Bexley Plaza in Franklin County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The National Road / The Interurban Electric Railway
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., January 17, 2009
1. The National Road Marker (Side A)
Inscription.
The National Road, also, The Interurban Electric Railway. .
The National Road. To George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and others, a road to the Ohio Country was essential for the United States’ development. An overland route was the way west for settlers and goods, as well as a means to transport settlers’ produce to eastern markets. Construction of the National Road began at Cumberland, Maryland in 1811, reached Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia) in 1818, and entered Columbus at Main Street in 1833. The road turned north on High Street and continued west on Broad Street. Crossing Ohio and Indiana, the road continued into Illinois. The last section of the road from the Indiana border to Vandalia, Illinois opened in 1839. An original milestone at Christ Lutheran Church in Bexley indicates the distance from Cumberland (254) and to other points east (Wheeling, 124; Zanesville, 50) and west (Columbus, 3½),
The Interurban Electric Railway. In the early 1900s, Ohio led the nation in interurban track mileage. The electrically powered interurban was favored over steam railroads for short distance passenger travel and the transport of local freight. Incorporated in 1899, the Columbus, Buckeye Lake, and Newark Traction Railway served Bexley from a terminal on Gay Street in downtown Columbus. Running south on High Street and then east on Mound Street, the line crossed Alum Creek into Bexley, went north up Pleasant Ridge Avenue past Capital University, and continued to the National Road (Main Street). Interurban cars stopped at the northeast corner of Main Street and Remington Road and thence sped on to Buckeye Lake, Newark, and later Zanesville. The popularity of the automobile spelled doom for the interurban. Service on the line ended in 1929.
The National Road
To George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and others, a road to the Ohio Country was essential for the United States’ development. An overland route was the way west for settlers and goods, as well as a means to transport settlers’ produce to eastern markets. Construction of the National Road began at Cumberland, Maryland in 1811, reached Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia) in 1818, and entered Columbus at Main Street in 1833. The road turned north on High Street and continued west on Broad Street. Crossing Ohio and Indiana, the road continued into Illinois. The last section of the road from the Indiana border to Vandalia, Illinois opened in 1839. An original milestone at Christ Lutheran Church in Bexley indicates the distance from Cumberland (254) and to other points east (Wheeling, 124; Zanesville, 50) and west (Columbus, 3½)
The Interurban Electric Railway
In the early 1900s, Ohio led the nation in interurban track mileage. The electrically powered interurban was favored over steam railroads for short distance passenger travel and the transport of local freight. Incorporated in 1899, the Columbus, Buckeye Lake, and Newark Traction Railway served Bexley from a terminal on Gay Street in downtown Columbus. Running south on High Street and then east on
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Mound Street, the line crossed Alum Creek into Bexley, went north up Pleasant Ridge Avenue past Capital University, and continued to the National Road (Main Street). Interurban cars stopped at the northeast corner of Main Street and Remington Road and thence sped on to Buckeye Lake, Newark, and later Zanesville. The popularity of the automobile spelled doom for the interurban. Service on the line ended in 1929.
Erected 2003 by The Bexley Historical Society, City of Bexley, Bexley Public Library, Whitehall-Bexley Rotary Club, Bexley Women's Club, Bexley Area Chamber of Commerce, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 58-25.)
Location. 39° 57.418′ N, 82° 56.025′ W. Marker is in Bexley, Ohio, in Franklin County
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., January 17, 2009
2. The Interurban Electric Railway Marker (Side B)
. It is in Bexley Plaza. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street (U.S. 40) and Cassady Avenue, on the right when traveling east on Main Street. Marker is next to the Bexley Public Library. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2411 E Main Street, Columbus OH 43209, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., January 17, 2009
3. The National Road / The Interurban Electric Railway Marker
Looking west on Main Street, with Bexley Public Library behind marker.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 20, 2009
4. The National Road Mile Marker at Christ Lutheran Church
2314 E. Main Street, Bexley, Ohio.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 20, 2009
5. The National Road Mile Marker at Christ Lutheran Church
2314 E. Main Street, Bexley, Ohio.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 2, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 2,302 times since then and 72 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on February 2, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 4, 5. submitted on October 20, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
