What is the history of West Lafayette, Ohio?
West Lafayette was laid out in 1850 by Robert Shaw and William Wheeler. In 1855 The Stuebenville and Indiana Railroad was built through the new town. The line became known as the Panhandle and was operated in the Pennsylvania system and currently by The Ohio Central Railroad. Tradgedy struck this track in 1950 when the crack passenger train “Spirit of Saint Louis” hit another train carrying National Guard troops from Pennsylvania. They had been called up for the Korean War. Over 30 were killed. A monument has recently been placed near the site of the accident. The village was once dubbed the “Enamel Center of the World.” Before plastics were invented, steel vessels covered with a ceramic-like material called Enamelware were the norm in American homes. In 1903 the Lafayette Stamping and Enameling Co. was founded. Moore Enameling and Jones Metal also manufactured enamelware. Jones Metal remains. Another industry still prospering is Yankee Wire, manufacturer of wire screens. The West Lafa
