At first glance these wrapped columns just look like another construction site. In reality, they are the last footings of a coal hoist from the Erie Railroad’s Irishtown Bend dock. A century ago, lake freighters tied up here, unloading coal by the bucket into waiting rail cars for Cleveland’s mills and power plants. Stabilization work for the new Irishtown Bend park has cut into the slope and quietly brought this buried industrial history back into view. #cleveland #clevelandohio #cuyahogariver