by Christine Lorraine Morgan, January 16, 2026

111 E. Pearl St., 1911, presently Albion Public Library, was built originally as the Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad Company Albion Rest House.

Constructed 115 years ago, this brick facility’s purpose was to offer railroad workers a place to clean up, relax and maybe catch some shut-eye in between trains. They were afforded various privileges, as long as they adhered to the house rules (shown below).

The train tracks in Albion, which were built along the former Erie Extension Canal Route, pass the Library/Rest House about half a city block away. The googlemaps image included in this post shows the building’s proximity to the railroad tracks.

As the 20th century progressed, the need for railroad workers diminished, and this sturdy structure found a second purpose as the town’s public library. Those stunning brickwork and architectural touches from the past now adorn books and other tools of knowledge that are available to all.

~ Still Standing ~

Photos were captured 2019-2022

Beautiful brick archways in the lower level

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These are the “House Rules” that were posted within the Albion Rest House

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Albion Rest House lobby in the 1940s

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Albion Rest House/Library lobby view in 2019

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The Railroad crossing is circled in red to show how close it is to the former Rest House in Albion.

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These curved brick arches in the library’s lower level were photographed in 2019.

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Back entrance to the Albion Area Public Library, formerly the Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad Company Albion Rest House, built in 1911

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Artistic brick arches adorn books at the Albion Area Public Library.

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Wooden locker cabinet in the lower level

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Exterior building view