The Village of Harrod, Ohio owes its very existence to the railroad. It brought people, merchants, livestock and supplies to the fledgling community. It also provided an outlet for the products that newly formed businesses in the village produced. The Chicago and Atlantic Railroad Company built the Railroad Depot and laid the track inn 1882. The first train rolled through "Harrods", as it was then called, May 1st, 1883. Progress brought the railroad to Harrod and progress took it away just short of 100 years later. It was a sad day for the when the Depot was torn down in 1972. An era had passed and the community knew it. The railroad ceased operations 1976. The final blow was realized when the tracks were removed in 1982. We have entered into a new era. There is a certain irony in the fact that it was conceived from the very same rails that brought the first breath of life to "Harrods" so many years earlier.
A major endeavor was undertaken by the Historical Society. A decommissioned caboose from Conrail was requested to be given to the town for restoration. The request was honored and word spread that Harrod would receive a caboose to display in the center of their town! One by one the people came. Some were just curious and moved on and some stayed, just as they had 100 years earlier. The ones that stayed worked hard. More people came and more stayed contributing to the community in one way of another also. The Railroad Park in Harrod has inspired a dormant pride and from that pride Harrod, Ohio is growing once again!
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