Driving Akron, 1987 v. 1957 v. 2017

Here's some amazing video, courtesy of Bill Ling and Mark Mitten, of Akron in 1987 and 1957. It's not always the same portions -- and there's no narration for the 1957 section, just titles -- but it gives you a good idea of what the city once looked like, 30 and 60 years ago. How many places can YOU spot? Leave a comment telling us what they look like now!

[@tammiwoodbury4545]

While I’m watching this it’s 2024 and I love going back in time the cars the neighborhood just looks completely different in many places on this video.I grew up on inman and then moved to s Firestone this is like opening a tome machine on my tv.And since this was done in 2017 it makes it ever more interesting.Thanks for a trip down memory lane..Much appreciated..😌

[@KathyRoberts-su8rh]

Oooh,, the memories❤❤

[@joycethomas8868]

At the beginning of the “1957” part of film, it shows Downtown Main Street where there were 2 concrete barriers (painted white and black in chevron) in the middle of the road at the intersections on Main/Exchange and I believe Main/Market also. I remember seeing them as a kid. I grew up on Brown st in Firestone Park near St Paul’s Church. Went to St Paul’s and Garfield High. Fond memories. Thanks for the video.

[@PaulJackson729]

During the early years of my childhood. Many of the older buildings and businesses had already closed up shop, but some still hung around for a while longer. The swinging BJ was replaced by a digital video board sometime around 2003 or 2004. Downtown Akron looks totally different with the additions of Canal Park and the Akron Rubberducks in 1997 and Lock 3 shortly thereafter.

[@sir_charles1182]

6:11 - That's "5th Avenue Extension" or it was then. I lived on Inman St in front of the main Hoban High School football field entrance. My family and I came from Cleveland in March of 1974 and moved to Barberton in March of 1987. I went to all the schools featured in this video. My mother shopped at the Acme-Click on Exchange St., my older brother worked there for a while. We used to run all over that area! Great video! Brings back all sorts of memories!

[@deeholler1]

Wow, I loved this video. I mean it, here I am, 66 years old, an Akron native but having lived away since I married in 1972, but still returning home even now to see Mom, who only three years ago moved in with sister and we finalized the sale of my childhood home in Goodyear Heights a month ago. I loved the 1987 part of this movie, and especially your informative narration throughout. The beautiful homes... and Goodyear, and Firestone... all of it... so precious to me even now as I vividly recall those streets and buildings where almost everyone in Akron scratched out a living in the rubber factories. And then 1957, oh my! Downtown and the Christmas lights and decorations.... I remember it so well, especially the swags across the street and the big stars in the middle... I loved my hometown and it breaks my heart to see the destruction from drugs and loss of jobs. I wonder why people don't want to take care of their homes anymore. You mentioned the ladies' white gloves and being all dressed up when we went downtown on the city bus...There was honestly so much more pride in those days in every way. This video was fantastic, and a miracle that you ever took it in the first place in an era when video cameras were not so accessible and still quite a novelty. Thank you so much for a GREAT video and for sharing it with us. Just loved it.

[@paulw.woodring7304]

I grew up in Kenmore in the '60s-'70s and went to UA in late '70s, left town in '80s for over 20 years but came back 12 years ago. I don't really know much about the narrator's old neighborhood, but some about the commercial areas shown. The old Click's was redeveloped several years ago as a Dave's Supermarket, as downtown did not have ANY grocery store for years. The railroad that crossed Arlington and Exchange Sts. was the Akron & Barberton Beltline, and was abandoned in the early '90s from around Firestone east. What's left is now owned and operated by the NEW Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad as their Akron-Barberton Cluster (ABC) Railroad. In that area around Click's was the salvage outlet for Roadway Express - REX Salvage, where they sold unclaimed and insurance paid-off damaged freight. Roadway was merged into Yellow Freight about 20 years ago and is now YRC Freight. The successor to Lawson's Dairy was Dairy Mart, which didn't last very long. Now we've got convenience stores like Circle K, Speedway and Get Go, plus a few Sheetz'. (The Lawson's name still exists - in Japan of all places!) Where you turned onto Brown from Exchange, that is about where the southwest corner of the new stadium complex is. This video did answer for me when Akron started closing and diverting streets on the UA campus - 1987. Buchtel and Carroll Sts. no longer go through campus. Buchtel was one-way westbound through campus, and ran between Bierce Library and Leigh Hall, which is now a foot path. Buchtel Av. was diverted around the north side, assuming the name of the street that ends at Thomas Hall. They tore down the Catholic Neuman Center just north of Olin Hall and the old church that was East Hall for the diversion. There was a fire station on the southeast corner of Buchtel and Union Sts. across from Olin Hall. By the late '70s it was the AFD's equipment repair facility, and was completely closed and torn down in the early '80s. The JAR arena occupies all of that site plus more. McIntyre Chevy has been gone for at least 20 years now. Their site, plus more is now the Akron Campus of Stark State Community College, which is now where you go for a two-year degree in Akron. There is no longer an Associate degree community college program at UA. VanDevere Olds is now a Chevy plus other makers dealership all over the area, with the Chevy dealership where there was another dealer by the long-closed K-Mart at I-77 on what used to be Wooster Av., but is now Vernon Odom Blvd. (deceased State Rep.). The Ford dealership on E. Market was Graham Ford in the '60s and '70s. The Akron Beacon Journal was bought out a couple of years ago by Gannett and their operations were combined with those of the Canton Repository over a year ago and moved elsewhere. The ABJ building is now abandoned. The yellow and white building across the street from the ABJ was the Akron IBM office. It is now the main office for county mental health agency Portage Path Behavioral Health. Across Broadway from that was the former Erie/Erie Lackawanna passenger station, which was torn down in the late '90s, and a Charter Bank branch was built on the site. While I'm at it, the old Erie Railroad freight house across from the Beacon Journal was torn down over five years ago to build more student apartments for UA. On Main St., Canal Park baseball stadium was built on the site of the old Scott's 5 and Dime, but not until the mid-'90s. The Mayflower still exists as AMHA subsidized low-income housing. You got the locations of O'Neil's and Polsky's reversed. O'Neil's was on the same side as Scott's/Canal Park. Both buildings still exist, the old Polsky's is now part of UA, as is their parking deck. The O'Neil's building is now condo offices and a brew pub on the ground floor. The name of the venue north of the old O'Neil's is called Lock 3. The building you identified as the art museum was the main public library, which was replaced with a new building in the last 15 years. There have been many other changes to Akron as well, but I'm going to end here.

[@jonowens460]

Always wondered about that rail crossing, when it was abandoned. Walked a bunch of it getting stranded...

[@judpowell1756]

Lots of fun to see Akron from the perspective of the "other" side of town. I grew up on the far west side about the same time, Case, Litchfield and Firestone. Cadillac Hill was a thing for us too.

[@mikelofgren2827]

Huh. Case, Litchfield, and Firestone was my path to future glory as well. I'm just a bit perplexed that the 1957 film was reversed -- in America, cars don't drive on the left!

[@paulw.woodring7304]

HI Jud.

[@michaelshih8163]

I attended University of Akron in 1981 to 1983, and met a lot of wonderful people in Akron. I was a poor student, but they treated me like a real human being, perhaps they were as poor as I was. Michelle, Marilyn, Nick ..... They are probably now in their 60s or 70s and some many have died. If I remember correctly, I lived south of the Exchange street on East Voris, where homes are now selling for $20k each and many have been torn down.

[@FoodiesBoss]

This film could be used in any fall season 🎥 movie 🍿 just perfect.

[@dianeleone1634]

Awww. Our 96year old Auntie built with the help of her Uncle & our Uncle in 1950 a Sears Home... Still standing in 2022. Yes the neighborhood has changed ,about every 25years. I love the memories of playing in nearby Goodyear Metropolitan Park.. Bunch of neighborhoods kids walked everywhere. My cousin decided to go to Hower Trade School for MACHINERY.. These videos are nostalgic. We moved to N.Hill in the 70's. More fun times. Now back in the Falls, enjoying these old stomping grounds. 11 minutes in::: Carroll upholstery. In the late 80's,we utilized the expertise of Carroll's. That was when we worked for Costigans office Supply. Ahhh the memories of yesteryear. Thanks again💜💜💜💜💜

[@mamakids6163]

Really glad this run was done.

[@dstdrummer]

12:39 The Odd Corner! Holy crap! I used to go to that place!! How cool.

[@Wide_leaf_indica710]

It's closed up now.

[@dstdrummer]

@@Wide_leaf_indica710 Yeah It has been for some time.

[@Wide_leaf_indica710]

@@dstdrummer it just closed up last year. The original got torn down but they opened up right across the corner in another. Just recently closed.

[@sofiapanou7872]

Thanks a million for the wonderful memories, brought tears to my eyes; I lived in Akron during the ‘70s around Litchfield/Firestone schools;

[@dianeleone1634]

Passing my High School St V.xoxo 17 minutes in. Children and grandchildren graduate St.V-M too.

[@christopherchristie1183]

Thanks for the film. You said that you attended Grace Methodist Church. That was our family's church. My mother was a member for over 90 years. You are probably younger than me, but you may remember our mother, Mary Jane Christie. Again, thanks for the film.

[@ronaldbell735]

My family was all rembeer there My Rose was in the chior I run the PA

[@MrCamos6]

1987 I Was 9 years old I still remember how it looked then

[@hawk2079]

WOW!! I've been in Akron for 5 years for college and this was super interesting to see. It's interesting how much has changed around the university area

[@andykassrda6413]

I lived on 431 Windsor St. and went to Hoban High, Annunciation grade school. Brings back a lot of memories.

[@mkp3824]

That's where I grew up, going up Buckingham, on the left was Simmons court, opposite the store. I walked the same way to Mason, for Kindergarten. Not so nice around there, anymore. Good video.

[@slayer5813]

@5:25 you see that big white house with 5+ windows on the one side. I used to live in the house to the left of it which is on Clark St. Hard to see it in the video.

[@aaronstevens1536]

I'M GLAD YOU RECORDED THIS !!! I'T BROUGHT BACK A'LOT OF MEMORIES WHEN I WAS A KID!!! I'TS FUNNY YOU THROW OUT A NAME LIKE CLICKS OR D AND K AND SOME OF THESE PEOPLE DONT HAVE A CLUE!

[@mattthornton8474]

I noticed a Dutch Panty sign on the far left side at the 17:59 point. That was one of my favorite places to eat as a kid while growing up in Akron from 1964 to 1973 before moving away.

[@michelekate8567]

My grandparents lived on Wilmot St during the 70's/80's (on the other side of Buckingham). My aunt, uncle and cousins lived on Boone. I remember walking down Buckingham to get from one house to the other. My Grandma used to give us loose change so we could walk down to that little grocery store on the corner and buy candy. Grandma used to shop at that Click.

[@brianrichmond247]

Great footage! It looks like the ‘57 film is a reversal. All of the cars appear to be driving in the wrong side and all of the signs read backwards.

[@MrGumbo62]

Seeing this brought memories, you didn't mention Wonder Bread or Quaker Oats.or even the old trains

[@Paul8820]

The Spinning BJ sign was replaced I think late 2004 early 2005. I was born in '88 so i don't even remember at all what downtown Akron looked like before Canal Park and before lock 3 and all that stuff so that was pretty neat to see.

[@Legenddjt]

Video is cool , pretty sure thats me and my buddies that are the local kids at 258 we were always walking that way to clicks or middlebury church where we went on wedsday nites. Also had to friends that lived in 1st house on corner when you turned on welmont

[@KitFarrar]

Mike Walker! This is Kit! If you went to Middlebury on Wednesday nights, then you knew me! I grew up on Wilmot and at Middlebury! Wow! This vid is so cool!

[@Stuntzii1]

very interesting, I live in Akron last 10 years I grew up in Medina do you have a 1987 video of Medina? that would be cool. tyhe end of this video that McDonalds there by the freeway was my first job. thanks for the video

[@dirtydawgj]

Wow, I lived on Fairbanks for a long time 70s thru 2008 😁😢😁

[@quiswalker2755]

Nothing looks the same at all

[@justcam8453]

Wow I swear akron looked much bigger back then. There's little to nothing left there now

[@deadlyDM]

Great video, thanks! What is the song that plays during the 1957 portion?

[@KBTime]

"Bright Letters" by Mike Fox

[@deadlyDM]

@@KBTime Thanks

[@deadlyDM]

@@KBTime not finding that song anywhere after numerous searches 🤷‍♂

[@jimflynn8364]

Hey I saw Oden's den on the corner!!!!!

[@marciethomas5766]

When did you go to Goodrich Jr. School? I was there in 55 if memory is correct.

[@jeffrecob8646]

Rt 8 to Medina?

[@errintaylor3241]

I Love Akron Ohio My 3rd Home From Houston Texas My Second Home Is Denver Colorado

[@errintaylor3241]

I live on Brittian RD Next To Club Georgie And Down The Street From Chapel Hill Mall

[@mikeulm777]

Curious how well them solar panels working out for those folks in the cloudiest portion of the United States.

[@KBTime]

They work great; there's a new thing out called "batteries" that stores the power generated during the 4 hours of light that's needed.

[@CrestwoodRocks]

Part two of the 1987 Akron video was taken in Kent.

[@paulw.woodring7304]

No, Fairlawn, and out State Route 18 towards Medina, ending at the I-71 interchange.

[@jeffrecob8646]

Paul is right. That is not kent

[@AddyAdderson]

If you went to Central in the '80's did you ever have class with Bill Simmons?

[@jonathantaylor3961]

I'm the person walking from left to right @ :46.

[@renoraines4695]

did that spinning beacon use to just be a big letter A spinning?

[@paulw.woodring7304]

No, the paper was always locally referred to as just the Beacon-Journal, so they used "BJ" on the sign until that got to be more thought of as...well you know.

[@renoraines4695]

@@paulw.woodring7304 oh ok well maybe it was bj, its been over 30 years ago lol

[@tinykings462]

In 1986 I lived where u just passed

[@jeffskinner4482]

Who are you, i lived in that neighborhood

[@alfredindy8058]

I was friends with a Fila - Cary Fila. He boxed golden Gloves.

[@jeffskinner4482]

Who are you, i lived in that neighborhood