May 28, 1999
Railroad an important part of Bascom history
By Malinda Ruble
Staff Writer
BASCOM &emdash; In 1898, something exciting and different came to the little town of Bascom &emdash; the Tiffin, Fostoria and Eastern Electric Railway.
According to the Advertiser, in May 1890, the bids for the construction of a powerhouse were awarded with work expected to begin by late May. The service was designed to haul passengers, baggage and freight, including mail. The fact that mail could be hauled was a big plus for the Bascom community because it gave residents a chance to have daily mail.
By May 1893, the electric railway offered a trial trip on the new line. Citizens packed the cars for free rides, according to the Advertiser.
"The cars ... models of beauty and convenience ... and the line was found to be in excellent condition. The line runs south on Melmore Street, through the finest residence portion of our city and then turns east and leads to Greenlawn cemetery across the Stanley and Coe farms ...,'' stated the article.
By August 1898, a number of invited guests made the first trip over the completed line between Fostoria and Tiffin.
On the return trip, the travelers stopped at the power house and viewed the boilers and engines used to power the railway. The engines had 225 horse power and eight-foot fly wheels, weighing two tons, according to an article.
"A monster smokestack, to be raised to its place Tuesday, was inspected as it lay in the yard. It is 112-feet long and five feet in diameter. Several adventurous spirits of the party walked through the colossal tube and back again,'' the newspaper reported.
Samuel Sneath, who built the line and power house, later established a park on the property. For years, the rail service was widely used, but by 1918, the railway had ceased. James Garfield Haugh took over the property and Meadowbrook Park for the benefit of the community.