Architectural History Resources in Archives and Special Collections

Once known as the "Rubber Capital of the World," Akron now hails as the "City of Invention." As the fifth-largest city in Ohio, it has grown from an industrial center to a hub of culture and science. During this change, Akron's downtown went from a vibrant retail district to being somewhat empty; however, the city was reborn with a baseball stadium for the Akron RubberDucks (the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians), new restaurants, concert venues, and in its role as a host for national events such as the 2014 Gay Games. As recently as 20 years ago, rubber workers made up a large part of Akron's population, but the number of people employed in the rubber industry dropped by half between 2000 and 2007. In 2001, Akron was named among the country's 10 high-tech havens by Newsweek, and it is now considered the center of "Polymer Valley."

The history of Akron begins with the building of the great Ohio and Erie Canal. The financial incentives offered to workers building the canal brought men from all over to build the great "ditch," and as they and their families settled in Akron, they also began to build magnificent churches and cathedrals that became the heart of their communities. With roots stretching back to the early 1800s, many of the churches that stand today are more than a century old and in many instances are the second or third church to be built by their congregations. Each successive church more grand than the last, these edifices were literally built with the pennies, nickels, and dimes of their members, who built structures that reflected the prevailing architectural styles of the day. Many of the churches have been lost to time, but many of these architectural treasures remain and continue to stand as testament to the overwhelming desire of the faithful to build churches that reflect the glory of God.

From a prehistoric locale like the Big Falls of the Cuyahoga River to the cavernous 1970s majesty of the Coliseum, explore the places that have melted away in Akron's changing landscape. Remember M. O'Neil Company? Akron Times-Press? The North Hill Viaduct? WAKR-TV? Norka Soda? Rolling Acres Mall? These are icons that all defined the city and its people. For those who live in Akron, for those who have moved away and for those too young to remember the Rubber City's heyday, author Mark J. Price takes a fascinating look at fifty vanished landmarks from Akron's past.