Archival Services

The Akron, Canton & Youngstown Railway Company

Reference Code:

Repository: University of Akron Archival Services

Title: The Akron, Canton & Youngstown Railway Company Collection

Dates: (1895-1930)-1968

Extent: 8 cubic feet.

Creator: The Akron, Canton & Youngstown Railway Company

Access: Collection is open for research.

Finding Aid prepared by: Archival Services Staff

Scope and Content:

The Akron, Canton & Youngstown Railway Company Collection (1895-1968) consists of articles of incorporation, minute books, stock records, maps and other miscellaneous records of the AC&Y Railway Company as well as various other companies affiliated with the AC&Y. The collection focuses largely on he time period from 1895-1930s.

The collection documents the development of the railroad industry in and around the Akron, Ohio, area when the old booming canal days were beginning to fade. Railroads provided the vital service of transporting the products of some of he world's largest rubber companies. Minute books, papers from the secretary's office, and maps provide insights into the actual operations of the AC&Y Railway Company and the Northern Ohio Railway Company. These records, which cover the period from 1895 to 1943, are quite thorough. Unfortunately, many of the papers are not dated; many serious gaps in years are found among the various folders, and because of the limited material relevant to the smaller companies, it is difficult to determine the interrelationships of these firms with the AC&Y Railway Company.

Series I, comprising the majority of the collection, consists of the articles of incorporation and amendments, minute books, stock certificate books, agreements, and deeds of the AC&Y Railway Company. Also included are the AC&Y's estimates of various items such as costs, earnings and tonnage, papers of the hydraulic mill race at Cascade, a clipping file, an extensive map file covering approximately 1907 to 1943 and miscellaneous correspondence documents.

Series II contains articles of incorporation and amendments, minute books, Securies and Exchange Commission file, and general correspondence from the secretary's office of the Northern Ohio Railway Company dating from approximately 1985-1936. Also included is information regarding the Company's stocks: stockholder's and director's records, a stock ledger, a stockholder listing, stock certificate books and stock transfers.

Series III is subdivided into the papers of the AC&Y Company, the AC&Y Terminal Properties Company (formerly the East Akron Land Company), and The AC&Y Syndicate, all subsidiaries of the AC&Y Railway Company. Of particular interest in this series are the papers concerning the plans for reorganization and the general notes of H.B. Stewart, president and founder of the AC&Y Railway Company. The AC&Y Company and th AC&Y Terminal Properties Company files include such items as articles of incorporation, stock certificate books, minutes and other miscellaneous correspondence and reports. The AC&Y Syndicate files are largely made up of the statements of P.J. Pahler and the general notes of H.B. Stewart.

Series IV holds miscellaneous papers, minute books and cash books of companies and railroads affiliated with the AC&Y Railway Company dating from approximately 1892 to 1905.

Series V comprises annual reports of the AC&Y Railroad Company from 1945 to 1949, a photocopy of the record diary (which includes appointments, retirements, resignations, deaths), and an oral history interview with Alva W. Hochberg, Assistant to the general Manager, conducted by Dr. Daniel Nelson and Dr. H. Roger Grant of The University of Akron History Department. Hochberg discusses his employment with the AC&Y from 1929 to the present. He comments in detail on the problems of the reorganizational plans of the railway and some of the general achievements and problems besetting the railroad. Also included in this series are copies of the "AC&Y News" and the "AC&Y Employees' News Letter."

Series VI contains various pamphlets from the Interstate Commerce Commission. This series covers the early 1900s.

Historical Note:

In 1907, through planning by H. B. Stewart and Z. W. Davis and backng from F. A. Seiberling, The Akron, Canton & Youngstown Railway Company was incorporated. Operation of the railroad, which ran from Akron to Mogadore, Ohio, to connect with the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad, bean on October 1, 1912.

After leasing (in March, 1920) The Northern Ohio Railway Company from the Lake Erie & Western Railroad, The Akron, Canton & Youngstown Railway Company included one hundred and seventy-one miles of track running from Mogadore to Delphos and making connections at twenty-one different junctions with nine different railroads.

In April, 1933, largely due to factors relating to the Depression, The AC&Y Railway Company and the Northeast Ohio Railway Company went into bankruptcy stating that they were unable to meet their obligations as they became due and desired to effect a reorganization. Plan for reorganizing and consolidating the AC&Y Railway Company and the Northern Ohio Railway Company were presented to the Interstate Commerce Commission in 1937. The U.S. District Court approved the plan and ordered it into operation. It was then presented to the U.S. Supreme Court where final approval was given in February, 1944. The merging of these two railway companies then became known as The Akron, Canton and Youngstown Railroad Company. The AC&Y Company, known as "The Road of Service," continued to serve the transportation needs of some of Akron's largest rubber companies, as well as other shippers. In later years, road stone and fluxing stone from Carey, Ohio became important products for transport by rail.

The AC&Y Railroad Company sold its stock to the Norfolk and Western Railway Company in 1964 and was, as of 1969, a fully-owned subsidiary of the Norfolk and Western Railway Company with the autonomous operation under its own board of directors.

Details of the purchases and consolidations of various small railroad companies prior to the consolidation of the AC&Y Railway Company in 1907 follows:

The Cleveland, Delphos & St. Louis Railroad Company, incorporated on March 9, 1881, ran from Delphos to Carey, Ohio.

The Cleveland & Western Railroad Company, incorporated on December 30, 1884, ran from Cleveland to Delphos via Carey, Ohio.

The Pittsburgh, Akron & Western Railway Company (originally known as the Ohio Railway Company), incorporated on November 10, 1883, ran from Akron to Tiffin, Ohio.

The Cleveland & Western Railroad Company, on January 6, 1890, acquired the Cleveland, Delphos & St. Louis Railroad Company.

The Pittsburgh, Akron & Western Railroad Company, formed on March 11, 1890, was the result of consolidation of the Pittsburgh, Akron & Western Railway Company and the Cleveland & Western Railroad Company.

The Lake Erie & Western Railroad Company, on October 1, 1895, leased The Northern Ohio Railway Company and operated it until March, 1920, when they then leased it to The AC&Y.

Arrangement:

Box Inventory

Series I - The Akron, Canton & Youngstown Railway Company

Box 1

Maps:

1. Map of the AC&Y Railway from Akron to Mogadore, Ohio. May 1909.

2. The AC&Y Railway, Akron, Ohio, Station 44 to Station 80. April, 1912.

3. The AC&Y Railway, Station 77 to Station 108. April, 1912.

4. Map of The AC&Y Railway from Akron to Mogadore, Ohio. N.D.

5. Partial map of The AC&Y Railway. N.D.

6. The AC&Y Railway, profile of main line from Main Street, Akron, Ohio to Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad at Mogadore, Ohio. May, 1909.

7. The AC&Y Railway, complete profile of main line from Main Street Akron, Ohio to Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad at Mogadore, Ohio. N.D.

8. Tabulation of tracts making up right of way of The AC&Y Railway Company, also: Maps of right of way of The AC&Y Railway. 1911-1913.

9. The AC&Y Railway, plot of proposed crossing of Forge Street. October, 14, 1909.

10. Proposed crossing of Forge Street. June 7, 1911.

11. Plat showing The AC&Y Railway's proposed undercrossing of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, Cleveland, Akron and Columbus Railway, and Erie Railroad near Forge Street, Akron, Ohio. May, 1909.

12. The AC&Y Railway, profile and cross-sections of underhead crossing of The Baltimore and Ohio, Cleveland, Akron and Columbus and Erie Railways at Forge Street, Akron, Ohio. May, 1909.

13. The AC&Y Railway, undergrade crossing near Forge Street. May 1912, revised May 31, 1912.

14. Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, Cleveland, Akron and Columbus Railway, and Erie Railroad, undergrade crossing near Forge Street, Akron, Ohio. May 3, 1912.

15. East end of crossing under Cleveland, Akron, and Columbus Railway, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and Erie Railroad near Forge Street, Akron, Ohio. June 15, 1912.

16. Profile showing AC&Y grade west of Forge Street and proposed new grade of Cleveland, Akron, and Columbus and Baltimore and Ohio Tracks. February 3, 1912.

17. Top of rail, Cleveland, Akron and Columbus - Baltimore and Ohio west bound track east and west of AC&Y crossing. February 2, 1912.

18. Subway under Cleveland, Akron and Columbus Railway, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and Erie Railroad at Forge Street. April 25, 1913.

19. The AC&Y Railway, 12'-6" clearanced of Center and Forge Street and 16'-3" under Baltimore and Ohio, Cleveland, Akron and Columbus and Erie. January, 1912.

20. The AC&Y Railway, 12'-6" clearanced of Center and Forge Street and 16'-3" under Baltimore and Ohio, Cleveland, Akron and Columbus and Erie. March 11, 1912. 2 copies.

21. Depression of Forge Street in from of G. J. Renner property. March 11, 1912. Revised March 28, 1912. 2 copies

22. Depression of Forge Street. 2 copies. April 3, 1912.

23. Depression of Forge Street. 2 copies. June 28, 1912.

24. Depression of Forge Street. 2 copies. June 28, 1912.

25. Depression of Forge Street. 2 copies. June 28, 1912.

26. Masonry plans for Forge Street crossing, April 24, 1913.

27. Masonry plans for Forge Street crossing, April 23, 1913.

28. Proposed pile bridge over Akron hydraulic race. September 22, 1911.

29. Pile bridge over hydraulic race near Oil Street. 2 copies. March 18, 1912.

30. Timber trestle over Hydraulic Canal Station 84. January 30, 1912.

31. Unidentified map of Akron hydraulic canal. N.D.

32. Land required between Summit Street and Oil Street. September 1, 1911.

33. Map of a part of tract 7, Portage Township. May 3, 1912.

34. Map of a part of tract 7, Portage Township. May 3, 1912

35. Map of Block 36 to 39. November 17, 1911.

36. Map of Block 36 to 39. November 17, 1911.

37. Map of Block 36 to 39. November 17, 1911.

38. Map of Block 36 to 39. November 17, 1911.

39. Map of Block 36 to 39. November 17, 1911.

40. Map of Blocks 36 and 27, Perkin's Addition. January 13, 1913.

41. Map of Blocks 38 and 39, Perkin's Addition. January 19, 1912.

42. The AC&Y Railway, plot of proposed change in highway at Mogadore, Ohio. June 1909.

43. Profile of a sewer project. March, 1912.

44. Map of a line from east of Hale Road to Webb Clay Bank. June, 1912.

45. Proposed Akron terminal facilities. August 6, 1914.

46. Land conveyed by Robinson Clay Product Company. August 30, 1911.

47. Originally proposed bridge to carry C.T. and V.R.R. Siding over Forge Street to Robinson Clay Product Company. February 17, 1913.

48. Land conveyed by Akron and New Castle Railroad. March 19, 1913.

49. Plot of The Akron and Pittsburgh Railroad across the Race property. October 26, 1895.

50. American Sewer Pipe Company, Pittsburgh, PA. Works Number 26 & 27 A, Akron, Ohio, Summit County. N.D.

51. Partial map showing east Akron, N.D. Unidentified.

52. Unidentified map of Akron, Ohio. N.D.

53. Identified map of tracks of The AC&Y Railway and C.T. and V. Railway. N.D.

54. Akron Transfer Railroad and connections, Akron, Ohio. N.D.