Before the invention of the automobile, rail was a popular way for people to travel over long distances. The rails finally came through Mentor in the 1850s. By late 1852, a steam locomotive with cars could travel from Cleveland to the Pennsylvania line. The Mentor depot was located just east of Center Street. As rail travel became more available and more affordable, improvements were made to accommodate the growing industry. The passenger depot was opened in 1890 by the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, replacing an older depot on the same line which was sometimes frequented by President James A. Garfield.
A grim bit of Mentor history accompanies this site. The 20th Century Limited advertised as “The Most Famous Train in the World” catered to upper-class and business travelers. But even more appealing than luxury offered by the express passenger train, was the remarkable speed at which it traveled. The trip between New York City and Chicago was accomplished in just 18 hours. On June 21,1905, just before 9:30 PM a 20th Century Limited train was eastbound approaching the Mentor depot at approximately 70 mph when it hit an open switch. Jumping the track, it plowed a furrow 300 feet long and crashed into the freight depot located on the opposite side of the tracks. The crash destroyed the freight depot and caused the deaths of 19 passengers on the train. The brick freight house which stands today was built in 1909 to replace the structure destroyed in the crash.
The station was acquired by the New York Central Railroad after merging with the LS&MS in 1914. Passenger service to Mentor ended in summer 1948. A variety of restaurants have operated in the space over since then.
The Mentor Train Depot building is located at 8455 Station St, Mentor, OH 44060.
Learn about other waypoints on the Mentor History Trail.