The era of plank roads in Ohio came to a close toward the end of the nineteenth century. They were often replaced by macadamized roads, an early precursor to asphalt roads. By 1899, the plank road between Cleveland and Warrensville had so deteriorated and was in such dangerous condition that it generated both angry letters to newspapers and lawsuits. On January 19, 1899, residents of Warrensville petitioned Cuyahoga County to macadamize their "famed thoroughfare."
Image courtesy of Cleveland State University Library, Special Collections.Download Original File
