Forgotten Bluffton: Why is there a railroad depot on North Main Street?
Why is there a railroad depot on North Main Street, but no railroad tracks?
The answer is because the depot, now home of Board and Brush, was originally constructed as a freight and passenger depot for a now-abandoned railroad.
Organized in 1881, it arrived in Bluffton as the Cleveland, Delphos and St. Louis Railroad. Then, in 1884 it became the Pittsburgh, Akron and Western Railroad. Due to more railroad mergers, in 1895, it became the Northern Ohio Railway. Later the Northern Ohio became the Akron, Canton and Youngstown Railroad, or the AC&Y.
The railroad covered 171 miles east and west, connecting at 21 different junctions with nine different north-south railroads.
The line offered passenger service, stopping at the Bluffton depot, until 1951.
The railroad was part of the Norfolk and Western system when it was abandoned through Bluffton in December 1982.
The abandoned stretch extended from its western terminal point in Delphos through Rimer, Vaughnsville, Pandora, Columbus Grove, Bluffton, Jenera and Arlington, to an eastern point in Wyandot County near Carey. Prior to that 52-mile abandonment, the railroad extended to Mogadore in eastern Ohio.
Now it is part of forgotten Bluffton.
Stories Posted This Week
Sunday, April 6, 2025
- Make a date with Hummin' & Strummin" in April
- Lenten service and supper on April 9 at Trinity Lutheran
- CNB's Faulkner Named to ICBA committee
- Quarry Farm nature preserve shares spring 2025 news
- ApolloPalooza '25 showcases high school and adult education opportunities
- April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Saturday, April 5, 2025
Friday, April 4, 2025
- Robert "Bob" O. Town served in the U.S. Navy
- Applications for Bluffton community pool jobs due April 10
- Bolen sentenced to 19 years to life in prison
- Tornado in Putnam County on April 2
- Pirate boys tennis edges Indians
- Brendon Matthews named Chief Executive Officer at First National Bank
- BHS spring musical is Bringing Down the House
Thursday, April 3, 2025
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
- Tornado Watch issued for Allen, Hancock, Hardin and Putnam counties at 9:15 p.m. on April 2
- Flood Warning issued for Allen County at 11:03 a.m.
- Pirate tennis loss at Elida
- Pirate softball loses opener to Ada
- Pirate baseball falls to Ada
- Allen County will not test warning sirens on April 2
- March 2025 land transfers in the Bluffton Exempted Village School District
- April 22 crash report shows driver hit N. Dixie home
- Bluffton High School Honor Roll announced for 3rd quarter of 2024-2025