Galion, Ohio
Galion (On the highway 1914-1920) Population: 11,300

Galion was founded in 1831 at the crossroads of the Portland Road and an east-west army road. The town began as a farm-to-market town but boomed with the railroads and was chosen for the Lincoln Highway because of good existing roads. From 1913 through 1923 the LH ran through Main St., but lost out when the Association chose the northern straighter route through Leesville. (Then-Senator Warren Harding stumped against the re-routing of 70 miles through Galion, Marion and Lima; and this part later was designated as the Harding Highway.)

The Central Hotel on Public Square is now being renovated. Stroll the "Uptowne" to see its recently restored Italianate buildings and unique specialty shops.  Restaurants include a restored soda fountain, cappucino cafe and a supper club which was originally a LH garage.

Notable were buggy and farm machinery and road related manufacturing (remember those yellow GALION graders?) and the invention of the dial tone occurred in Galion.

  • Brownella Cottage, a restored Victorian mansion (1887) of Bishop William M. Brown, turn-of-the-century national political and religious leader, complete with original furnishings. Sundays from June-Oct, Tours: 1:30pm, 2:15 and 3:00pm. One block west and south of Public Square on SR 309. (419) 468-5567
  • Warren Harding's birthplace is just 2 miles from town. 
  • Galion Theatre is a rare restored 1940's neon marquee theater.
  • Public Library, built in 1904 fwith funds from Andrew Carnegie
  • Uptowne walking guide available. 1-(888) 2RRTOWN.
  • The 1900 “Big Four Depot." Thirty two trains once came through Galion on an average day.

 

  • Pop's Sweet Shoppe, 217 Harding Way E, (419) 462-7677

 

 

 

 

Rose of Sherron B&B in Galion.

 

 

 

Galion Roller

Galion Theatre

Brownella Cottage

Big Four Depot

Andrew Carnegie Public Library

Bittersweet Henhouse, 110 Harding Way W. 419-462-0978

Pop's Sweet Shoppe, 217 Harding Way E., Family style &ice cream, (BLD)(LD), 419-462-7677

They told the Presidents "No."

Every state and town wanted on the Lincoln Highway, but the Association was committed to making the route as direct as possible from New York to San Francisco.  When the route was announced to the nation on September 14, 1913, many locations not on the route campaigned hard to change the decision.  Los Angles argued that they should be the western terminus and not San Francisco.  Akron and Cleveland argued that the route should not go through Canton, but their towns instead.  Kentucky where Lincoln was born and Springfield, Illinois where he was raised, sought inclusion on sentimental grounds.  There was bickering in Wyoming that was only to be settled by a formal declaration by Governor Carey.

The communities of Baltimore, Washington D.C., Fredrick and Wilmington pressured their Senators and Representatives to find a way to include them even if it did add 172 miles to the route.  Eventually, President Wilson was recruited, and in June of 1914, he wrote the Lincoln Highway Association requesting such a change.  This request was denied.

Two weeks after the route was announced as running from Mansfield to Lima by way of Marion, the Association made a revision eliminating Marion because a shorter route existed from Mansfield and Galion to Lima.  A committee consisting of Marion citizens traveled to Detroit to meet with the Association to plead  for reconsideration.  The Association said "no" to the group which included then  Senator Warren G. Harding, the man who replaced the President Wilson, who was told "no" to the inclusion of Baltimore and Washington D.C.

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