[Date Prev][Date Next]
[Chronological]
[Thread]
[Top]
(rshsdepot) Bainbridge / Geauga Lake, Ohio
From the Clevland Plain Dealer via RyPN Flimsies=2E=2E=2E
Nearing end of the line=20
09/15/02
Karen Farkas=20
Plain Dealer Reporter
Bainbridge Township -- A railroad depot that welcomed thousands of=20
people to the Geauga Lake resort and amusement park in the 1800s=20
is in such dilapidated condition that the township plans to tear=20
it down=2E
"The roof has collapsed and the structure is unsound," said=20
zoning inspector Frank McIntyre=2E "It is a hazard=2E"=20
=20
McIntyre said the owner, William Owen, mentioned years=20
ago that he would like to renovate the wood-framed building=20
into a bed and breakfast or toy-train museum=2E But nothing=20
was done=2E=20
Owen, whose address is a post office box in Brecksville,=20
could not be reached for comment=2E=20
There are holes in the slate roof and missing stucco on the=20
upper portion=2E The railroad depot is on Depot Street,=20
alongside unused railroad tracks and behind a storage and=20
maintenance area for Six Flags Worlds of Adventure=2E=20
According to historians, the railroad was complete between=20
1854 and 1856 and opened the area to visitor from Cleveland=20
and Pittsburgh=2E Visitor came to Geauga Lake Park, which opened=20
in 1888, and stayed at the nearby Kent Hotel=2E They also summered=20
at cottages built near the lake=2E=20
Gradon Johnson, a member of the Bainbridge Historical Societ,=20
said trains would drop off mail and passengers for company=20
picnics by the lake=2E He said that the station has not been=20
used for more than 50 years and that the historical society=20
doesn't see any point in restoring it=2E=20
Township trustees will send a certified letter to Owen, advising=20
him that 30 days after he receives it the building will be=20
destroyed if no action is taken=2E=20
Along with the depot, eight ther properties have been declared=20
blighted by te township and the Geauga County building departement=2E=20
They are vacant structures in Chagrin Falls Park=2E=20
Because it is hard to find propery owners, the township is=20
working with the county prosecutors office=2E Trustee Chairman=20
Sam Desiderio said that after sending a certified letter and=20
placing a legal ad, the township can raze the structure if the=20
owner cannot be found=2E The cost of demolition will be added to=20
the property tax bill=2E=20
=A9 2002 The Plain Dealer=2E Used with permission=2E=20
Copyright 2002 cleveland=2Ecom=2E All Rights Reserved=2E
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web=2Ecom/ =2E
=================================
The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org
------------------------------