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 Interurban railroads, such as the Lakeshore Electric (shown at its Sandusky station in 1927) connected communities much as
bus lines do today. CAC General Photograph Collection.
Transportation has been vital to the settlement and development of the nation, and Ohioans have created thousands of records
relating to it. By tracing the history of transportation through the variety of materials available at the Center for Archival
Collections, researchers can follow the economic history of the state.
Community cooperation is documented in subscription lists for bridge building and local records for ditch and road maintenance.
The development of engineering can be traced through blueprints and maps used for construction. The canal era is represented
in canal boat registers and maps, while the Historical Collections of the Great Lakes holds a significant collection on the Great Lakes shipping industry.
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Though railroads were private enterprises, they were scheduled, regulated, taxed, and unionized, leaving behind a rich source
of information on Ohio business and everyday life. The petroleum industry flourished because of the need for fuel and is represented
in the surviving records of such businesses as the Oil Well Salvage Company (MMS 15) and in the photographs of the Irven I.
Freyman Collection (MS 91). The automobile industry continues to be of great economic importance for northwest Ohio, and CAC collections include material
on its unions, workers, and companies such as Willys-Overland. Transportation-related records offer a unique perspective on
many aspects of American life. Researchers are invited to sample the possibilities.
--Lee N. McLaird
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Serving both interurban and automobile traffic, this refreshment stand at Ceylon Junction, Ohio used signs to attract customers
in 1930. CAC General Photograph Collection. 
Local government records often have responsibility for roads, ditches, ferries, wharves, streetcars, and airports; consequently,
county, township, and municipal records may relate to them. Not only do these records reveal community effort and construction
techniques, but they also teach much about the people, economy, and changing landmarks.
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In the early nineteenth century, the Ohio General Assembly gave the Board of County Commissioners the task of constructing
local highways. Free Turnpike Records, Highway Improvement Records, Tollkeepers' Reports, Works Progress Administration Files, and the Commissioners' Journals from the County Commissioners' office include a variety of information on the history of transportation.
By 1862, rail transportation was so important to local economies that the General Assembly created a regional Board of Railroad
Appraisers and Assessors for each railroad company. Each county in which the company had a right-of-way was represented by
its Auditor at an annual meeting to determine the taxable value of railroad property. Records such as Annual Appraisement Reports and Apprortionments for Taxation were kept by the Board. The Board was disbanded with the creation of the Tax Commission in 1910. Today, these records may
be preserved in the archives or found in the county Auditor's office. In addition, Railroad Deed and Lien Records may be located in the County Recorder's office. Lastly, Records of the Railroad Policemen's Commissions, which contain copies of appointments and commissions issued by the governor to railroad police, may be found in the Court
of Common Pleas.The growing importance of the automobile was demonstrated as early as 1906 when the County Surveyor gained
engineering responsibilities for roads and bridges. By 1935, the title changed to Engineer, and candidates for election were
required to be licensed professionals. Road Records, Bridge and Culvert Records, and Free Turnpike Records contain valuable information on county roads.
The Board of Township Trustees is responsible for ditch and road maintenance. Ditch Records (including Journals, Plats and Profiles) include proceedings on the establishment and construction of ditches, while Road Records contain information regarding the establishment, alteration, or vacation of public roads. These may also include plats and
maps, accounts, and names of citizens who worked on roads. Minutes of the Trustees may also include information relating to transportation.
In the late nineteenth century, some municipalities operated streetcars, and city records may have been preserved detailing
their financial and physical operation. City Engineering and Street Departments retain records such as Blueprints, Maps, and Plans, Contracts and Agreements, and Improvement and Repair Records, which document the construction and maintenance of streets and bridges. Some cities also have Traffic and Transportation
Commissions to address these issues specifically. Airport records, such as Air Traffic Reports, Minutes of the Airport Commission or Airport Authority and Proceedings of the Airport Zoning Commission are created by offices responsible for the operation of municipal airports.
Local government records also may be found relating to riverboats and river dredging, lake vessels and ports, canals and canal
boats, and stagecoaches. Check your local government offices or the CAC for information regarding the history of transportation
in northwest Ohio.
--Victor S. Wagher
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