Hartwell, Ohio History: Route 78 & Streetcars

The History of Route 78 and the Cincinnati and Hamilton Streetcar Hartwell Station

Historic photo of Hartwell Junction, at Anthony Wayne and Woodbine Avenues in Hartwell, looking southwest along Anthony Wayne. Streetcar route 78 to Lockland is on the left, while the Cincinnati & Hamilton goes up Woodbine on the right. By the time of this picture the Cincinnati & Hamilton at this location had been taken over by the Cincinnati Street Railway. From the University of Cincinnati Library Digital Resource Commons, Street Construction and Improvements collection.

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See many of the historical sites, buildings and homes with our Hartwell History Google Map! You can download the Hartwell History Google Map to your computer or smart phone with this link. Once you've opened it in Google Maps, you can find it again by clicking the 3 lines in the upper left corner near the search bar, then select "Your Places" and click to "Maps".

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Route 78

Electric trolley tracks were extended into Hartwell in 1898. Charles Kilgour financed the building of a new bridge over the Mill Creek at Wayne, and "Route 78" was born, going through Hartwell to Lockland. A powerhouse with a car barn was erected on what is now DeCamp Avenue in 1901. That square brick building still stands today behind Metropolitan Harvest Church of God. In 1932, the tracks that ran from the powerhouse into Wyoming were paved over. Tracks for Route 78 to Lockland via Wayne lasted until 1951. "Route 78" is still alive today thanks to the Metro bus service.

Recent view of Hartwell Junction, at Anthony Wayne and Woodbine Avenues in Hartwell, looking north. Streetcar route 78 to Lockland continued to the right along Anthony Wayne, while the Cincinnati & Hamilton interurban branched off to the left on Woodbine Avenue. Cross County Highway has since severed Woodbine.

Historic photo of streetcar tracks on Anthony Wayne Avenue in Hartwell, looking northeast after repaving. From the University of Cincinnati Library Digital Resource Commons, Street Construction and Improvements collection.

Historic photo of Cincinnati & Hamilton interurban tracks on Woodbine Avenue in Hartwell, looking north from Anthony Wayne Avenue.

Historic photo of Cincinnati & Hamilton interurban tracks on Woodbine Avenue in Hartwell, looking southeast along Woodbine from near DeCamp. This is the point where the tracks turned onto a short private right-of-way to go DeCamp Avenue. From the University of Cincinnati Library Digital Resource Commons, Street Construction and Improvements collection.

Historic photo of Cincinnati & Hamilton interurban tracks on Woodbine Avenue in Hartwell, looking southeast along Woodbine from near DeCamp. This is the point where the tracks turned onto a short private right-of-way to go DeCamp Avenue. From the University of Cincinnati Library Digital Resource Commons, Street Construction and Improvements collection.

Historic photo of the Cincinnati & Hamilton Hartwell car house and clubroom on DeCamp Avenue, looking north. The power house is in the background. Photo from Phil Lind

Historic photo of the Cincinnati & Hamilton Hartwell car house and power house on DeCamp Avenue, looking southeast from the CH&D embankment. The trestle is for loading coal from the CH&D Railroad out of the picture to the right. Several city cars are in storage behind the trestle. Photo from Phil Lind.

Cincinnati & Hamilton Hartwell power house, looking north from DeCamp Avenue in Hartwell. You can see the base of the smoke stack at the top of the building.This building was demolished in September 2009.

* Photos and descriptions borrowed from The Cincinnati Traction History website.