Big Four Depot

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. A historic map-sheet match is not published yet. The record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary.

From the record

“The Big Four Depot of Galion, Ohio was a passenger train station serving the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway, commonly known as the 'Big Four Depot,' and the New York Central Railroad.”
Wikipedia article Galion station (New York Central Railroad), CC BY-SA 4.0.

one of 25 National Register listings in Crawford County · listed in 1975 · category: Building.

Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service

The listing

What is counted as historic. The nomination lists 1 building as contributing to the listing.
Address. SE corner of Church and Washington Sts., Galion, 44833
When was it listed? 1975-07-07
Category. building
Township. Galion City township
Architectural style. Queen Anne style architecture in the United States
National Register reference number. 75001350 - the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.

Specimens collected near this property

12 of 85 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. Museums hold 85 specimens collected within 10 miles of Big Four Depot between 1896 and 1971: 72 Animalia, 7 Plantae, 4 Fungi, 2 Chromista. 12 distinct Species records are shown. Collected by Chase, H. (Hazel), F. L. Stevens, F.L. Stevens and others. Each is a physical object with a catalogue number, and each entry opens the museum's record. This is what was collected and kept, not a survey of what lives here - nothing can be concluded from a species being absent.

Species	Year	Collected by	Where, as recorded
Peronospora sordida Berk. & Broome	1896	F.L. Stevens	Olentangy Valley
Septoria E.M.Fries, 1819	1896	F. L. Stevens	Olentangy Valley; 40.761724 -82.873517
Stereum lobatum (Kunze ex Fr.) Fr.	1897	W.A. Kellerman
Stereum versicolor (Sw.) Fr., 1838	1897	W. A. Kellerman	Galion.
Lythrurus fasciolaris (Gilbert, 1891)	1927	Wickliff, E. L. (Edward L.)	Olentangy River, within Whetstone township, near Martel, Whetstone township
Notropis photogenis (Cope, 1865)	1927	Wickliff, E. L. (Edward L.)	Olentangy River, within Whetstone township, near Martel, Whetstone township
Percina caprodes (Rafinesque, 1818)	1927	Wickliff, E. L. (Edward L.)	Olentangy River, within Whetstone township, near Martel, Whetstone township
Parascalops breweri (Bachman, 1842)	1933	Hope, CE	Crest Line
Hemaris thysbe Fabricius, 1775	1939	not recorded	Galion, Crawford Co., OH
Lethe portlandia (Fabricius, 1781)	1939	Chase, H. (Hazel)	Galion, Crawford Co., OH
Harkenclenus titus (Fabricius, 1793)	1940	not recorded	Galion, Crawford Co., OH
Eacles imperialis Drury, 1773	1941	Chase, H. (Hazel)	Galion, Crawford Co., OH

All 85 specimens within 10 miles, at the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Mines and quarries near this property

2 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 2 workings within 5 miles of Big Four Depot: 2 past producers. None of them still produces. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where	Site	Commodity	Status	Recorded
	Crawford Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer	Sedimentary
	Crawford Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer

Every working recorded in Crawford County

Storms near this property

58 since 1994

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Galion, the town this property stands in, in 58 storm reports between 1994 and 2025: 39 thunderstorm wind, 13 hail, 2 flash flood, 2 flood. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

When	Event	Place named	Harm	What the report says
November 2017	Tornado (EF2)	Galion	$750,000	An EF1 tornado touched down in Galion near the intersection of Orange and Grand Streets. Many trees in the area were snapped or uprooted. The tornado continued east northeast across the city and damaged three homes as it crossed Union Street. Two of the homes lost some facia, siding and roofing but the third had a fallen tree damage a wall. A warehouse on Market Street lost a section of roofing. A second warehouse along Columbus Street also lost some roofing material. A few blocks to the east two homes were damaged on South Washington Street. One of the homes had it's roof detached and the second lost some roofing and siding material. The tornado then intensified to EF2 as it crossed the southern end of Pierce Street. At least four properties on Pierce Street were damaged. Three of the homes were classified as having major damage and had their roofs torn off in addition to having broken windows and lost siding. Two of the properties also had detached garages destroyed. The fourth house had a porch damaged. Significant damage also occurred a block to the east along Riblet Street. An auto repair shop lots it's roof and had three masonry walls collapse. Bricks from the building were found of the roofs of houses nearby. Three other commercial buildings on Riblet Street lost large sections of roofing. One of the three also sustained damage to an exterior wall. Four homes were damaged on the southern end of East Street. One of the homes sustained major damage in the form of a detached roof. The other three houses sustained lesser amounts of roof and siding damage. The tornado continued east for another block and finally lifted as it reached Walnut Street. Many trees, limbs and utility poles were downed along the damage path which was just over a mile in length and up to 200 yards in width. A total of 21 structures were damaged in Galion with one destroyed and five sustaining major damage. There were no injuries.
July 2013	Flood	Galion	$200,000	Seventeen days of consecutive rain brought widespread flooding to Crawford County. The hardest hit towns were Bucyrus and Crestline. In Bucyrus, the Sandusky River came out of its banks resulting flooding of the Harmon Park soccer complex, and surrounding homes on Clinton and Lane Streets. North Sandusky Ave and Water Street were closed. Elsewhere in the county numerous roads were closed and part of Ohio 19 and Brokensword were closed. Most of the county had received between 3.5 and 7 inches of rain over a 48 hour period, with the heaviest rain falling over Crestline. In Galion numerous roads were closed.
July 2013	Flood	Galion	$80,000	Widespread flooding was reported in eastern Crawford County. In Galion, the water inundated Heise Park as the Olentangy River tributaries were overwhelmed. Ohio 309 from North East Street at Chalres Street to Harding Way East was inundated and closed. A house on Olentangy Court was inundated in the first floor. In Bucyrus, it was the Sandusky River that came out of its banks flooding several basements. A vehicle was damaged as the driver entered flooded Knauss Road. North Sandusky Ave, River Street, Temple Road, and Bethel Roads were closed. All of this flooding was the result of 2 to 4 inches of rainfall from the evening of the 8th.
August 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$60,000	Thunderstorm winds destroyed a garage and a small shed along Monnett-New Winchester Road west of Galion in Whetstone Township. A fence and many trees were also downed in the area.
June 2017	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$50,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a few trees and leveled a small shed in Galion. A barn on Millsboro Road just west of the Richland County line was also damaged. A home nearby sustained damage from a fallen tree. Many trees were also reported down along Blooming Grove Road.
August 1994	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$50,000	Trees were downed, some on power lines. At least one house and two cars were also damaged from falling trees.
May 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$35,000	Numerous trees were reported down across the southern half of the City of Galion. One tree was reported to have fallen onto a house causing major damage.
May 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$25,000	A large tree limb fell and crushed a van. A garage was also damaged.
June 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$25,000	Damaging winds originating from a supercell thunderstorm downed four 8-foot sections of fence. Several large trees and numerous large tree branches were downed.
September 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$25,000	Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 mph downed many trees.
June 2019	Tornado (EF0)	Galion	$20,000	An EF-0 tornado touched down on North Columbus Street. The tornado lifted and touched down again two more time on Harding Way East and on 2nd Street. The tornado path was a little over a mile long. There was minor damage to outbuildings and tree tops snapped.
June 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$20,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a dozen trees.
July 1999	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$20,000	A large tree fell on a van in the city of Galion and completely destroyed it.
May 1996	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$20,000	no account filed
July 2003	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$15,000	Thunderstorm winds downed several trees.
June 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$10,000	A detached garage was blown down.
July 2003	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$6,000	Thunderstorm winds downed several large limbs.
June 2017	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$5,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a tree. The landed on a parked vehicle causing some damage.
June 2017	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$5,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a couple of large tree limbs. The limbs took out some power lines resulting in some power outages.
June 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$5,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a few trees.
August 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$5,000	A few large limbs were reported down throughout town. At the airport a large billboard sign was badly damaged.
June 2003	Hail	Galion	$5,000	Quarter size hail was observed.
April 2002	Hail	Galion	$5,000	Dime size hail was reported.
August 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$5,000	Thunderstorm winds downed four large trees.
May 1994	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$5,000	Trees were downed, some on power lines.
June 1994	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$5,000	Large limbs downed, some on roads and power lines.
July 2003	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$4,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a few large tree limbs.
August 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$3,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a large tree limb west of Galion and a tree in Crestline.
August 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$2,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a few large tree limbs.
August 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$2,000	Thunderstorm winds downed several large tree limbs.
August 2003	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$2,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a few large tree limbs.
June 2017	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$1,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a tree just south of Galion.
March 2017	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$1,000	Thunderstorm winds downed some large tree limbs.
September 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$1,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a tree.
August 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$1,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a tree east of Galion.
June 2014	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$1,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a large tree limb.
June 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$1,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a couple large tree limbs.
November 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	$1,000	A few large limbs were reported down.
June 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	-	Large tree limbs snapped about one-mile south of Galion.
August 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	-	Couple of trees downed about three-miles WNW of Galion.
June 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	-	Several large trees were blown down.
June 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	-	Several large trees were blown down across the county.
June 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	-	Several large trees were blown down.
June 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	-	A large tree was blown down on North East Street and Murray Street.
September 2017	Hail	Galion	-	Quarter sized hail was observed.
May 2014	Hail	Galion	-	Penny to quarter sized hail was observed.
November 2011	Hail	Galion	-	Nickel sized hail was observed.
February 2011	Flash Flood	Galion	-	Heavy rain and rapid snow melt led to a rapid rise in the Sandusky River at Bucyrus, which reached a 100 year crest of 10.86 feet. The only official rainfall observation was in Galion where 2.38 was reported. Six to ten inches of heavy snow was on the ground at the onset of the rain. This snow rapidly melted as temperatures warmed into the 50s on the 28th. Up to an additional inch of water equivalent rainfall was released from the melted snow. Several people had be rescued from homes and vehicles as the water came up. About 30 homes in Bucyrus were flooded as the Sandusky River came out of banks. Countyline Road was one of the most affected areas where at least a dozen homes were damaged. Several dozen new cars were destroyed as flood waters inundated a car dealership. Several homes flooded as well in Galion.
January 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Galion	-	A trained spotter estimated wind gusts during a thunderstorm to be around 65 mph. No damage was noted from the wind gusts.
June 2005	Hail	Galion	-	Penny size hail was observed.
April 2004	Hail	Galion	-	Nickel size hail was observed.
May 2004	Hail	Galion	-	Penny size hail was observed.
June 2004	Hail	Galion	-	Penny size hail was observed.
June 2004	Hail	Galion	-	Penny size hail was observed.
August 1998	Hail	Galion	-	Large hail was reported near Galion. Some crops were damaged.
October 1999	Hail	Galion	-	no account filed
May 1997	Hail	Galion	-	no account filed
March 1996	Flash Flood	Galion	-	no account filed

Every storm recorded in Crawford County

Map coverage status

No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.

From the nomination file

2,875 words on record

When this property was proposed for the National Register, someone wrote the case for it: what the building is, and why it matters. That document is a federal record in the public domain. It is quoted below word for word, never summarised. The text was read off the scanned case file by machine, so the occasional stray character is the recogniser's and the 1970s typewriter's.

Description of the property

siding, the second band is shiplap, the third is shingle, and the fourth were partitioned, and curved glass block entries were added to provide a Apparently, the third floor was partitioned during or soon after original baggage and mail roon has a doorway in each of its three exposed walls. JUN 1 7 CONDITION chimney. Ruins A small central basement houses a boiler from which rises an interior crossed by a gable roof and is penetrated by three triangular dormers and ceramic tile restroom floors and the vinyl asbestos tile lobby floor. The remodeled in 1948,at which time the ceiling was lowered, new restrooms Window and doorway arches are of smooth-faced sandstone.
The second story The northeast wing of the building is one-and-a-half stories, the first of southeast side leads to the office area behind the ticket windows and to A 15 foot wide canopy adjoins the building along the track side and extends This two-and-a-half story building covers about 5ooo square feet at the construction, but was used only for storage. The walls, ceilings, and NATIONAL The passenger lobby isentered through double doors from either the pair of interior doors at each entrance.A single door entrance on the in about 1920. Section was destroyed by a freight train wreck in 1947.The canopy is supported bya single line of 17 round cast iron columns.
(Check One) - Moved are supported by brackets, as are various places around the building where a bout 200 teet beyond the building to the southwest as well, but this southeast, that is track side, or from the motthwest side. The lobby was the stairway to the second floor.

Read the complete 2,875-word case file.

Statement of significance

commonly called the Big Four. The three divisions were Galion, Springfield, and Indianapolis. The Galion building housed the engineering corps, the The Erie-Lackawanna Railroad also had a passenger station in Galion, and larger, more elaborate, and possibly more decorated than most small town the quarries near Amherst, Ohio, which supplied stone for many Big Four bridges. Commerce losophy Engineering Conservation SIGNIFICANCE Aboriginal Architecture Literature Communications Theater Agriculture Pre-Columbian Landscape itarian Music Political about 1969. Social/Human about 1964,several years before passenger service was discontinued.The Roosevelt in 1932,and Eisenhower and Nixon in 1952.
Industry turn of the century.The stonemasonry was done by Homer Longstreth, the headquarters was moved from Galion to Bellefontaine, Ohio.The ticket All trains stopped in Galion to change crews, including the New York to office remained until it was moved to a building in the Galion yards in division superintendent, the trainmaster, and the clerks and stenographers. Invention Urban Planning Architecturally, the depot is a hybrid of many stylistic elements, possibly train platforms at the Galion station were Al Smith in 1928,Franklin D. best labeled Queen Anne.As a division headquarters, the building was In Dec., 1900,the station was dedicated and became division head- St.
Louis trains, for which Galion was the only stop between Cleveland and In 1929,the New York Central acquired the Big Four and the division Religion/Phi. quarters for the Cleveland, Chicago, Cincinnati, and St. Louis Railroad, were also handled through the Big Four Depot. when 2i men were employed there. Military Since Galion was a stop for all trains, it became a "whistle stop" for Other World War I, when 32 trains a day stopped, including mail trains, Railway father of the present mayor of Galion.

Read the complete 2,875-word case file.

The whole case file for this property - 2,875 words, 18 pages, reproduced complete.

Quoted from the National Register nomination for reference 75001350, 18 pages, held by the National Archives in Record Group 79. See the catalogue record.

Listed places nearby

6 within 8 miles

Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.

Property	Distance	Listed
Central Hotel, Hackedorn and Zimmerman Building	0.3 miles	1976
Brownella Cottage and Grace Episcopal Church and Rectory	0.4 miles	1980
Howard, Adam, House	0.5 miles	1978
Hosford House	1.9 miles	1976
Crestline City Hall	3.8 miles	1974
J & M Trading Post	4.2 miles	1979

Sources for this property

National Archives record	The nomination case file for reference 75001350 in Record Group 79.
Wikipedia article	Community-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA.
Crawford County	All 25 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
Specimens. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), https://www.gbif.org/. Only records licensed CC0 or CC BY are used. Records licensed CC BY-NC are excluded because this site carries advertising. Images are checked individually and any whose licence is non-commercial, no-derivatives or unreadable is refused.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.