The Ashtabula Train Disaster Of 1876 Was An Ohio Tragedy That Will Never Be Forgotten
By April Dray|Published January 27, 2020
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April Dray
Author
April is the Ohio staff writer for Only in Your State. She is an Ohio native with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. With more than 10 years of writing experience and a background in news reporting for Ohio newspapers, she's published pieces in multiple print and online publications. When she's not on deadline or chasing after her toddler, she's hunting for hidden gems in Ohio or getting lost in a good book.
Have you ever heard of the Ashtabula Train (or Bridge) Disaster of 1876? What about “The Ashtabula Horror”? Few people know that one of Ohio’s most charming small towns was once the victim of a truly dark tragedy. A faulty bridge design resulted in death, injury and great loss during the Ashtabula Train Disaster of 1876. Today, the town pays homage to the fallen victims and their families in several different ways, never forgetting the dark night that altered the course of its history.
A charming town known for its abundance of covered bridges and gorgeous foliage in the fall, it's hard to believe a dark tragedy happened in Ashtabula, once upon a time.
If you've ever been interested in taking the Ashtabula County Covered Bridge Tour, check out our previous article here to get you started.
Also known as the "The Ashtabula Horror," the Ashtabula Train Disaster occurred on December 29, 1876 at about 7:30 p.m. It changed the legacy of the town forever.
It's conserved to be the worst rail accident in the U.S. in the 19th-century—up until the Great Train Wreck of 1918.
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Two locomotives hauling 11 railcars were derailed when the bridge crossing the Ashtabula River collapsed, plunging 159 passengers into snow and ice in the river below.
Several accounts cite faulty design and construction of the bridge as the cause of the accident. Designer and engineer Charles Collins is also buried at the cemetery. It's unclear whether he died weeks later by suicide or homicide.
The monument in the cemetery stands in honor of the bodies that weren't identified, which are buried at its feet. It's the tallest gravestone in Ashtabula.
The Ashtabula County Medical Center was also built shortly after in an effort to lessen the casualty count of any future accidents. You'll even find an audio memorial about the train wreck in a small garden near the entrance to the Medical Center.
Today, the town of Ashtabula looks to the future with promise, but the accident will never be forgotten.
