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If one studies American history and industrial development of the late 1800s and early 1900s, one will probably encounter stories of the railroad barons. One may have heard of Jay Gould (and son George Jay Gould), James Fisk, Cornelius Vanderbilt, E.H. Harriman, J.J. Hill, and the Van Swerigen brothers of Cleveland, OH. Each had a significant economic impact on the nation.
The Van Swerigens (Oris Paxton Van Sweringen (April 24, 1879 – November 22, 1936) and Mantis James Van Sweringen (July 8, 1881 – December 12, 1935)) had an interesting place in American railroading. I didn't appreciate the structure of their corporate empire until I read the following. It reminds me of the Pennsylvania and New York Central Railroads, and then later the PennCentral Railroad and the PennCentral Transportation Company, which became the largest corporate bankruptcy at the time (1972).
https://americanbusinesshistory.org/forgotten-empire-builders-clevelands-van-sweringen-brothers/Some history of terminal tower and the Van Swerigen brothers.
Some folks would like passenger service restored in downtown Cleveland.
https://www.cleveland.com/travel/20...veland-amtrak-station-back-at-tower-city.html
The Van Swerigens (Oris Paxton Van Sweringen (April 24, 1879 – November 22, 1936) and Mantis James Van Sweringen (July 8, 1881 – December 12, 1935)) had an interesting place in American railroading. I didn't appreciate the structure of their corporate empire until I read the following. It reminds me of the Pennsylvania and New York Central Railroads, and then later the PennCentral Railroad and the PennCentral Transportation Company, which became the largest corporate bankruptcy at the time (1972).
https://americanbusinesshistory.org/forgotten-empire-builders-clevelands-van-sweringen-brothers/Some history of terminal tower and the Van Swerigen brothers.
Some folks would like passenger service restored in downtown Cleveland.
https://www.cleveland.com/travel/20...veland-amtrak-station-back-at-tower-city.html