Groceries and Gas | Historic Pittsburgh

September 12, 1945

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Title
Groceries and Gas
Creator
Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad Company
Date
September 12, 1945
Identifier
8223.7922.RR
Description
View of a local gas station/grocery store and residences along Highway 534 In Harpersfield near the junction with Highway 307. These buildings were located along the projected path of the Lake Erie - Ohio River Canal and Grand River Dam. If the canal had been built, the area would have had to be evacuated due to the dam and resulting lake. The Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad debated construction of the canal, for if built, it would dramatically cut the amount of local business to which railways would have access and profits would suffer. Another issue with the project was the questionable financial benefit, for while the canal was initially projected to have a $200 million price tag in 1935, after 32 years the costs rose to over $5 billion. With the new government focus on financing national security between the 1940s and 1960s, the project remained unauthorized and eventually was abandoned. Further information on the canal can be found in the book "Pittsburgh and Lake Erie R.R." by Harold McLean.
Extent
8 x 10 in.
Type
still image
Genre
photographs
Subject
Service stations
Convenience stores
Dwellings
Roads
Canals--Designs and plans
Geographic Subjects
Harpersfield (Ohio : Township)
Source
Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Company Photographs, 1886-1972
Contributor
University of Pittsburgh
Collection
Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad Company Records
Rights Information
Copyright Not Evaluated. The copyright and related rights status of this Item has not been evaluated. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use.
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