Get Your Kicks on Route 555 – March 20, 1926

Did you know that North Ridge Road was once planned to be known as State Highway 555?

I didn't either, until I saw the article below, which appeared in the Lorain Journal back on March 20, 1926.

As noted in the article, the announcement of the road being taken over by the state was welcomed. The State of Ohio would then be financially responsible for 30 to 50 percent of all improvements made to the highway.

I'm not sure, however, if North Ridge Road between Rocky River and Lorain was ever officially designated as State Highway 555. I've checked several maps in my collection and even the ones from the early 1930s show the road as State Highway 254. 

Yet there is an article in the April 10, 1930 Lorain Journal noting that State Highway 555 extends from Avon to the Cuyahoga County line. And another article from July 26, 1939 mentions a proposed new viaduct on State Highway 555, that would open up a new route between Cleveland and Lorain.

If I ever find a map with Highway 555 on it, I'll post it here.

And I guess we should be glad it wasn't designated Highway 666.

Today State Route 555 is a north-south route in southeastern Ohio. It's official Wiki history doesn't even mention its northern route roots!

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And here's the whole front page of the March 20, 1926 newspaper.