The Visionary Behind the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad and Hale Farm & Village

Hale Farm & Village circa 1973. Courtesy of clevelandhistorical.org

Jonathan Hale House at Hale Farm & Village - Courtesy of Leslie K. Dellovade

Christening ceremony at W. 3rd Street Roundhouse

Valley Line at Boston Store

Siegfried bring home the Califonia Zyphers to CVSR

If you’ve ever boarded a train in the rolling hills of Northeast Ohio, watching the Cuyahoga River and Ohio & Erie Canal glide by, you’ve stepped into a dream that began with one man’s relentless passion for history, community, and railroading. Siegfried F. Buerling (January 29, 1932 – December 30, 2021) wasn’t just a founder of a beloved tourist railroad, he was a bridge between past and present, a champion for preservation, and a catalyst for cultural enrichment in the Cuyahoga Valley.

From German Immigrant to Local Legend

Born in Essen, Germany, Siegfried trained as a cabinetmaker before immigrating to Canada in the 1950s. There, he met his wife, Heidi, and eventually moved with his family to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1959. What began as a six-week temporary job with the Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS) soon became a lifelong pursuit of preserving and enlivening history.

Reviving Hale Farm & Village

In the late 1960s, WRHS entrusted Buerling with overseeing the Hale Homestead, then little more than a historic house and a couple of barns. Rather than treating it as a static showpiece, Buerling envisioned a living, breathing gateway to the 19th-century Western Reserve experience. Through grit, ingenuity, and boundless enthusiasm, he transformed the site into Hale Farm & Village, a vibrant outdoor museum featuring authentic buildings from across the region, costumed interpreters, demonstrations of traditional crafts like blacksmithing and weaving, and immersive events that brought pioneer life to life for thousands of visitors. Attendance soared under his leadership, turning a modest attraction into one of the region’s premier heritage sites.

Buerling’s work at Hale Farm wasn’t just about preservation, it was about connection. He believed that history should be experienced, felt, and shared, a philosophy that guided every restoration, demonstration, and community program he helped shape.

The Birth of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

It was Buerling’s passion for connecting people to history, and to one another, that sparked another great legacy. While stewarding Hale Farm, he saw an opportunity others had overlooked: a historic but underused rail line that could bring visitors from cities like Cleveland and Akron directly into the heart of the valley.

In 1972, he co-founded the Cuyahoga Valley Preservation and Scenic Railway Association, driven by the simple but powerful idea that rail travel could be both an attraction and a tool for conservation. Despite initial resistance from the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, Buerling and his partners persevered. By 1975, regular excursion service began, a moment that launched what would become the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR).

For decades, the railroad brought thousands of visitors through the stunning landscapes of what is now the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, expanding beyond its original mission to serve as a cherished local resource, an alternative transportation option, and a destination that continues to attract visitors from across the United States and beyond.

A Legacy Woven Into the Valley

Buerling didn’t stop at simply starting institutions, he nurtured them. Alongside his pivotal roles at Hale Farm and the CVSR, he worked with numerous historical and preservation organizations, including the National Trust for Historic Preservation and regional museum councils, always advocating for thoughtful stewardship of heritage and landscape.

He also played a part in early efforts that helped shape the creation and growth of the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area, later designated a national park, ensuring that both the natural beauty and cultural texture of the valley would be protected and celebrated for generations.

A Man of Stories and Humble Pride

Buerling was known as “charismatic, tenacious, hard-working, and kind”, traits that were reflected in every project he touched. Even in retirement, he stayed involved with preservation work, including consulting with WRHS and supporting the restoration of beloved community artifacts.

He famously said, “Most men are satisfied with a model train set, I got a whole railroad and village,” a wry testament to a life spent transforming dreams into enduring experiences.

Today and Beyond

Though Siegfried Buerling passed away at his home in Akron in December 2021, at the age of 89, his spirit still rides the rails and walks the village paths he helped build. From Hale Farm & Village’s dynamic hands-on history, to the whistle of a passing locomotive on the CVSR, his contributions live on in the heart of the community and in the countless memories of those who have experienced the valley through his vision.

Whether you’re a local history enthusiast, a train lover, or a visitor discovering the valley for the first time, take a moment next time you’re on the rail or exploring the past, and remember the man who helped make it possible.

Sources: billowfuneralhomes.com, Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad archieves