The Gorge formed about 12,000 years ago as the Cuyahoga River carried water to Lake Erie. Most of the 100 mile river is shallow and slow-moving — but in the gorge, water descends 200 feet within a short two-mile section of the gorge.
Author: tconte
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Plant
USS Akron flys proudly over the Goodyear plant. She was the world’s first purpose-built flying aircraft carrier, carrying F9C Sparrowhawk fighter planes which could be launched and recovered while she was in flight. The Goodyear company is named after American Charles Goodyear, inventor of vulcanized rubber. The first Goodyear factory opened in Akron, Ohio, in…
Goodyear-Zeppelin Corp’s. Factory
“Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation’s Factory and Dock located on the grounds of Akron’s Municipal Airport (Akron Fulton International). This building is 1,196 feet in length, 325 feet in width and 211 feet high, equal to a 22 story building. There are 3,600,000 pounds of steel used in the doors and 5,350 tons of structural steel in the…
Kenmore – Business District
Kenmore was founded in 1908, as a residential community between the industrial cities of Akron and Barberton. The village which was strategically built along the streetcar lines between the two cities and grew so fast that it earned the nicknamed “fastest–growing city in the world“. Kenmore was annexed by Akron in 1928. Pictured: I.O.O.F. Lodge 927
Werner Company Plant – Publisher
Paul E. Werner established his dominance in publishing long before Akron’s rubber boom. By 1900, Werner’s publishing house, the Werner Company, claimed to be the largest and most complete book factory in America. Legal battles with Encyclopedia Britannica, of which Werner ultimately won, resulted in financial losses that destroyed the empire Werner had built.
Greetings from Akron
When a stockbroker, Bill W and an Akron surgeon, Dr. Bob S met they formed a group known today as alcoholics anonymous. Because both of the men felt comfortable talking with each other because they both were struggling with the same problem, they eventually worked on their drinking problem together. Because of these men in…
Portage Lakes – Sunset
Today’s popular recreation area formed as a result of the last ice age. The name Portage Lakes comes from an old Indian portage path that connected the Cuyahoga River flowing north to Lake Erie and the Tuscarawas River, a tributary of the Muskingum River, which flows south to the Ohio River. This proved advantageous for Indians and early settlers as navigation from Lake Erie to…
USS Macon ZRS-5 – Goodyear-Zeppelin Dock
The USS Macon was built at the Goodyear Airdock in Springfield Township (Akron) by the Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation. This was by far the biggest airship ever to be built in America. A team of experienced German airship engineers—led by Chief Designer Karl Arnstein—instructed and supported design and construction of both the U.S. Navy airships Macon and Akron.
O’Neil and Company
With a single dry goods store at 114 East Market Street, Michael O’Neil and his partner Isaac Dyas began a retail empire that is still remembered by Akronites. In 1912, O’Neil sold his popular stores to the May Department Stores Company for $1 million. His well-respected name continued to serve as the brand until the downtown location (built in…
Gorge – High Bridge
The lower bridge was built in 1895, while the upper double-track streetcar bridge was built in 1903. Both bridges spanned the Gorge between Akron and Cuyahoga Falls, located near the road that is now Front Street, north of Cuyahoga Falls Avenue.
City Hospital
The City Hospital of Akron had its inception in a fund left by an early resident, Boniface DeRoo. The fund which represented the lifetime savings of a frugal hard working man, amounted to $10,000. The first building used for the hospital was an old frame house at the corner of Broadway Street and Center Street.…
South Main Street
“South Main Street is the main thoroughfare in Akron. Most of the leading stores, theaters, and hotels are located on this street. It is the dividing line for cross streets, all numbered running east and west start from here. State Routes Nos. 8, 18 and 36 pass through South Main Street.” – Federman’s, Shulans, Bear’s,…
Akron High School
The high school was located on Forge Street, between College and Union Streets, facing Union Park. The school was established in 1857, but the pictured building was erected in 1885 at a cost of $135,000.
City Hospital
Founded in 1892, Akron’s City hospital was the first accredited radiology department in the United States. The hospital was also a pioneer in open heart surgery. Akron City Hospital is also the birthplace of basketball legends LeBron James and Stephen Curry. Today, the hospital is part of the large Summa Health hospital system.
Springfield Lake – Bathing Beach
During the rapid growth of the rubber industry in Akron, Springfield Lake became a resort area. Summer cottages were built around the lake. Springfield Lake Park was built in the early 1900s and included a merry-go-round, dodge-em cars, and various other amusement facilities. One of the main attractions was a roller coaster that extended out…
Mayflower Hotel – Theo. DeWitt
The Mayflower hotel was located at the corner of State and Main. In this view, it was a DeWitt operated hotel.
Goodyear Factory – Aerial view
By 1926 Goodyear was the largest rubber company in the world. Only four years earlier it was forced to temporarily halt production of racing tires due to heavy competition. Nevertheless, the popularity of the Goodyear tire on the racing circuit led to a popular demand for the return of the brand.
South Main Street
Interurban cars are lined up outside the Hamilton Building on South Main Street. It’s another busy day in Akron.
Central Savings and Trust Co. – I.O.O.F Lodge
In 1904, the Central Savings Bank merged with the Akron Trust Company to form the Central Savings & Trust Company. Before moving to the Hamilton Building (renamed the Central Savings & Trust Building in 1918) this was the banks home. A beautiful multistory office building on Akron’s Main Street. In 1931 the bank, under a new name, moved…
Springfield Lake – Sawyerwood Cottages
Weekend Getaway During the rapid growth of Akron’s rubber industry, Springfield Lake became a popular getaway resort. Summer cottages popped up at Sawyerwood and Lakemore. In the early 1900’s, the Springfield Lake Park was constructed. It was briefly the largest amusement park in all of Ohio. Attractions included a merry-go-round, dodge-em cars, a roller coaster, a…
Summit Beach Park – Midway
More than a century ago, on July 4th, 1917, Summit Beach Park opened its door for the first time. Akronites were drawn by rides like the park’s roller coaster, carousel and ferris wheel. But the park offered more than thrill rides, it also had a dance hall, penny arcade, boat launch and steamboat rides.
Firestone Tire & Rubber Company
“It takes energy, foresight and ability to pull against the current.” – Harvey Firestone Harvey Firestone was convinced that there was a large market to be tapped in automobile tires. His vision would become the Firestone Tire & Rubber Company. By 1926, Firestone’s company was producing more than 10 million tires a year, about 25…
Union Station – Amelia Flats
Amelia flats was a five-story apartment building, which stood on Park Street across from picturesque Grace Park, it was one of the city’s earliest apartment houses when opened in 1901.
Groetz Hotel
Opened in 1891 by John B. Groetz (1866-1951), this late 19th-century hotel was a popular meeting place for famous politicians, businessmen, and athletes. Mark Hanna, the right-hand man of President McKinley, often dined here. Thomas Edison, a good friend of Harvey Firestone, was also a frequent visitors. Location: – Demolished – Portage Lakes Drive in Portage Lakes, Ohio.
Goodyear Rubber Co. – Birds Eye View
Was Goodyear big in Akron? Oh yeah. By the early 1900’s this plant had one million square feet of rubber making floor space and covered 41 acres!