A crowded day of fun at Akron’s Summit Beach Park on the shores of Summit Lake. The park provided Akronites with 40 years of summer fun before closing the gates for good in 1958.
Author: tconte
Hotel Marne
Owned by T.E. McShaffrey, Hotel Marne was located at 281 South Main Street. The 175-room hotel was opened on September 7, 1919 and managed by J.H. Bromley. The Marne was one of many new hotels to open in Akron in the early 1900s.
Someone in Akron
Akron became a manufacturing center primarily due to its location. The city was well connected to the canal system, and later to numerous major railroad lines.
Union Station/Depot
Built before the rubber boom, Akron’s Union Station quickly showed its inadequacies as the city’s population exploded. Although additions were made, the station was never large enough to handle the popularity of Akron. In 1950 a new Union Depot was built to replace the aging structure and by 1951 it had been demolished.
South Main Street
At a time before automobiles ruled the streets, most of Akron’s leading stores, theaters, and hotels were located along South Main Street. Trolley’s and horse carts added to the bustle of downtown.
Union Station
This was Akron’s second Union station. Although an attractive structure, Akronites didn’t have much love for this railroad station. Many complained about it being too small, too dirty, too hot in the summer, and too cold in the winter. Built in 1891, it was replaced and demolished in 1950.
Robinson Clay Product Company
Founded in 1856 by Thomas Robinson, Richard Whitmore, and Thomas Johnson. Robinson Clay Products company manufactured sewer pipes, tile, brick, and many other clay products. Offices in the Second National Building
Summit County Court House
The Summit County Courthouse is located at 209 South High Street. The building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was designed by architect J. Milton Dyer. The seated figures of Justice and Law were created by Cleveland sculptor Herman Matzen.
Flat Iron Building
Akron’s Flatiron Building was located at Howard and Main Streets in downtown Akron. It was built in 1907 and demolished in 1967.
Goodyear – Rubber Company
IN 1889, with just 13 employees, Goodyear production began. The product line included bicycle and carriage tires, horseshoe pads, and poker chips. By 1916, Goodyear had grown into the world’s largest tire company, and by 1926 it was the world’s largest rubber company.
Akron Baptist Temple
Million Dollar Akron Baptist Temple. 2314 Manchester Road in South Akron. This building is 200 feet long, 92 feet wide. Seating capacity in the auditorium of over 5000. Home of the largest Sunday School in the world, 5000 average attendance. Average Sunday offering of $5,600 for 52 Sundays. 250 voice choir. Church owns a fleet of…
Silver Lake – Old Cabin
Silver Lake Park had several log cabins, like the one shown here, as well as Swiss-style cottages. The park began in 1876 when Ralph H. Lodge built a small bathhouse and pavilion and provided boats for rental to fishermen. Soon the railroad was bringing excursions from places as far away as Columbus and Pittsburgh. At…
America’s Rust Belt
Following World War II, Akronites faced difficult financial times. The industries that allowed Akron to prosper during the 1800s and early 1900s began to decline. The economic downturn resulted in a declining population. In 1950, nearly 275,000 resided in the city. Fifty years later, the population had dropped to 217,000, and today it sits at 197,633.
Pavilion – Springfield Lake
The Springfield Lake Pavilion was used for many social functions, including dancing on Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons. Patrons danced to the music of big name bands such as Guy Lombardo and Vaughn Monroe.
Main Street, looking North
An early view of Akron’s Main Street complete with streetcar, horse cart and vintage automobiles.
Masonic Temple
Built by the Freemasons in 1917 for their business and social gatherings. Following a sale in 1999, the building went through a two million dollar restoration project. Today the structure is used as a special events center.
Gorge – The Glens
Carved from the earth nearly 12,000 years ago, the Gorge is one of the area’s greatest natural wonders. The area is also filled with amazing folklore. On May 21, 1758, at the age of ten, Campbell was abducted from a place in or near the town of Penn’s Creek, in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Her captors were a band…
East Market Street
Not even the streetcars are operating on this quiet morning along East Market Street.
B. F. Goodrich Company
In April 1967 the URW walked off of jobs at Goodrich, Firestone, and Uniroyal, and the resulting strike stalled rubber production in Akron for 86 days.
B. F. Goodrich Rubber Co.
Goodrich ran television and print ads showing an empty blue sky, to distinguish themselves from the similar-sounding Goodyear tire company. The tagline was, “See that blimp up in the sky? We’re the other guys!”
St. Bernard Church – Interior View
Construction on the current church building began in 1902, and was opened in 1905. The building features a German Baroque Romanesque style and was designed by Akron-born architect William P. Ginther. St. Bernard Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
Parade on South Main
Patriotism is on display as Akronites turn out for a celebration on South Main Street.