Electrifying Avon Lake

Intro.

Electricity transformed life in Avon Lake, from the hum of the Lake Shore Electric Railway carrying passengers along the lakeshore to the glow of Beach Park's dance pavilion and power station, to the moment when families first flipped a light switch at home.

The Avon Lake Historical Society is gathering community memories, photos, questions, and artifacts to build a living history that's bigger than any single book or article. Your voice is an essential part of the story. Please join the conversation!

Inspo.

Need inspiration before adding your part? Here are some questions to spark ideas:

Did your family ride the Lake Shore Electric or visit Beach Park?
When did your house or farm first get electricity? How did it change daily life?
Do you have photos, postcards, or souvenirs from Beach Park, the interurban, or early electrification?
What questions do you have about the history that others in our community might be able to help answer?
Can you point to spots on the map where stations, power plants, or tracks once stood?

Input.

Help us capture the memories, photos, and questions that bring Avon Lake's electrification history to life.

Your stories, memories, and questions bring the past to life for future generations.

Don't just read history -- help write it!