1918 stock certificate by Mahoning and Shenango Railway and Light Company
DESCRIPTION
This is an original early twentieth-century stock certificate issued by the Mahoning and Shenango Railway Company, representing one hundred shares of capital stock. The certificate was issued in 1918 and later transferred in June 1924, as documented by period endorsements and cancellation markings, reflecting its active circulation during the final years of American interurban rail expansion.
The certificate is printed on orange-tinted security paper and framed by an ornate engraved border with repeating geometric and foliate motifs. A prominent central vignette depicts an allegorical female figure symbolizing progress and industry, set against a backdrop of rail transportation and urban development. Decorative cartouches display certificate numbers and share values, while bold engraved lettering identifies the company and stock class. Inked signatures, perforated cancellation punches, stamps, and manuscript annotations appear across the face of the certificate. The attached transfer stub and the verso contain formal transfer language, handwritten assignments, dates, witness signatures, and additional punch cancellations, documenting reassignment and administrative handling.
Historical Context
The Mahoning and Shenango Railway Company operated in the industrial corridor of eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania, a region defined by steel production, manufacturing, and dense interurban rail networks. Issued during the World War I era, this certificate reflects the continued reliance on electric and regional railways to move workers and goods during a period of heightened industrial demand. Stock certificates from this period illustrate the maturity of interurban systems and the financial structures that supported them, even as automobiles and highways were beginning to challenge rail dominance. As an artifact, the certificate captures a transitional moment in American transportation history, balancing industrial optimism with the approaching decline of many interurban lines.
CONDITION
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