About Us
Our History
In October 2005, after seeing a picture of the Lodi depot on the eBay web site, the “Save the Depot” committee was formed to try to save the depot from demolition. The Committee submitted a photo and a story to the Trading Post, a local newspaper, looking for other enthusiasts to get involved to save the depot. We soon had the core group for our museum officers. On December 20, 2005, we met at a local restaurant to have our first meeting. We contacted the Orrville Railroad Heritage Society (ORHS) for information and guidance. In 2006, the ORHS helped us forge a relationship with the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway (W&LE) so we could begin negotiations. In 2007, we received permission from the W&LE to start the groundwork to make the depot ours. It was then that the Save the Depot committee was renamed “Lodi Railroad Museum”. From this beginning, we grew from just saving the depot, to becoming a museum to save and collect information and history pertaining to the railroad’s effect on the Village of Lodi and surrounding Harrisville Township. We received the deed to the depot on December 21, 2008.
We
are now a 501(c)3 non profit, educational and historical organization.
To call us just a railroad museum would not be totally accurate as we
chose to broaden our scope to include Lodi’s history. We include the
modern W&LE and its predecessors: the original W&LE, the Nickel Plate,
the Norfolk and Western, and the Norfolk Southern railroads. We also
include the Baltimore and Ohio, Chessie System, and the CSX railroads
which still run through Lodi. The Cleveland & Southwestern electric
interurban system also served the Village in the early 20th century. The
farther we go in our historical research, the more fascinating it is see
how the Village’s and the railroad’s histories intertwine.
Operation Lifesaver
Operation Lifesaver is a public service education program dedicated to preventing and reducing fatalities and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and along railroad rights-of-way. We have certified Operation Lifesaver Presenters available to educate the public on highway-rail grade crossing safety and provide vital information about the dangers encountered when people trespass on railroad property. Our free safety presentations include a talk with colorful visuals and informative videos are available to any group, business, organization and schools. Please contact us for more information.
Our Mission
- To preserve and secure the Lodi Depot, located at the corner of Broadway and Railroad Streets.
- To faithfully restore the Depot to its historically correct condition.
- To educate the community and general public of the Depot and railroad’s effects on the local area and the Village of Lodi.
- To accurately portray the history of Lodi and Harrisville Township.
- To work with other railroad museums or historical museums to preserve the past.
- To join educational groups, such as Operation Lifesaver, Ohio Rail Tourism Association, and other railroad related organizations.
- Actively pursue artifacts, signals, structures, work equipment, rolling stock or locomotives.
- To pursue, by purchase or lease, vacant land between: the railroad and Railroad Street and across Railroad Street from the Depot.
- To be of help and or assistance to any need of the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway Company.
- To pursue an agreement with railroad passenger excursion groups for a chance to work towards our own or joint trips.
- To raise the funds to restore and maintain all that we acquire.
