Volume 2 The Journal of The Cincinnati Historical Society PIumber 2 Fall 2002 If.' MS- 1 41 Editors Editorial Committee Cincinnati Museum Center Wayne K. Durrill Compton A[lyn 1)ouglass W. Mcl)(mald Christ(,pher Phillips Cincinnati Histfiry president cind CEO Deprirtilient of History Advisory Bckard John E. Fleming Univer\it· v of Cincinnal i Stephen Aron Vice President 0/Museums Umversity of California at Los Angeles Valerie Newell Managing Editor C]1tir Andrew R. L. Cayton Board of Trustees Ruby llc)gers Miami liniversity Cinciniltiti Milseum Tiinothy E. Holierg R. David Edinunds Center Chclir University of Texas at Cincinnati History D,illas Advisory Bom·d Editorial Assistant R. Douglas Hurt Iowa State University Kelly Wright Bruce Levine Depurtment of History University of California UniverNity of Cincinlicitj fil Santa Cruz Zane L. Miller Design and University of Cincinnati Production Elizabeth A. 1trkins Centre College Eberhard +Eherhard Desj,vi und Typesetti:ig Steven ].Ross University of Southern Edge Graphics California Printing Harry N. Scheiber University of Cciliforniti at Berkeley Joe W.Trotter, Jr. Carnegie Mellon University Altina Waller University of Connectic:ul Ohir) Vi:lle\,6/istriry, r)hic; Valle\,History ls, 1 Fc))nic,ri·ink,rination on formerly Queen City Heritage. ct)llahorative pikilect of Cincinnitti Museum Center, LISSN 746-34721 is published by incinn.iti MliSCUm Cenlel at go ti) (,iii web page t. Cincinn.iti Museum Center, hisiciric Union Terminal and www. cincymuseum.org. bout the Cincinnati, Ohic)45201-I129. ilic I)cpartment of Ilisti,ry, Tc, ci)111.ict us , University tif Cincinnati iournal, c-mail us at Postmaver send address Cincinn. Center ti Museum is ovh@cincy,nuseum.org. changes to membership office, priv.itc non-pr(,fit organiza- Cincinnati Miiscum Center, Litin supported almost entirely ©Cincinn:iii Museum 1 EOI Western Avenue, lby gifts, grants, spi)1154rships, Center 1002. Cincinn:111, C)hil) 45103-II29. admission and membership fees. Editoriel ffices() located at Cincinnati,hit) () 43221-0375. For membership information call C I 3-287-7000 or 1-800-7:1 2077. Cincinnati Union Terminal 1933 -2003 15-6 1,4-1 . 7 Aciglud-1 UNION1111*1[u:I-·, fittll:*141'· tffs'' ; 1:'1/,(. 0:·\'I.likt:(:li-Sl.* L] I *£*11;f,1' 1.?11,1-62<4ik'· ' A'.'01#1131 1 1, r.\'.'.(,A 11(11':AY 4 G. 1, 1; t.(,DI: 1- 1. 1:1; 11(,(,i.< 4 Vi.trD 6{: (,1: 4: 13-1:131'001;1-1. v,i, ift i ' {,f'.lk..' . X mi;,rs,11 , 1 1, c.f)1-,51 Cj (, »,Ar,T; 1, 9 *, 4 .... - 1.11 1:1. 141,1 1.5 · '- Divinrilti mal:/·1!U/·PI" 1111 Atja·,tr Fri f E-1. 'm J.11 A A(!IT/4&.*i I.,4r:,9 SM.fpr'ir.74,1,- ru 8/-:-f>'..S!''11'ity,S»32:7*1 1 yaf.-it.,,0.CO.WC.-55 4LU- Planning, Construction and Opening Cincinnati from five stations scattered around the city. The seven companies then signed an agree- opened Cincinnati Union Terminal officially merit in I927 to construct one terminal to serve all on March 3 I, I933, with a crowd estimated at their railroads: Baltimore Ohio& Railroad, 50,000 attending the dedication ceremony. The last Louisville Nashville& Railroad, Cincinnati great railroad station built in the United States, Southern Railway Company,New York Central Union Terminal is an Art Deco masterpiece. Railroad, Chesapeake Ohio& Railroad, Norfolk & Western Railroad and the Pennsylvania Railroad. In 1[926 George Dent Crabbs completed negoti ations with the seven railroad companies that served Fall 2002 Cincinnati Union Terminal 1933 2003- 3 1 11 t.11, 11, 1, 1 1" 4/5*'T»%-*44{ 5.3=2 1 1 1- 7 UNION TERMANAL STATION 17 CINCINNATI. OHIO H. M. Waite.Chief Enginw Alfred Feliheimer-Steward Wagner, AT'„ Jame,Stewart &C„.Ir. C. I64 Al 1-· 0 3\ u. Crabbs chose the York architectural firm New Terminal on March 19, I 933, twelve days before the of Fellheimer and Wagner to design the building but official dedication because flood waters once again French architect Paul Cret provided the Art Deco closed four of the five existing train stations. The elements that made Union Terminal such a signa- original construction schedule called for the ture building. Construction began in August I 929 Terminal to open in December 1933 but the project and the cornerstone was laid on November 20, I 93 I, was completed nine months ahead of schedule. in an elaborate ceremony. Trains began using Union 4 Ohio Valley History 7. L, 19 T. t€ 4 S 1 1111 4. 6 TERMINALPRESENCECOMPANY CINCINNATIREQUESTSUNIONYOUR THE OF CEREMONIES CORNERSTONE-LAYINGSTATION TERMINALCLOCK ATTHE FOUR O' THE UNIONAT TWENTIETH NOVEMBER THE HUNDREDANDTHIRTY-ONE THOUSANDNINE iNVITATfON ONE PLEASE PRESENTTHISTHE GRANQSTAND FORAOMISS,ON TO FREEMANAND AVEKENNERST BETWEENWESTHopx,OFNSST. Fall 2002 Cincinnati Union Terminal I 933 -2003 5 1 i US St . German-born artist Winold Reiss designed the mosaics that lined the rotunda and the concourse. The two large murals in the rotunda illustrate the history of transportation, westward expansion and the growth of Cincinnati. The concourse contained fourteen murals highlighting workers in significant Cincinnati industries and companies, including Procter Gamble,& Baldwin Piano Co.,Kahn's Meat Packing, Crcisley Broadcasting, and Rookwood Pottery. The end wall of the concourse contained a map of the United States with views of the conti nents on each side. 6 ft· 21 1 Fall 2002 Cincinnati Union Terminal I 933 2003- 1 Slt, Union Terminal is monumental The huge project involved over two thousand a structure. workers constructing twenty-two buildings on 287 The rotunda dome spans I 80 feet and reaches a height of feet. The feet acres. It included the Western Hills Viaduct, cooling I06 train concourse was 450 long with eight platforms that extended station, machine shop, power plant, roundhouse and station feet. a car service building. Some facts and figures: 1,600 The station could accommodate 6 trainS 300 separate contracts negotiated 2 I daily. first of the 94 miles of track laid During its year operation, station of trains each day. Amenities in 5,663,065 cubic yards of fill material saw an average Iso the terminal included newsstand, toyshop, 8,250,000 bricks new a barbershop and elegant lounges for Total cost $4 I,000,000 -almost entirely from tearoom, men and private funds through the sale of bonds (In 200 I dol- women. lars, the construction figure would be $5 I 2,I 19,484.) 8 Ohio Valley History Fulli 1 1 41. 1@ I Pierre Bourdelle painted murals for the dining rooms and lounges and created the jungle scenes carved from linoleum panels still seen in the women's restroom next to the dining room. 5 f 624 1 rn=.-+A. Maxfield Keck designed the large figures the two on 1 .& building facade representing transportation and 1 S 19* 37 industry . Fall 2002 Cincinnati Union Terminal I 933 -2003 9 1 U The great flood of 1[937 crested at 79. 9 feet on January 26. Although the rotunda of Union Terminal was above the floodwaters, only two rail- road companies-ChesapeakeOhio & and Cincinnati Southern Railway-were able to continue their service during the devastating flood. I 0 Ohio Valley History 1' 4 T 111 m Il lili" ,351:@S 1 11 1 N 11 1 4 1 r j "0i 1/tr[ 1111* L 4-£,.:. s4 111.:p-,tatj,4 3«; 1 21 Fall 2002 Cincinnati Union Terminal I933 -2003 II USO m. 0. The War Years Cincinnati's many factories counted on rail- roads to move their products. During the war During World War II, Cincinnati Union Cincinnati plants and warehouses unloaded and loaded of 28, railroad each Terminal was the center of rail activity for the an average 300 cars month. The Union Terminal used to region. By I944, Union Terminal averaged 34,000 war years saw capacity,the only such time in its history. passengers daily. Armed forces personnel and civil- ians coping with gasoline rationing packed the build- ing. The USO took over the Rookwood Tea Room for the duration of the war. 11 Ohio Valley History l 94 WELCOME HOME r I4 Ohio Valley History r 4 2 ---4MI 116§/ 1945 -1972 United States. In I 95 3, fifty-one trains arrived at Union Terminal daily. By 1962, passenger train traf- fic Union Terminal had shrunk only With postwar prosperity and the return of civil- at to twenty- Seeking solution the ian industry, Americans renewed their love affair four trains a day. a to enor- with the automobile. The construction of the inter- mous operathig costs, Cincinnati Union Terminal Company offered lease the building the City of state highway system and the growth of passenger to to Cincinnati for $ The City could then uti- airline service in the 19 fos and 19608 dealt an 1 a year. lize the building for other almost fatal blow to passenger rail service in the purposes. Fall 2002 Cincinnati Union Terminal I 933 -2003 I 5 139 11=11[ 0,=--*.0 ON: 0 AS{ 4-00 01 1 0 ENTRANCE ROTUNDA A CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY A. M KINNEY ASSOCIATES · ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS · CINCINNATI. OHIO 45203 INCINNATI,243·2223 OHI UNIONTERMINAL.513- OPENING ANNOUNCINGOF THETHE CENTER LIBRARY SCIENCE be 1969.librarywill JanuaryCenter'6,s new and adults ThestartingSciencechildren. students, open to olds to thechallenge,gentleman Everyone from 3-mayyear-discoveravailable.the the 2,000 vour rightperiodicalsscience among are to onvolumesand beautyand ofonly. materials research fun' reference All browsing, the and for Shop, library is designedthe library itself. Thebe used within Discovery Located opposite the from 10:00 to 4:and30 onfrom will30beonopenSunday.andSaturdays, libraryTuesdays,1:00 to 4:Thursdays, In June I963, the Cincinnati Planning From I968 to I970, the Cincinnati Science Commission received a report that included eight Museum operated in Union Terminal.