preceding station New York Central Railroad Following station West Parktoward Berea Old Main Line East 40th Streettoward Nottingham Preceding station Pennsylvania Railroad Following station Terminus Cincinnati Cleveland Euclid Avenuetoward Cincinnati Cleveland Pittsburgh Euclid Avenuetoward Pittsburgh Contents 1 Services 2 History 3 Attributes 4 See also 5 ReferencesServices editCleveland and Toledo Railroad 1853 1869 Cleveland Columbus and Cincinnati Railroad 1853 1868 Cleveland Painesville and Ashtabula Railroad Lake Shore Railway 1853 1869 Cleveland and Pittsburgh Railroad 1853 1871 Cleveland Columbus Cincinnati and Indianapolis Railway 1868 1889 Lake Shore amp Michigan Southern Railway 1869 1914 Pennsylvania Company 1871 1918 Cleveland Cincinnati Chicago and St Louis Railway 1889 1930 New York Central 1914 1930 Pennsylvania Railroad 1918 1953 History edit nbsp Demobilization of the 372nd Infantry Regiment returning from France after World War I February 1919 Note the roof of the trainshed has been removed Before 1853 the railroads serving the city each maintained its own small depot The first union depot cost 75 000 equivalent to 2 75 million in 2023 and consisted of a group of wooden sheds centrally located at the foot of the hill where Bank current day West 6th and Water current day West 9th Streets met the lake shore This depot was built from 1851 to 1853 and partially burned in 1864 The remaining structures were retained for housing cleaning and repairing train cars and a replacement station was constructed of masonry nearby It opened in 1866 with a final cost of 475 000 equivalent to 9 88 million in 2023 and was dedicated on November 10 of that year 2 3 4 The opening was celebrated with a banquet for 300 in the station s dining hall In 1867 the depot s tower was constructed 5 During the Civil War the station was utilized to transport thousands of soldiers to training camps Additionally in December 1863 the Cleveland s Soldiers Aid Society constructed the Soldier s Home a shelter and relief center offering food clothing shelter and medical care to soldiers 6 U S President Abraham Lincoln used the terminal in departing Cleveland during his first inaugural tour throughout the country on his way to Washington D C 7 After the war the station was used to carry Lincoln s body on his funeral train to Springfield Illinois 8 By the 1890s Union Depot was too small for the number of trains and people coming into Cleveland daily and as it deteriorated and accumulated soot and ash it became an embarrassment to many citizens Plans for another depot part of Cleveland s Group Plan were begun though were not completed In the mid 1900s the depot was renovated which included removal of the arched train shed replaced by individual canopies over each platform 9 The Van Sweringen brothers owners of the Nickel Plate Railroad persuaded the city and the other passenger railroads except the Pennsylvania to allow construction of a new train station as part of a retail and office complex at Public Square 3 4 This broke ground in 1922 23 and when Cleveland Union Terminal opened in 1930 Union Depot lost the bulk of its traffic In 1946 it was renamed Pennsylvania Station citation needed Only the Pennsylvania Railroad continued to use the old station until September 1953 The building was razed in 1959 3 nbsp New Union Depot proposal as a part of the Group Plan before a 1919 referendum on Cleveland Union TerminalAttributes editThe station was constructed along Cleveland s lake front with Lake Erie between modern day 6th and 9th Streets close to the current Amtrak station 4 The 1866 depot was designed and constructed by industrialist and railroad director Amasa Stone 7 At the time of its construction the building measured 603 by 180 feet 184 m 55 m making it the largest building under one roof and the largest train station in the United States It retained those records until Grand Central Depot was built in New York City in 1871 Thereafter it retained recognition as the largest terminal west of New York City 6 It was also among the first buildings to use structural iron and had Berea Sandstone exterior walls Its most iconic feature was a 96 foot clocktower on the south facade topped with a tin covered dome 2 5 See also editRailroad terminals of ClevelandReferences edit Pennsy Station s Demise Is Quiet Almost Ignored Cleveland Plain Dealer 27 September 1953 a b Sanders Craig February 17 2014 Cleveland Mainline Railroads Arcadia Publishing ISBN 9781439644881 via Google Books a b c UNION DEPOT Encyclopedia of Cleveland History Case Western Reserve University May 22 2018 a b c Cleveland OH CLE a b Rose William Ganson July 27 1990 Cleveland The Making of a City Kent State University Press ISBN 9780873384285 via Google Books a b Muskin Adena Union Depot Cleveland Historical a b Amasa Stone Magazine of Western History 109 December 1885 Retrieved July 24 2019 The Funeral Path of President Lincoln Cleveland Historical Camp Mark J July 27 2007 Railroad Depots of Northeast Ohio Arcadia Publishing ISBN 9780738551159 via Google Books Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cleveland Union Depot amp oldid 1176304036, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
