Author Dan Rager’s newest book, “Cleveland & Chagrin Falls Interurban vs. Cleveland & Eastern Railway,” Volume 6, The Kaleidoscope Edition, is an in-depth and historic look at the Cleveland and Chagrin Falls rail line from Cleveland to Garrettsville.
If you could travel back to the illustrious era of 1895 in Geauga County, you would likely hop aboard an interurban rail line and view the countryside through a train window.
Author Dan Rager’s newest book, “Cleveland & Chagrin Falls Interurban vs. Cleveland & Eastern Railway,” Volume 6, The Kaleidoscope Edition, is an in-depth and historic look at the Cleveland and Chagrin Falls rail line from Cleveland to Garrettsville.
“It explains how and why our county was built,” Rager said, of Munson Township. “From our roads to population and economic growth, we have all benefited from these rail lines.”
Rager takes readers on a historical journey aboard all his five books on Geauga County railroads.
The newest book is a time capsule showing transportation and life in Geauga County from 1895 to 1925.
Each chapter contains an abundance of histories, not previously published, offering the reader their own perspective as to why something occurred.
“Walking and exploring the right-of-way is like stepping back in time,” Rager said. “I find rail artifacts almost everywhere. Inspiration comes in the form of discovery and wanting to know why or how something happened. As a researcher, I wanted to learn more about the comparisons between the Cleveland and Eastern and the Chagrin route, and what role each played in changing our way of life at the turn of the 20th century.”
Until now, the Cleveland and Chagrin Falls line is the only line Rager has not done comprehensive research on.
“It was the first to be built in Geauga County by Everett & Moore and the only line proposed to connect Cleveland with Warren and Youngstown,” he said. “I spent a year walking the right-of-way of the Chagrin Falls line all the way to Garrettsville. That experience brought more questions than answers and was like taking a trip back in time.”
In the early 1900s, you could get just about anywhere on the rail lines and their connections.
“You could travel on a passenger train on the B&O (Baltimore and Ohio) all the way to Cleveland or across the country during that period of time,” Rager said. “You could transfer from the interurban right here in Chardon or in Burton, get on B&O train anywhere you’d want to go during the period of 20th century. Many people went on their honeymoons to Niagara Falls, from right here in Chardon, Ohio. You can’t do that today.”
Rager said there are strong connections in this new volume to anyone living in Geauga County.
Inside Chardon Square’s Mountain Road Cycles is a special historical photo.
That retail space was the final destination and ticket office — Stop 49 — and was also used for shipping freight, produce, milk and anything someone wanted to ship.
MRC service manager Russell Brown said the photo on the wall was his introduction to the history of their retail space related to the Maple Leaf Route.
“When we first opened in Chardon 17 years ago, the Chardon Chamber of Commerce was next door,” Brown said. “The Interurban Historical Society used to meet once a month there.”
As Brown left the store one evening, their meeting had just ended and several members were conversing on the sidewalk.
“They informed me that the space Mountain Road Cycles now occupied was once the ticketing office and passenger lounge for the interurban (railway),” Brown said.
They gave Brown the picture that same night showing an interurban passenger car with their building in the background.
This led Brown to one of Rager’s earliest library presentations shortly after he published his first book.
“Many times when I’m riding The Maple Highlands Trail, I imagine what it was like when it was still an active railway,” Brown said. “There are still some old wooden poles visible along the trail if you know where to look. The story of the Maple Leaf Route and how it and other rail lines changed life in rural Geauga County is a great story. My hat’s off to Dan for bringing this history to the forefront so we can learn about our history.”
The following is an excerpt from Rager’s book:
“They changed the direction of travel for business and riders from north and south to east and west and created communities through entrepreneurship and philanthropy for, without interference, the area might have remained a farming community.
They supplied electricity for 15 years to resident homes and businesses before the Cleveland Illuminating Company moved into the area.
They kept transportation moving during the lean years of World War I when other companies were shut down or abandoned.
Within walking distance for some, they supplied coal and materials for homes and businesses in and around Chagrin Falls, Gates Mill and Geauga County, including during the war years. No home went without heat.
They created new markets for dairy and produce farmers, hauling 2,000 gallons a day. Pick-up was twice daily, seven days a week.
The line contributed to the building of modern roads which we all have benefitted from.
Their company spawned new businesses designed around the interurban, such as amusement parks and augmented the growth of local festivals and fairs that we still attend today.
They provided new experiences for both city dwellers and country folk, allowing each to have a glimpse into the lives of others.
They brought people together socially, economically, culturally, and were definitely responsible for a few romances along the way.”
“Writing these books has made me appreciate the area more where I live,” Rager said. “I am reluctant to see changes that affect the razing of older buildings and such to make way for progress.”
On the positive side, the author is happy all his research and books are being used to assist with the new Maple Highlands bike trail.
“The City of Chardon is putting up some 35 signs along the trail, denoting where things were during the age of rail,” Rager said, who will be starting on Volume 7 this winter. “My work is bringing a new perspective to our past in ways I never considered.”
SPEAKER EVENT
Author Dan Rager will be speaking at 7 p.m. Nov. 8 at Mayfield Township Historical Society and Museum in Mayfield Village.
A PBS documentary “The Interurban,” narrated by Leon Bibb, showcases Rager and his findings. Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NIKQTLQze0
His newest book is available at Mountain Road Cycles in Chardon, Artisans’ Corner Gallery in Newbury Township, Lulu.com and directly at Maple Leaf Route, P.O. Box 144, Chardon, Ohio 44024.
