The first passenger train to arrive in Wooster — the end of the line at the time — belonged to the Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroad. It arrived on Aug. 10, 1852, to the sound of booming cannons and the cheering of 15,000-20,000 onlookers.
Before long, a depot was constructed that serviced travelers. It stood for the next 38 years.
“The most recent depot was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1890 — just in time for the Chicago World's Fair three years later,” explained Jon Ulbright in a history he wrote for the 2008 walking tour of Wooster's Little Italy.
“The structure cost $7,000 and became a focal point for commercial and passenger travel. The depot provided a good place to warm up on a cold winter day, with people often stopping in just to warm their hands by the pot-bellied stove.