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 27, 2025
Saturday, April 26, 2025
- Kenneth Eugene Mast was head athletic coach for Bluffton College
- Eagle eye over Village Park
- Hillville Rd. barn fire on April 24
- Agenda for April 28 Bluffton Council meeting
- Cory-Rawson High School celebrates Community Day
- Bluffton Senior Center news for May 2025
- Weekend Doctor: The current situation with measles
Friday, April 25, 2025
Thursday, April 24, 2025
- Blanchard Valley Health Foundation welcomes Sapp as Chief Development Officer
- LEO Club invitation to 5K and 1-mile walk & stroll
- Memorial bench and tree planting at Village Arboretum
- Bluffton Beavers sports roundup, April 16-22
- Pirate baseball loss vs. Fort Jennings
- Alan Garmatter is new CNB Chief Credit Officer
- Parks & Recreation Committee meets April 25
- Bad Dreams: Health implications