Turnpike Street was a local transport hub, an expressway from the city's first train station, Union Depot, located at Peach Street, to the center of town at State Street, providing travelers arriving in Erie by train a quick and easy route to all the city’s hotels, stores, restaurants and businesses.
Turnpike Street begun at the west side of State Street (between West 13th and 14th streets) and ran diagonally south to West 14th Street, then crossed 14th, and continued southward diagonally to Peach Street and the Union Depot Train Station.
The Union Depot Train Station, located at West 14th Street, between Peach and Sassafras streets, was a Romanesque-Revival style at-grade structure. Built in 1865 the station faced Peach Street and sat between the set of tracks that ran laterally along 14th Street. In 1927 the tracks were moved south of the existing station to make room for the construction of a new station. Redesigned in the Art Deco style of the period, the new station faced 14th Street replacing the old station, which was demolished, thus making the most southern end of Turnpike Street obsolete in its original purpose. As the city developed the area Turnpike Street was shorten to 14th Street, but remained a thoroughfare, from State to 14th Street, for many years. In the 1960s the city begun a redevelopment of the area and Turnpike Street was absorbed into the block that it had bisected for close to a hundred years, nearly disappearing altogether.
Traveling Turnpike Street by foot, horse, or carriage was not the only means of conveyance, the Erie City Passenger Railway Company, a trolley service, which was organized in 1867, laid a track on State Street from Second Street to Turnpike: thence through Turnpike Street to Peach to 26th Streets, which was operated by horse power. Additional lines were constructed, from time to time, and all operated by the same power until the year 1888 when its lines, rights, and franchises were leased to the Erie Electric Motor Company for a term of 999 years. By 1935 though, trolley service was abandoned in favor of buses and the tracks were removed.
The Wilson House opened in 1888 and was located on the corner of State and Turnpike streets. The Wilson House was owned by John Stinson in 1904. Florence Stinson and Oscar K. Stinson, relatives of John Stinson, were registered there as boarders. The Wilson House underwent a change of name and ownership, and by 1914 it was known as the New Wilson Hotel. Frank G. Young was the proprietor, and Robert B. Porter was its manager. At some point prior to 1956 the hotel was demolished and replaced with a filling station.
In 1956 Raeder's Central Esso, owned by Paul Raeder, occupied the site of the old Wilson hotel at 1330 State Street. By 1957 the business change hands and Raid's Central Esso, owned by James F. Raid, occupied the site. Not long afterwards, in 1959, Rapp's Central Esso, owned by John Rapp, was doing business at the site of the former hotel. The State's Employment Office currently occupies the site.
Next to the Wilson Hotel, at its south side, on State Street, was Reliable Home Furnishing Company. The rear of the building borders the very end of Turnpike Street — the only section of the street that still exists today.
On June 23, 1909, Reliable had its grand opening. Demuling's Orchestra played at the grand opening and the store passed out free souvenirs all day long. Reliable had a variety of items including carpets, stoves, rugs and draperies. The store's slogan was: One Price, Cash or Credit.
In 1922 Abe Daneman was treasurer of Reliable Home Furnishing, and Louis Grad was the manager.
Reliable was still in business in 1967, but by this time they had moved from their original location to 1213-1219 State Street. Jr's Last Laugh Comedy Club now occupies the building.
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| Turnpike Street Map (1950) |
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| Wilson Hotel, State and Turnpike Streets looking Southwest (1910) |
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| West 14th and Turnpike Streets, looking Northeast to State Street (1920s) |
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| State and Turnpike Streets, looking Southwest (1961) |