Lincoln Range of this city was a member of the railroad crew that took the first trainload of iron ore out of Conneaut yards.
The cargo of the Kershaw consisted of 1,130 tons of iron ore shipped from the upper lake region, and was the first boatload ever to be unloaded at our harbor. From that small beginning has grown one of the world's greatest ore ports.
The management and engineering force of the Pittsburgh & Conneaut Dock Company have continued more to the perfecting of unloading and loading machinery and the designing of ships for such machinery, than any other harbor or port organization on the Great Lakes.
BROWN HOISTS
In 1893 three additional Brown hoists and two new King hoists were erected, and more "whirlies" were
put into operation. The dock proved to be too small, so 1,700 feet more were built, and miles of side tracks were laid for switching and storage purposes.
During the first full season of Conneaut Harbor 100 cargoes were received, amounting to 203,207 tons, and eleven cargoes of coal, weighing 23,185 tons, were shipped to the upper lakes.
The following year 400 more feet of dock was under construction and 17 additional acres of land were purchased at the "big- bend."
CAR-FERRY SERVICE
Car-ferry service was inaugurated between Conneaut and Canadian ports in 1895, the Shenango No. 1
and No. 2 making the regular trips.
In 1897 excavation was begun on a new slip 1,300 feet long and 165 feet wide southward in line with the main channel. New docks were built and 12 McMyler hoists were erected.
The same year the P. S. & L. E. R. R. railroad reorganized, becoming the Pittsburgh, Bessemer & Lake Erie R. R. During that season the first steel hopper cars were put into service, and the harbor was further improved by the building of approximately 8,000 feet of break-water.
CAR DUMP BUILT IN '99
The year of 1899 was a busy one and an important one. The first car-dumping machine was constructed
here that year. A speedier one capable of handling larger cars of coal was built in 1914. The cars of coal arc run onto a track under the unloader and, after being securely fastened, the car is hoisted and overturned, allowing the coal to be conveyed into the hold of a boat by a large chute.
The 1899 season saw the organization of the Pittsburgh Steamship Company, which purchased a few steel steamships and awarded contracts for the building of several ore vessels. Construction was begun on a cable haulage system of shunting cars on the docks. Steam power operated the cables until some years later when electric power was used.
HULETT MACHINES
The same year 1,230 feet of dock was constructed (dock 4) and the channel at that side of the harbor
was deepened. On this new dock the first Hulett automatic ore unloader ever constructed was erected, and from its manner of operating, it was soon being called the "clam shell."
Two more Hulett machines were added the following year, these being improved somewhat over the original machine. With these three unloading machines, crews were able to remove 30 tons of ore from a vessel every two minutes. A fourth Hulett was added in 1901 and a fifth in 1911.
The Pittsburgh Steamship Company erected a large supply store at the end of dock 1 in 1900, since which time lake vessels have been supplied with provisions at this port.
Rumors were heard early in the 20th century to the effect that large steel mills were to be erected near our port. Hundreds of acres of land were purchased along the lake front east of Conneaut, but eventually the mills were built in Gary, Indiana instead of here.
SILENT CITY
Several houses were built south of East Conneaut at that time in anticipation of the influx of steel mill
workers. These houses were unoccupied for years, and the place was known for a long time as "Silent
City."
Pier lights alone were used in the early days of Conneaut's harbor, but in 1897 a lighthouse was built when the breakwater was being constructed. A $ 125,000 lighthouse was put into operation in 1921, and in 1935 a modem $70,000 shore-controlled beacon was built.
By 1925 all of the ore unloading on dock 4 was being done by five modem electric Huletts, and the foul Brown machines were removed to dock 2. Two of the Browns were scrapped ten years later, and the remaining two were moved to dock 1 to be used in steel shipping. The present Huletts are equipped with 17-ton buckets.
BREAK WALL EXTENDED
In 1935 extensive work was done on the break-wall when the west shore arm was extended. Three years
later at the completion of an improvement program, the outer harbor had been dredged and deepened, and the channel deepened to 28 feet. Later the vessel- winding basin was enlarged, the swinging radius
increased to 673 feet to accommodate the five new 639-foot Pittsburgh Steamship Co. super ore carriers.
Conneaut Harbor has established many notable records during the busy 54-year period since the Kershaw entered to unload the first red cargo.
The year of greatest ore receipts was 1942 when 12,575,003 tons were unloaded here. The largest amount unloaded in any one day was on August 12, 1944 when 85,994 tons were taken from the vessels.
LARGEST CARGO
The largest cargo of ore ever carried on the Great Lakes was received at our harbor on July 3, 1945. On
that day the Steamer Benjamin F. Fairless arrived with a cargo of 18,593 tons.
During Conneaut's Centennial year (1896) the harbor handled 327,000 tons, and the following year more than a million tons were unloaded here.
Besides handling ore cargoes, coal and steel are loaded into vessels here to be delivered to other lake ports. The Michigan Limestone & Chemical Co. will begin operation on dock 1 this season, adding to the harbor's activities.
The cargoes handled at the harbor affect not only this immediate locality, but the ore is converted into steel which is employed in the manufacture of products used throughout the entire world.
WATER DEPARTMENT
In 1891 Conneaut�s first water works was built, being located on the lake front at the end of Broad Street. This plant was in operation for many years and served the small community well, but as the city
grew and a larger supply of water was required, the equipment was found to be inadequate.
In 1934 a new plant was built on the Lake Road near Millard Ave., modem equipment being installed throughout.
At the same time a large reservoir was constructed on Clark Street near the New York Central tracks.
TELEPHONE IN 1897
The Telephone came into use in Conneaut on July 7, 1897, The equipment had been installed by Barber
& Bailey of Wasseon, Ohio, the former being the first president of the Conneaut Telephone Company. The first directory was issued in 1897 and contained the names of 136 subscribers who were given 24-hour service daily, except Sunday when the central office was open for 3 hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon. In 1921 the company built a building which they now occupy.
Much telephone progress has been made since the days when the subscriber turned a small crank on the side of the "phone and waited for the "voice with a smile" to inquire "Number, please?"
FIRST HOTELS
Inns and eating establishments were among the first needs of Conneaut after its settlement. Such
establishments are mentioned in the very early records of the town.
At first hotels and boarding houses were built along the old stage route and at the harbor to accommodate both land and lake travelers.
After the building of the New York Central and the Nickel Plate, eating houses were located near the depots, but with the introduction of dining service on the trains these were so little used that they went out of business.
The automobile brought a great change in the hotel and restaurant business. More of such service was required because of the increasing number of travelers. Lunch stands and tourist sprang up along the much-traveled highways.
The splendid service found in Conneaut hotels and tourist homes is well known throughout this section of the country, and our many restaurants and diners having established reputations for fine food are well patronized by local customers and tourists alike.
The history of Conneaut's hotels is of particular interest.
LAKE VIEW PARK
The Lake View Park Hotel was formally opened on June 23, 1899. It was spacious three-story wooden
building on a high bluff overlooking Lake Erie. A wide veranda afforded its patrons a pleasant pace to relax and enjoy the view of the water.
Through the efforts of Mayor Mott G. Spaulding, this building was later purchased by the city. The grounds were landscaped, the work being done in part by "guests of the city" unable to pay their fines. The hotel was leased to J. A. Bush, proprietor of the Central House for the season at a price of $250. The opening day under the management of the lessee was June 16, 1907 when a large crowd gathered at thepark to dine and enjoy the band concert.
For several seasons this hotel was the popular Mecca of summer vacationers.
On March 4, 1937 it was destroyed by fire and was never rebuilt.
BRICK INDUSTRY
With a capital stock of $100,000 the Harper-Norton Shale Brick Co. was incorporated in February 1899.
Operations began in June of that year. The plant, located on the P. B. & L. E. railroad south of the New
York Central arches, had a daily capacity of 50,000 common and 22,000 repressed bricks. The shale was
crushed and conducted to a pug mill where it was "tempered" and then automatically conveyed to the brick machine where dies shaped the bricks at the rate of 77 per minute.
The bricks were cut, loaded onto small cars and run into drying tunnels where they were dried-by steam and in 24 hours were ready for the kilns.
Ten large down draft kilns were erected on the Bessemer sidings. This company changed hands several years later, becoming the Conneaut Brick Co. It finally discontinued entirely the manufacture of Conneaut bricks, and its ovens and buildings were dismantled and torn down.
A famous brick patent was developed by the late Frank B. Dunn. This was known as the Dunn Wire-cut Lug Brick.
AUTOS AND TROLLEYS
Our local automobile era was ushered in as the 19th century was nearing its close. In April 1899, C. B.
Cummins purchased a "horse-less carriage" which was the first Conneaut-owned machine.
The following year saw more competition for horse drawn conveyances when the P. & O. Railway line was built from Conneaut to Jefferson, and in 1902 the C. & E. Trolley connected Conneaut with Erie, Pa. A city line was put into operation with scheduled service from the west-city limits to the harbor. Conneaut and its neighbors on the east were brought closer together by the building of a toll bridge across the river valley and by the paving of East Main Road which joined Springfield Township's macadam road at the state line.
LEATHER BUSINESS
The Conneaut Leather Co. was organized in 1903 with G. M. Brown as its first president. In its early
days the shop on Commerce Street dealt in tanned hides and finished leather. The goods were used in
buggies, luggage and furniture upholstery. The demand now is for use in automobiles and airplanes instead of buggies. Charles Whitney is its head.
SHOVEL INDUSTRY
In 1900 a Mr. Ronborg began the manufacture of the Mikkola patented ore shovel, a hand shovel. His
factory was a small wooden building 40' x 60' where ten dozen hand-hammered shovels was a day's work.
The Conneaut Shovel Co. formed in 1905, bought the interests of Mr. Ronborg, and occupied the original wooden structure until its destruction by fire in 1907.
The factory was replaced by a brick building 50' x 175' which was greatly enlarged ten years later. In 1931 the company was purchased by the American Fork and Hoe Co. who continue the manufacture of plain back and hollow back shovels, and in addition operate a sheet metal plant where they make lawn rakes, D tops, weeders, scrapers and a complete line of hoes.
This factory, equipped with the finest modem machinery, is the largest hand shovel plant under one roof in the world. It is located at Whitney Road and Shop Street, and is served by the Nickel Plate R. R. P. H. Bergen is manager.
IT WASN'T ALL WORK AND NO PLAY IN OLDEN DAYS.
DIVERSION WAS VARIED AND PLENTIFUL
It was not all work and no play in Conneaut's earlier days, for amusements were an important part of the
town's life.
Spelling bees, barn raising, husking bees, singing societies, sleighing parties all contributed to the social life of the community, but entertainment was brought from outside.
Circuses, carnivals and traveling medicine shows satisfied Conneaut for a time, and then came the stock companies, giving the nightly performances in their large canvas tents or in the theaters of Conneaut. Minelli Brothers, Newton-Liningston and the Pelhams all made regular appearances and were patronized by enthusiastic crowds.
To the Weldon Opera House (third floor. Main and Mill Streets), the Baldwin Opera House (third floor Main and Mill Streets) and the Cleveland Opera House (third floor of old Cleveland Block, now razed) came road shows and stock companies bringing "East Lynne", "The Old Homestead", "The Two Orphans", "Way Down East" and of course "Uncle Tom's Cabin."
MAGIC LANTERNS
"Magic lantern" shows were frequent until the arrival of motion pictures. About the middle of the first
decade of this century Russell C. Byers opened the first motion picture theatre in Conneaut, the Theatorium located in the K. of P. building which was later destroyed by fire.
The Navajo Theatre (Gas Co. Bldg.) was the next to open, and an occasional act of vaudeville was an added attraction. Illustrated songs were featured in these early movie theatres, the music being supplied by a phonograph when a vocalist was not available.
GEM AND ACADEMY
The Gem Theatre (Childs Block) and the Academy Theatre (Shaffmaster Block now Whitmore Block)
followed shortly, the forming running regular vaudeville shows in connection with pictures. The Republic Theatre (Ellsasser Garage building) boasted not only a sizable main floor, but also a balcony and two lower and two upper boxes. Here were shown film productions, vaudeville acts were presented and at times road companies entertained.
The Star Theatre (Broad Street) was owned by the late J. C. Flack, and upon finding the auditorium too small for the crowds that patronized it, he built the La Grande, with a larger seating capacity, at the comer of State and Broad Streets.
All of the aforementioned theatres have ceased to operate and at present Conneaut is served by the state Theatre and Ohio Theatre both located on State Street between Cleveland Court and Harbor Street.
Today the flickering, silent flickering "Perils of Pauline" would scarcely appeal to the crowds who are being treated to the best talking pictures Hollywood has to offer.