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Rare 1870 map showing the route and proposed routes of the Cleveland, Mt. Vernon, and Delaware Railroad between Hudson Ohio and Columbus and Delaware, Ohio.

This map delineates the completed and proposed lines and connections of the Cleveland, Mt. Vernon, and Delaware Railroad, spanning from Hudson near Cleveland to Columbus, via Millersburg, Mount Vernon. The representation on the map includes key Ohio cities and connections extending towards Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, and Louisville, tracing the network that fostered regional commerce and travel during the mid-19th century.

The Cleveland, Mt. Vernon, and Delaware Railroad, originally chartered as part of a complex network of lines that would eventually integrate into the Pennsylvania Railroad system, was pivotal in linking Cleveland with southern Ohio locales. The Cleveland and Pittsburgh (C&P) Railroad was granted the original charter of the Cleveland, Mt. Vernon & Delaware in 1851 to construct the line extending from Cleveland through Hudson, Cuyahoga Falls, and Akron, to connect with a route between Massillon and Wooster. By 1852, this line was organized under the C&P's Akron branch, later becoming known as the Cleveland, Zanesville & Cincinnati (CZ&C).

Despite entering receivership in 1861, the CZ&C was transferred to the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne & Chicago Railway, subsequently coming under control of the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1869. That same year marked the sale of the CZ&C to the Pittsburgh, Mt. Vernon, Columbus & London Railroad, which established the rebranded Cleveland, Mt. Vernon & Delaware Railroad Co. This new entity completed its primary route from Hudson to Columbus using the existing C&P tracks by 1869. 

The map features a straightforward, functional design typical of railroad maps from this era, highlighting routes with minimal stylistic flourishes to prioritize clarity and utility. The detailed network of rail connections provides an essential visual guide for understanding the regional transportation infrastructure at the time. 

This map serves as a historical document, reflecting a transformative period in Ohio's rail transportation history. It showcases the development of rail networks that were crucial for the state's economic expansion and industrialization. Additionally, the map traces the evolution and consolidation of these rail lines into what became part of the Pennsylvania Railroad, a major player in the American railroad industry. 

Rarity

OCLC locates 1 example (Ohio History Connection).