History of Olde Northfield Township

By

MRS. BESSIE GOOSMAN

HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF OLD NORTHFIELD

Northfield, Ohio

Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 73-7S111

To the sturdy men and women who gave up their established New England homes,faced the vicissitudes and langers of the lonely wideness, who packed their necessary utensi1s and huddled their precious families into the ox-drawn Conestoga wagons, we dedicated this book. They wedged their way along rivers, through mountains and along Indian trails, looking for a new homesite that might satisfy their desired ambitions. With steadfast faith and undaunted courage, wisdom and infinite patience, they reached a spot in "Olde Northfield" and built the first log cabins in our community. Each succeeding generation is deeply in debt to these people, our township founders.

To all of them, we dedicate this book. May we never forget the fortitude of our heroic founders.

MRS. BESSIE M. GOOSMAN

Although Mrs. Bessie Goosman is responsible for the bulk of the research and the writing of the History of Olde Northfield, recognition should be given to other members of the community who also contributed articles. These are as follows:

Winifred McConnell & Mrs. Carl Oldrin

The Northfield-Macedonia Cemetery Association

Albert Gilliland

History of Western Reserve goes back to the Connecticut Land Colony

Beatrice Shaw

Cheese Making in Olde Northfield Township

How Macedonia got its Name

The Park

The Macedonia Post Office

Nelson Case

History of the Northfield-Macedonia Telephone System

Hester Robbins

History of the Lincoln Grange

Marie Murphey

A Pioneer Family and an Historic Inn

Allen Sherrill

Trails, Roads and Watering Troughs

Arthur Collin

Macedonia Volunteer Fire Department

Beatrice Johnson

Macedonia Volunteer Fireman's Auxiliary

Marie Agee

The Northfield Post Office

Thomas F. Faulhaber

Our Sequi-Centennial

One individual outside our community has been of especial help to us in preparing our manuscript for printing, advising and guiding us in pretype-setting work. Dick Squire, of Bedford has given us much encouragement in this direction.

This book is a "first." The first attempt to write a history of the area originally known as Olde Northfield Township which comprises Northfield Village, Northfield Center, Macedonia and Sagamore Hills.

The lady who wrote this book, Mrs. Bessie M. Goosman, was born in 1881. Her family moved to this area when she was ten years old and she spent the remainder of her life in Macedonia. She was one of three graduates in her class at Macedonia High School. Her further education, obtained at Kent State University, prepared her for her work as a teacher, in which capacity she served for many years in local schools of "Olde Northfield."

Writing a first history is a difficult task. It is not just jotting down what you think you know; it involves verifying and checking what you know and learning about what you do not know.

Mrs. Goosman therefore undertook a courageous and difficult task, and at a time when her health was failing, gave to her community a basic beginning of an historical record. Some time before her death in 1961, Mrs. Goosman delivered her copy of the history to a committee of the Historical Society of Olde Northfield and told this committee "I have done all I can. It is yours to do with as you please." Knowing her wishes, the Historical Society has taken up where she left off, adding little in the way of actual writing except to localize present existing places and to bring up to date some unfinished phases of this history.

HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF OLDE NORTHFIELD 1

HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE 3

NORTHFIELD CENTER 4

LITTLE YORK 12

NORTHFIELD TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS '3

ROADS, TRAILS AND WATERING TROUGHS 27

NORTHFIELD TOWNSHIP POST OFFICE 31

CHEESE-MAKING AND INDUSTRY 36

OLDER STORES AND THEIR OWNERS 38

EARLY AGRICULTURE 40

CIVIC AFFAIRS OF OLDE NORTHFIELD 44

NORTHFIELD CHURCHES 59

AMZI CHAPIN-PIONEER SETTLER 71

PINE HILL AND POSSUM HOLLOW 72

A PIONEER FAMILY AND A HISTORIC INN 74

THE MCKISSON MURDER 77

THE CHARLESWORTH MYSTERY 78

NORTHFIELD CORNET BAND 79

LECTURE ASSOCIATION 82

SLEIGH RIDE OF 1856 82

SUMMIT HUNT 83

NORDONIA CLUB 84

NORTHFIELD TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPTS. 85

CITY ICE FARM 87

THE DOG TRACK 89

HISTORY OF NORTHFIELD-MACEDONIA CEMETERY 90

THE LINCOLN GRANGE 100

THE WALLACE FAMILY 102

BRANDYWINE INDUSTRIES 105

BRANDYWINE SCHOOLS 109

BRANDYWINE CEMETERY 115

EARLY DAYS OF MACEDONIA 115

HOW MACEDONIA GOT ITS NAME 120

MACEDONIA BECOMES A VILLAGE 122

THE HALL COMPANY 123

MACEDONIA POST OFFICE 127

THE CRANMER-MUNN FAMILY 131

MACEDONIA SCHOOLS 132

MACEDONIA CHURCHES 137

MACEDONIA STORES 141

EVERETT ASHERY 146

INTERURBAN AND TELEPHONE SYSTEMS 147

NELSON BROWN 152

THE LITTLE WHITE CHURCH 155

MACEDONIA FIRE DEPARTMENT 158

MACEDONIA-NORTHFIELD BANK 159

MACEDONIA TOWN PARK 161

THE SESQUI-CENTENNIAL-1957 162

IN CONCLUSION ..... . 168

The Historical Society of Olde Northfield was organized in 1955. The name was "Olde Northfield Township" which is now divided into four subdivisions; namely, Northfield Village, Sagamore Hills, Northfield Center and Macedonian.

This society is one of four educational institutions. Its accomplishments are many. It has brought cultural lectures on architecture, history and stories of the Canal days. Its members have written on various phases of history and have collected and preserved artifacts of the past.

From time to time, tours to nearby areas of interest have been made available to which have served as programs of interest to our schools and local organizations. In recent years, thanks to our school board, who has loaned the building to us, a museum of local history and many donations of articles have been achieved. This library contains many out of print historical books of Summit County. School children, as well as adult researchers utilize this library.

A bi-monthly bulletin, with announcements, news and book reviews, is published regularly. Requests for information from many parts of the country are answered yearly.

Genealogical information is being collected for future use. This Society is a member of:

The American Association of Museums

Ohio Association of Historical Societies

Ohio Historical Society.

Everyone who is interested in furthering his education or preserving the best of the past for the future is welcome here.

Monthly programs add interest and have been a feature for fifteen years. Members of the Historical Society of Olde Northfield are those who would leave something for the future, other than tombstones. Thi₅ society is building and preserving for the future.

Its meetings at the Public Library building are held the first Monday of each month at 8:00 P.M. The Museum (next to the Elementary School at Rt. 82 and Old 8 is open every Thursday evening from 7 :00 to 9 :00 P.M.

There is no admission and the public is invited to both. Special arrangements for groups can be made.

This book is made possible by the work and funds furnished primarily by the Historical Society of Olde Northfield.

HISTORY OF WESTERN RESERVE GOES BACK TO EARLY CONNECTICUT COLONY

The following are some seldom publicized facts concerning the history of the Connecticut Western Reserve, in which Northfield Township was listed as Town 5, Range II.

King Charles II of England in1655 had deeded an immense grant of land in America to the Connecticut Colony, which had been settled by the Puritans some 32 years previously. A large portion of this grant lay in what was later to become the State of Ohio.

In 1786, just two short years of achieving statehood for herself, Connecticut relinquished to the United States almost all of the land grant which lay outside the 75 x 90 mile Connecticut boundary. For reasons not entirely clear today, one portion of this grant land was reserved by Connecticut and designated The Connecticut Western Reserve. This land was subsequently sold to The Connecticut Land Company at a sale price of $1,200,OOO.

In 1797 an expedition headed by Seth Pease surveyed the Reserve, laying it out in townships five miles square and numbered from south to north, with the Pennsylvania boundary being the starting point.

It was obvious after the survey that some of these town-ship lands were either inferior or superior to most of the other townships in the Connecticut Western Reserve. Therefore, it was decided to designate these over-or-under-average townships "Equalizing Townships." Parts of the superior townships were lopped off and given to inferior townships to bring them up to "standard." Northfield was an Equalizing Township. It originally included the area which later became Macedonia, Northfield Village, Sagamore Hills and Northfield Center.

The method of selling off these Reserve lands was unusual by today's standards - and often resulted in a Connecticut resident becoming owner of two tracts of land separated by

the entire length of the Reserve. The lands of the Reserve were divided into shares, with each township number being placed in a box. Some of the townships-those which were "Equalizing"-were held out. Stockholders of the land company then drew lots, and the townships which needed equalizing were then brought up to average with the equalizer townships.

There were 400 shares, valued at $3,ooo each. Residents of Connecticut could buy as little as a fraction of a share, or more than a share if they could raise the money. It was not unusual for several citizens to form their own small land company with pooled resources and buy a number of shares, deciding among themselves the order of choice for the sections of land they bought.

The record of all these land purchases was maintained in a large book called "The Book of Drafts." It 'vas the foundation for all land titles in the Connecticut Western Reserve.

When the settler determined the location of his property, he set to work to build a cabin wherever he saw fit, regardless of any conformity, because all was a dense forest. Cabins were well under way at other points before any settlement began at the Center.

In 1825 the first log house appeared. It was a school house built on the spot which later became the Center of Northfield. A watering trough was built and a pump was installed to furnish water, our first "public utility."

Perrin's History of Summit County notes that the first dwelling at the Center was a round-log house built by Hezekiah H. Palmer in 1832. The house was about thirty-feet square, and was divided by partitions into bedroom and sitting rooms.

In 1833, George Lillie built the second which was soon followed by a third one built by Lucien Bliss.

In 1833 or 1834 Milton Arthur built a store-room and equipped it with $500 worth of goods. The goods were of general assortment, which he purchased in Cleveland. This was a great accommodation to the settlers, although not much of a money-making venture. There were few customers and little money.

Another building, housing a small supply of goods, was built by B. F. Cannon. In a short time he sold his store to Hosea and Lucien Bliss, who managed a larger stock of goods.

Shortly after this, Frank Allen tried his hand in building a store, and sold a general assortment of goods.

Many country stores were attempted, but very few were profitable. Some merchants kept their stores on a basis of aid to the settlers, and received scarcely enough to pay expenses.

Later, a few other merchants tried their luck. Some of these were: Mr. Putnam, Woodman and Howe, James Mc-

Elroy, Nelson Decker, M. O'Neil, S. K. Alexander, Lynn and Logue, and J. G. Alexander in 1881. All these storekeepers kept practical things to sell, and dealt also in country produce. If too much country produce accumulated, it was shipped to Cleveland and even to Pittsburgh. As the need of other types of merchandise developed, someone attempted to produce it, and so other industries began.

Bliss and Taubman opened a clothing store and sold ready-made garments. Taubman was a tailor and made clothing of any description, upon order, and under short notice.

In 1841, 0. A. Bishop built a tavern which he opened to the public for entertainment. This building, located on the left side of Brandywine Road, did a good business until the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Railroad was built through the township. It was then used as a grocery store and housed the Post Office. It later fell into the hands of George Bishop (a son). At times he became a little careless about ordering

goods when he was sold out of them. Upon one occasion, Claribelle Shoemaker, teacher, wished to buy some materials for school decorations. It so happened that Mr. Bishop was out of everything she wanted. The teacher was so disappointed that she proceeded to "bawl him out" quite properly for his negligence. Bishop became quite perturbed, and said rather snappily, "Madame, I wish I had that tongue of yours." "Why?" she inquired. "It would make my fortune," he retorted. "Oh, no it wouldn't," the teacher retaliated, "You wouldn't have the brains enough to run it."

Seems whenever a need arises, someone comes forward to meet it. How much a carpenter was needed! And here in 1833 appeared Ambrose Bliss, a very fine carpenter. He was the first carpenter in this township.

By 1834 we needed a post office. At this point the post office at Brandywine was moved to the Center. George Lillie, having obtained a commission, became the Center's first Postmaster.

About 1840 the Center laid out a park. A half-acre was given by each of four men who owned the land at the Center. These civic minded men were George Lillie, Hezekiah Palmer, Lucien Bliss, and Colonel Milton Arthur. This was the first step.

Since no formal planning of land had been done, it wasn't too easy to determine boundaries. Up to now settlers had built their cabins Just anywhere that was convenient.

About 1836 Hosea Bliss, a brother of Ambrose, came to be the first resident physician. He practiced well into the 1870's. Doctor Hazelton followed Dr. Bliss and had a good practice.

A number of citizens met to discuss building a log house. As they talked they felt that it was time that the community

had a name. Various names were suggested. Henry Wood presented the name of "York" and Jeremiah Cranmer suggested "Northfield." When a vote was taken by the assembled settlers, "Northfield" was selected.

A meeting of all the qualified electors was called at the cabin of George Lillie, on the 24th day of May, 1819. The following officers were duly elected to preside:

John Britt, Moderator John Duncan, Judge Jeremiah Cranmer, Judge Orin Wilcox, Clerk

After the township officers had been sworn, the following were elected:

TRUSTEES

Henry Wood Jeremiah Cranmer

George Wallace John Duncan

OVERSEER OF THE POOR

William Cranny William Mather

FENCE VIEWERS

Robert Wallace Maurice Cranmer

TREASURER

Watrous Mather

SUPERVISORS OF HIGHWAYS

John Duncan Daniel Hunt

Abel Havens Abner Hunt

Edward Coyne

CONSTABLE

Abraham Cranmer

JUDGES OF ELECTIONS

Maurice Cranmer

George Wallace

John Duncan

CLERKS

Henry Wood

John Britt

From the Poll Book of Northfield, Portage County, Ohio, October12, 1819, were taken the number and names of electors on this day:

1Abraham Cranmer

2. Abel Havens

3. Jeremah Cranmer

4. John Duncan

5 . Shubal Austin

6. 6 . George Wallace

7. 7 . John Britt

8. 8. Henry Wood

9. 9. Robert Wallace

10. 10. Edward Coyne

Others who voted for or against:

Almon Ruggles

Samuel King

Rial McArthur

William Whitmore

Stephen Whitmore

In 1819 there seems to have been a few more than fifteen.

Another election was held in April, 1820 with twenty-six votes cast.

In June, 1819, Abraham Cranmer, constable, received a legal command from the state of Ohio to "warn" Huldah Seeley out of Northfield, and the trustees ordered her taken to Independence or Newburg. Jokingly, Northfield people told how Abraham put her on his horse and took her to Newburg and left her there, feeling the law there would be better able to take care of her.

In 1826 there were thirty-nine householders in Northfield, and in 1827 there were forty-seven. They were:

George Phipps William Cranny

Abner Hunt H. Bump

Electa Dewy Dorsey W. Viers

Casper Noel Sally Prichard

David Bowersmith Henry Croninger

William Barkhamer Thomas Hills

Widow Leslie Shubal Austin

David Croninger John Wilson

Paul H. Beard Daniel Stanley

Paul Hill Thomas Appleton

Jonathan Pike Elizabeth Richardson

Jeremiah Cranmer John Jones

William Clifford Maurice Cranmer

A. B. Cranmer Allen Burroughs

Levi Leach Erastus Burdick

D. C. Bacon George Wallace

Henry Hopkins Robert Wallace

Joshua Post David Dilley

Mr. Townsend Nathaniel Holmes

A. D. Havens Mary Post

Abraham Cranmer Robert Guy

Chester Northrup William Guy

John Duncan George McClelland

Thomas McKee

The very first settlers in Northfield Township were the Isaac Bacon family. Mr. Bacon purchased i6o acres in 1806, then in 1807 he came with his family in a traditional covered wagon.

Mr. Bacon was a native of Massachusetts and must have passed through the northern gateway of the Appalachian mountains, then followed the Indian trails along the Great Lakes to Cleveland, and along the Cuyahoga River Valley to Northfield.

Upon arrival, the settler followed trails on his land until he came to a good spring of water, his first necessity. There he built his cabin. There was no other settler within six or eight miles, so Mr. Bacon had to build his cabin with no aid but his faithful oxen. Of course, the cabin was made of logs he cut. As the logs moved up the sides of the building, they became too heavy to manage. He arranged skids on the sides of the house, tied ropes on the logs, hitched ropes to the oxen, and the animals, from the opposite sides, pulled the logs to position It took him five days to complete his home. His family lived in the covered wagon during this time. The Bacons lived alone, here in the wooded forest, for three years.

Along the many small streams were numerous encampments which contained anywhere from one to several hundred Indians. Three of these encampments were on Mr. Bacon's land for several years, when the Indians finally were removed to other parts of the country.

Fierce animals roamed the woods-panthers, bears, wildcats, and hundreds of deer. These animals would find their way right up to the cabin door, lured by the smell of meat being cooked. They carried off the settler's pigs and sheep to satisfy their hunger.

It took time to chop down the trees, clear the stumps, and burn the refuse and so, before crops could be raised, their animals, through necessity, were turned loose in the woods to forage for themselves. The food they found was scarce and not enough to satisfy hunger. Often the animals died of starvation. A pig seemed to be a delicate morsel for a bear. When Bruin attacked a pig, he leaped upon its back, seized and held it by the neck with his strong, sharp teeth, while powerful claws ripped the meat from its sides. The unmerciful squealing usually brought the settler and his gun.

There were other enemies, too, besides wild animals. The blood-thirsty flies and gnats took their toll. They continually preyed upon the faithful oxen and sometimes caused their death.

The early settler brought with him such food as he could carry, and such that would not spoil. To his advantage, the

wild animals served him well for fresh meat. If the settler was good on the "shot" he could have plenty of venison, bear meat, and turkey. It is said that often wild turkeys were very fat and plump, and when shot from the trees to the ground, their bodies would split open because of their plumpness. There were, also, many kinds of nuts, berries, and other kinds of wild fruits to be had. Small garden spots were cultivated around stumps of trees, close to the cabin and fenced in for protection.

The settlement of Little York began with the coming of Henry Post who built a sawmill in 1825. The mill was operated by water power-partly by natural facilities and partly by use of a dam on Brandywine Creek.

There was a heavy demand for whitewood which was used in making canal boats and which was plentiful in this vicinity. Whitewood was Tulip, Linden, Cottonwood or any number of poplar trees or any tree with white or light-colored wood. Mr. Post cut the wood even though he did not own the land. He ran the mill for about eight months of the year for six years and had a very profitable business.

George Leach purchased the mill and built a larger dam at the same place. He ran the mill for many years and at times operated with two saws. He shipped large quantities of oak, maple, and whitewood lumber to Cleveland by way of the Ohio Canal.

Moses Ranney was a local blacksmith. Harbin Nichols and Conrad Schoch were shoemakers. There were other tradesmen and mechanics in this growing community. A tannery was operated just west of Frank Oviatt's home on what is now known as the Akron-Cleveland Road, approximately where 1-271 crosses.

In 1856 these families lived in Little York:

Levi Burroughs William Mitchell

S.D. Criss M. Ranney

A. I. Cross N. F. Robinson

J. D. Cross Conrad Schoch

Ni. Ellsworth Mrs. Templeton

Luman Leach L. Watson

By 1827, twenty years after the first family settled in Northfield Township, there were 47 householders in the township. Most of these new settlers came from regions of culture; and education was uppermost in their minds. There were no laws governing schools or school taxes, so individual neighborhoods built and furnished their own schools.

In Brandywine, a log school was built in 1817. In 1830 this was replaced by a frame school. In 1854 a brick building was erected and used until 1908, later being sold to Leigh Huddleston. It was known as District No.2.

In 1826 a stone school house was built on Route 82 at the corner of Carter Road. It was used, according to known information, until 1881, when a frame school was built. In 1918 the schools were centralized and the frame school house was sold. It became the home of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Ayers. The stone school house was rebuilt as a wing on the George T. Bishop estate. These schools were known as District No.3.

In 1825 a log school was built at Northfield on the square and used until 1835. A frame building replaced it a short distance down Old Route 8 toward Akron and was called District No. I.

The school at Snatchpenny was District No.4. A log house was built there in 1819. This was located approximately at what is now 11004 Valley View Road. The school was relocated and replaced by a frame building in 1854 at what is now 11571 Dunham Road. The frame school was closed in 1918 and sold to be converted into a residence.

The first log school was built in Macedonia in 1833 and replaced by a frame building about 1854. This was finally sold to the Macedonia Hall Company in i88o. This was District No. 5.

Little York was District No.6. It is shown in the Summit County Map of 1856, and was probably built in 1854. This was a frame building and used until 1908, at which time it was sold to Lee Forbes for $290, and made into a residence.

North school at Route 8 and Ledge Road was built about 1854. According to school records the last term was taught in 1903. After standing idle for several years it was sold at public auction in r916 for $400 to Ray Osborne. This was District No.7.

The Ledge school, or District No. 8, was built in 1853 on land set aside by Jason Spafford. The school was at the corner of Ledge and Shepard roads. After standing empty for 25 years it was put up for sale and sold to Frank Wise. Later it was sold to Charlie Tryon for a team of mules. Mr. Tryon sold the building to J. J. Charlesworth.

In Perrin's History, page 576, the following is quoted from the records: "We, the directors, Maurice Cranmer and Levi Leach, do agree to have two schools in District No. I to the best advantage of the inhabitants, and the public money to be divided to the number of scholars each school affords as one school, April 5, 1828." This division was formally made on May 3rd, 1828.

Referring to map of Northfield Township, it appears that this early West school was, perhaps, built on property owned by Ambrose Bliss, which he later sold to Clark Bishop, the father of the late George T. Bishop. This school was the only one of its kind in Northfield Township. It was rather a small schoolhouse and, according to William Holzhauer, it could accommodate eight to 12 children. The building was made of stone,

hewn by hand, and laid up with great care. Its windows were equipped with shutters. It stood in the way when the L. E. & P. (New York Central) railroad was built, and was destined to be torn down. In 1901 George T. Bishop returned to Northfield from Cleveland. He purchased the Thomas Baum property and made it his lovely home. When he learned the "Little Stone Jug," as it was called, was to be razed, he purchased it and hired the stones disassembled and moved to his new home. Here he had it assembled again as it originally was, as a wing to part of his house. A new chimney was built on one and a bell was mounted on the other end. Mr. Bishop must have bought the seats, too, since a friend who was shown through the room, remarked to Mr. Bishop, "George, if you would have someone come in and refinish these desks and seats they would be beautiful." In reply, Mr. Bishop, showing his tenderness, said, "That's true, but the real beauty to me is all those marks and scratches which our very early children put there."

On an early township map, dated 1874, the Stone school is shown and the later one is not marked at all. In the writer's possession are the teacher's certificates from Summit County granted to Oscar Patterson for 1878, 1880 and 1881. Several people who lived in this neighborhood tell me their parents went to school to Oscar Patterson, who taught at the Stone school. George Morison, said his mother (who was Janet Gallie) went to this school when Oscar Patterson was the teacher. The names of some of the other pupils who attended at the same time were: Albert Harriman, Johnny McCullough, Jeanette Patterson, Janet Gallie and Jack Kettlewell.

In September, 1888, the writer entered the West School for that year and, as I remember, it was a new frame building. This school was built on land owned by Edward Carter. After the schools were centralized in 1918, the school was put up for sale. Mr. Carter bought the frame school house and moved it to his land on Chaffee road in 1925. He lived in the house for a year and then rented it.

In 1930, Albert and Bessie Ayers purchased the property and at their death, Samuel Ayers, their son, came into pos-

ession of it. Samuel and Hazel Copeland were married in 1936 and lived in this attractive home which they have developed from this school house. Samuel and Hazel Ayers have aided greatly in the material for this story

The teacher for 1910-191 i term was Laura Richey Bartlett

-7 pupils; 1911-1912 term was Jenny Truby-12 pupils. The Board of Education at this time was George Williams, W. W. Derley, Alexander Morison, 0. Tom Wells and Andrew H. Graham. The Superintendent of schools was H. C. Hostetter. Other teachers for the terms between 1912 and 1918 were:

Lottie Fryberger Covens, Daisy L. Niece, Eva M. Cuyler and Eliza Liadley. George Darling and Andrew K. Richey made the desks for the teachers for the ten or eleven schools of the Township. These desks were made from a walnut tree felled on the Richey farm in 1870. The upper straight cuts were sawed into boards at the sawmill on the Alexander farm. The legs of the desks were turned at the Brandywine Workshop and Tannery supplied the leather for seats at Little York. This mill was washed away by high water of the Brandywine Creek in 1872 and was never rebuilt.

In 1810, Jeremiah Cranmer, Mr. Bacon's brother-in-law, came to Northfield and built a cabin one-half mile from Isaac Bacon. Jeremiah Cranmer was the second settler. His cabin was built on Lot 72 at what is now called 11463 Valley View Road. In I 813 Henry Wood came to the township. He fell in love with Jeremiah's daughter and married her in her father s house. This was the first wedding in Northfield. In 1818 a log school was built about a quarter of a mile west of the Northfield-Macedonia Cemetery, now 11004 Valley View Road. Henry Wood was the first teacher. A frame school came later-now 11571 Dunham Road. The land was bought from William Clifford and his wife, Eunice Cranmer Clifford. The school was recorded October 10, [854. This school closed in 1918. It was sold to Louis Blaha at the entrance of "Willow Lake." This lake was formerly known as Van Horn's Pond,

then Saxe's Pond after the owners. Louis Blaha remodeled the building for a dwelling and lived there until his death. It was then purchased by Kathryn Stueve.

In the early times, many Methodists of this area went to Willow Lake to be immersed. On one occasion of this kind, a young minister wholly unfamiliar with this method of baptism performed the task. He first led out a young man into quite deep water. As he immersed him, he held his body under water while he performed the ceremony. By that time the victim was struggling seriously for air. Releasing him, the minister proceeded with a much younger boy, holding him under water too. He also began to struggle. But in no time this boy's Sunday School teacher, having endured the ordeal long enough, plunged into the water, Sunday apparel and all, and grabbed the boy from the water as she shouted to the minister, "You fool, didn't you ever immerse any one before?" Whereupon she proceeded to acquaint him with the proper procedure. The younger boy later became the writer's husband, George E. Goosman. The older man was Frank M. Goosman, George's uncle. The woman with unqualified nerve was Emily S. Smith, who never stood in the way of duty.

Mrs. Joseph Mottl recalled with much pleasure her school days at "Snatch Penny" as it was called. She said, "I'll never forget the sugaring-off parties, the oyster stew suppers and the Christmas programs which were attended by the whole community." She recalled that in the winter when the pond was frozen over the pupils made a beeline as soon as school was out at noon to the frozen pond. She said there were times when the school was closed for a year or two when there were too few pupils to keep it open.

In 1898 and the years that followed, some of the teachers were: George W. Nichols, Jessie Way, Eliza Reed, Gertrude Burton and Grace L. Nichols. In the years after 1900 there were several years when there were not enough pupils to open the school. During these years, those children of school age went to other schools, such as Egypt school on Dunham Road, or in Bedford, Cuyahoga County.

Some of the pupils of Snatch Penny school during the last

eight years were: George and Ralph Richey, Mildred, Clyde and Dorothy Nesbit, Hazel, Edna, Edith and George Warp, Willis and Aida Richey, Alma and Elmer Banke, Gordon and Bernice Downie, Lucretia, Garnet and Berbert Boswell, Al-bert Peck, Joseph Motd, Dorothy Quade, Florence Eldridge and Curtis Polcen.

Teachers recalled were Alta Peck Hagget, Ella McConnell Washko, Augusta Green, Jennie Truby, Albert Breen, Philura Noble, Gertrude Reese and Willis Stevenson.

Why named Snatch Penny? It is said a "pack peddler" once spent a period trying to sell goods in this neighborhood but to no avail. As he left the community he remarked, "The people here would snatch the pennies of a dead man's eyes." Hence its name Snatch Penny.

Little York School was built a little south of the bridge near where Indian Creek flows into the Brandywine River at Little York. It is on the left side of old Route 8 going south, on the curve of the road, at 8367 Akron-Cleveland Road.

At that time there were a number of families living there, and the school must have been quite well attended.

The school was closed in 1908 and sold to Lee and Lena Forbes for a residence. Forbes bought the school house at public auction for $290. Lee Forbes passed away October 25, 1929, and Mrs. Forbes sold the house to Mr. and Mrs. Ted Dickard in 1942. In '95' the Dickards sold to Frank Frate, who still owns it.

Teachers recalled:

Bessie Boam Hattie Martin

Beatrice Burns Miss Sweet

Mary Cochran Martha Theiss

Newton Ford (about 1873) Edna Williams

Blanche Job

The North School was located at the corner of Route 8 and Ledge Road and is shown on the 1856 Summit County map. It probably was built around 1854 when other district schools were built.

This school was well situated to serve children of several large farms in this community. It favored children from Ledge Road east, and north and south on Route 8; and some from Macedonia, even a few from Walton Road in the Bedford District. Some of these families were: Powells, Lemmons, Means, Grahams, Duncans, Horrs, Martins, Kuhns, and Gliddens.

In 1916 North School was sold at public auction for $400 to Ray Osborne. Other owners were: E. R. Jestrab, then Louis Mayor who lived there for ten years. Mehezonek was the last to possess it. It was moved back from Route 8 to Ledge Road, just a short distance. It was razed for the erection of the Pick and Pay Supermarket.

Pupils attending during the last year school was held in this building were:

Catherine E. Adams

Willie W. Addams

Effie Elliot

Alice K. Glidden

E. Vance Glidden

Vincent K. Glidden

Frank Graham

Willis Hiphill

Edith B. McKisson

John A. Means

Lillie M. Means

Ethel Stevens

Fred C. Stevens

Manning C. Stevens

Ida Van Camp

(Found in teacher's record book.)

The Ledge School has passed the century mark in years of service. It is now one hundred and three years old according to the abstract of title, now held by the owner. (1958)

The Jason Spafford family came to live on a farm, lot 3,

Shepard Road, where a daughter, Amarilla Spafford, was born in 1853. In 1853, Mr. Spafford set aside land for the school, which was built that year. It was a frame school situated at the east end of Ledge Road near Shepard Road.

In 1873 Joseph Carter married Amarilla Spafford and in 1879 came to the Spafford farm to live. Jason Spafford died in 1876. Eventually Joseph and Amarilla became the owners of Carter Farm.

Charlie Tryon, who was born on his father and Jessie's adjoining farm, received his entire education at this school. He later was school director and gave me a school register dating from 1885-1894, listing teachers, pupils, and books. I think our people would be interested to know them.

The school stood idle for around twenty years, then the state put it up for sale. Frank Wise bought it, then after a time Charlie Tryon offered him a team of mules for the building, and Wise accepted his offer. Then Tryon added five acres to the school grounds and advertised it on Saturday in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Very early Sunday morning Floyd F. Charlesworth came to Tryon and bargained for it for $1,000.

Mr. Charlesworth moved the house back about fifteen feet. He said they picked it up and set it on the new foundation without disturbing the structure of the house in the least. He then extended one side of the house, and now there is a living room, kitchen, bath, and three bedrooms.

1875

Teacher: Jennie Martin. Pupils: Laura Darrow, Pearlie Tryon, Albert Jenkins, Eddie Jenkins (Fred?), Frank Jenkins, Gene Darrow, Robert Adams.

1886

Teacher: Della Senter. Pupils: The above names and Mamie Murray, Mary Berry, Fred Tryon, Clarence Darrow (same as Gene), Robert Perry.

1886

Teacher: Lina Wells. Pupils: 7 and 5 new ones, Nora Bull, Ouida Herbert, Artie Bull, Otto Bull, Pearl Beeman.

1887

Teacher: Belle McConaughy. Pupils: 5 and 3 new ones, Hattie Kelty, Anna Kelty, Chester Kelty.

1887

Teacher: Belle McConaughy. Pupils: 8-no new ones.

1888

Teacher: Belle McConaughy. Pupils: 9-I new one , Ray Beaney.

1889

Teacher: Belle Forbes. Pupils: 7 and 6 new ones, Lena Carter, Grace Herbert, Thad Carter, Guy Jenkins, Robbie Smith, Lillie Herbert.

McGuffey Reader, Pederson's History, Barne's History, White's Arithmetic, Ray's Arithmetic, Steele's Physiology, Eclectic Geography, Houston's Geoqraphy, Harvey's Grammar, Towne Speller and Henderson Speller.

Louefla Tupper-Blackman and Albert Jenkins taught 1891 and 1892, the last year of school.

(Ledge School record and Mr. Charlesworth.) Old Brick High School, Elementary Bldg., Leonard School, Nordonia High School, Ledge View, Rushwood.

Teacher: Della Senter. Pupils: The above named and Mamie Murray, Mary Berry, Fred Tryon, Clarence Darrow (same as Gene), Robert Perry.

The first school in the Bacon district, prior to 1817 , was the Rowley House, a small log cabin situated near 11004

Valley View Road (Rinear farm-"Spring Pond"). It was built and paid for by the parents of the children who attended. was large enough to accommodate twelve pupils.

The first log school in Northfield was built in 1825 and located on the "square." The first frame school in Northfield built in 1835 was located approximately at 9279 Olde Route 8 and was later replaced by the "twin" Red Brick School built in 1871. Macedonia had the other "twin" school which was located near the present elementary school at 9735 Valley View Road.

Each of the square "brick twins" had a belfry for the school bell. The interior of each consisted of a large room downstairs and an identical one upstairs. A long hall in the front of each room held the children's wraps, dinner pails, and the water bucket which was shared by all.

A steep stairway connected the two floors. It had a broad smooth bannister which the children secretly used for sliding, despite orders forbidding such pleasures.

There was no grade separation in these old schools. Instead of advancing to an upper grade, the pupils went from one MeGuffey Reader to another. After the fourth book, pupils were moved upstairs. The first floor was usually taught by a lady teacher, "the Schoolmarm," and the upper floor by a man, the "Superintendent" or 'Professor."

In the Northfield school, in later years, the upper floor was partitioned to provide a High School class room. In time, the lower floor was also divided, and still later, an annex was added. Northfield had its first High School.

The graduating class of 1895 of Northfield consisted of the following members: Merle Shirey, Myrtle Nesbit, Jessie B. Hall, Lailah B. Davis, Frank B. Jenkins, Mario Richie, Stella Munn, Flossy Ellet, Ambrose Nesbit, Cicely Humphrey and Lulu A. Jones.

Macedonia's first Commencement was in 1900. Macedonia's "twin" building was used for basketball practice and for games after 1914 and was torn down a year or so later for a new building.

In 1845 Orrin A. Bishop, the owner of the Half Way House, died. It had been the custom to hold all town meetings in that building. After Bishop's death, it was no longer available, and the town fathers decided to build a Town Hall. The southeast portion of the village "Square" was chosen, and a half acre of land which had originally been donated by Colonel Milton Arthur, was the selected site. A red brick building was erected in 1848. How long it served as a town hall is not on record. [n its early days it was used as a "select" school taught by Robert Smith. Again in 1910, Just after the new Town Hall was built on the Lilli section of the square, the old town hall was used for a school to accommodate the overflow of pupils from Northfield Schools. It was so used for seven years. In 1910-I I Ella McConnell Washko taught the fourth, fifth and sixth grades and the following year the teacher was Cleo Leach Kingzett.

For the next few years the old town hall was used for band rehearsals and for basketball practice and games until about 1918. The building was then sold and converted into a garage, owned and operated by F. Percy Townsend and Louis Ozmun. In 1921 Allen W. Rice bought out Ozmun's interest and became a partner with his uncle "Perc" Townsend. Seven years later Allen Rice's brother Harry succeeded Townsend in the partnership. In 1937 Allen Rice acquired complete ownership of the garage. He later leased the entire property to Shell Oil Company. After that the building was rented to various people for a garage, auto agency, battery storage, etc. In 1970 it was torn down for a new gas station (Shell Oil at cor. Rt. 82 and Olde 8).

The frame school building that was replaced by the Red Brick "twin" school was moved to the west side of the road and to the north. It became a blacksmith and wagon shop of Christian Seidel about 1879, and was eventually torn down for a new store built by Elmer E. Folk about 1925.

In 1912-13 the School Board could foresee that a new school building would be needed within a few years. A contract was let to a company from Ashtabula to erect a new building on ground purchased from the Dalrymple family of the Palmer section of the square. It was impossible to obtain materials and labor at this time.

In the fall of 1916 the Red Brick "twin" was ravaged by fire due to a faulty furnace. It was then agreed to rush through the construction of the new building.

In the interim, the High School, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grades were taught in the basement of the Town Hall. Northfield Township Trustees when the Town Hall was built were, Charles Gibson, J. F. J. Richey, and Levi Burroughs. The building was dedicated December 7, 1909. Charles Calkins was principal and Verda White Richey was a high school teacher. Eva Plank Cuyler taught the seventh and eighth, and Daisy Niece the fifth and sixth grades. The lower grades continued in the white frame building.

The new school, at 9370 Old Route 8, was dedicated November 23, 1917, and housed all grades and the High

School classes. There was much criticism because there were two classrooms on the upper floor that were unused the first year. George W. Peoples was the principal. The schools were centralized in the fall of 1918 and part of the unused space was needed. By the fall of 1925 a double portable building was necessary and was located just west of the drive that went around the school. It was later moved to the north side of the school lot and used as a garage for busses.

The frame school was also moved to a new site on the north side of the school lot and was used as a gymnasium.

The Palmer House, after being moved to the north side of its lot, became the home of the principals of the school. (It is now the Historical Museum building).

The Board of Education at the time of construction of this two story brick building was composed of: John Smith, Pres.; George Williams, clerk; A. Fenn Richey, Ambrose Nesbit, C. W. Cooper and Clark W. Mathias. Glen T. Howe was the principal the second year and stayed until the fall of 1922 when Lloyd Webb took charge for several years (about 1927). The next principal was John P. McDowell who stayed with the system until after the merger of Northfield and Macedonia schools in the fall of 1948. Lee M. Patton and William J. Boliantz succeeded him at a still later date.

An additional six classrooms were constructed in 1959, and in 1963 twelve more rooms were added. it is now known as the Northfield Elementary School and the central offices for the school system are also located in this building.

Ten acres of land were purchased from William Lockhart at 73 Leonard Ave in 1926-27 for a new high school and upper grades. It was a larger two story brick and was dedicated January 4, 1929. The Board of Education at this time consisted of: Charles M. Fenton, Pres.; George E. Etz, clerk; Harriett Zimmerman, Allen W. Rice, Ralph Anderson and George Kusta.

In 1928 the Northfield High School was granted a first grade charter and it contained a combined auditorium-gymnasium, home economics, and industrial arts rooms. in 1955 an addition was built including new science rooms, new and

expanded shops and drawing rooms, dressing and shower rooms for boys, and library and reading rooms. This building served as the Senior High School for Northfield From 1928 and for the consolidated Northfield and Macedonia Senior High from the fall of 1948 until the fall of 1962. It is now "Nordonia Junior High." In 1968-69 new windows were put in the front of the building which made the building look much more modern. An addition of a new cafeteria and auditorium on the east end and several new class rooms on the west end provided much needed space.

In September 1962 the Senior High moved into a new building at 8006 S. Bedford Road in Macedonia. Eight additional classrooms and the Auditorium were completed early in 1963. This year the school name was changed to Nordonia Hills High School. It was voted in 1970 to make funds available for many more changes and additions in class rooms to properly care for the fast growing enrollment.

In the spring of 1957, the consolidated Northfield-Macedonia High School was accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Universities. This is the highest ranking any high school in the United States can achieve. The high school has long had a chapter of the National Honor Society and has also had an active Science Club, Dramatic and Stage Clubs. Both vocal and instrumental music are stressed and the "Lancer Band" has been awarded many prizes from local standings to the highest in the State of Ohio for their class. The community also recognizes the good work being done in athletics-football, basketball, track, and base-ball are all well coached. Nordonia Hill 5 teams are usually among the leaders of their division of the county schools.

The Lee Eaton Primary building was erected at 115 Ledge Road on part of twelve acres of ground given to the North-field-Macedonia School System by Cyrus S. Eaton. It was dedicated February 23, 1955 and named in honor of Lee Eaton, a daughter of Cyrus S. and Margaret House Eaton, who passed away February 12,1949. This building is a worthy tribute to the memory of this young lady, who through great fortitude and a cheerful disposition, gained the affection and

esteem of many people of the community.

The Ledgeview Elementary School on Sheperd Road has 30 class rooms, a multi-purpose room, offices and lounge. It was completed in 1963.

Rushwood Elementary School on Rushwood Lane is partially completed and occupied (September '97') but construction is not complete.

Forty-eight acres of land for future schools was given by Wargo Builders and their associates in 1970. This is located in three parcels north and south of Greenwood on Route 82.

Location of trails was selected on high lands, clear of snow and leaves. Cuyahoga War Trail went north from a point in Northampton with Mahoning Trail to Dunham and Tinker's Creek.

In 1813 a military mail route was established from Washington, D.C. via Pittsburgh to Cleveland over the Mahoning Trail. Portage County was established the 10th of October, 1807.

A stage line, called the Telegraph Line, ran from Cleveland to Cincinnati in 1830 taking four days to make the trip. In 1836 it took a whole night to go from Hudson to Bedford, causing the passengers to get out of the stage and walk several times when the mud was deep.

The Mahoning Trail came through Boston and Kendall Ledges, Brandywine Falls, and the junction of the present Boyden road to Dunham Road and on to Tinker's Creek. It passed a canal boat loading station at the foot of Red Lock Hill, where lumber was obtained from sawmills at Little York, on past the old wagon road and dwelling house on Holzhauer Road extension.

The earliest roads led along Indian Trails or along banks of streams. New roads were a venture. Many paths widened as oxen and horses came to be used. These paths led to cabins,

places of service, trading centers arid later to industries. As industries developed, better trails were required, and as wagons came into use, roads were necessary.

New settlers came fast, and when enough people built along a trail, they could petition for a road. Here and there, as materials could be had, men set up saw mills, and after logs were sawed, roads were needed to make deliveries.

The Summit County History of 1874 speaks of children walking from Bath to Brandywine Falls to get their shoes mended, probably up the Cuyahoga Trail to Northampton, then north on a branch of the Mahoning Trail. Returning after dark they brandished a hickory bark torch to keep the wolves and bears away. Going north from Brandywine Falls, the trail became a wagon road to Cleveland. A stone causeway in a pasture field, about eight hundred feet northwest of the corner of the present Brandywine Road and Highland-Twins-

burg Road, marks the location, as well as an old hedge further north, and then hedge bushes just north of Meadow View Road.

From the corner of Boyden Road and Aurora Road it turned west to Carter Road or nearly so, and passed the old tavern. The present North Boyden Road was not open to vehicles before 1840, although there may have been a foot path or pack horse trail. From the tavern, it went north through the farmyard of the old stone Nesbit house and forked. One branch came out at the present four corners of Dunham and Sagamore Roads, the other angled back towards the river, just north of Hawthornden State Hospital in Cuyahoga County.

The east and west branch of the Chagrin Road, now called Aurora Road, joined the road from Brandywine at Boyden Road.

Holzhauer Road at one time was a wagon road, extending from a canal loading basin at the foot of Red Lock Hill to Nesbit Road about where North Gannett joins it. It was on the north extension where the cabin stood in which the McKisson murder took place.

The watering trough in the early days of our township was certainly a blessing to both man and beast. Some (roughs were hewn from stone and some were hollowed out of logs. They were usually at corners or near large dairies. NI any times they were placed along the roadside of a steep hill.

The water was supplied by dug wells and a pump, from farm springs and from hillsides where it was piped to the trough. The water in these troughs was nearly ice cold and the only source of water for many people. Many springs are still in use over the area.

One of the most used troughs was at "The Corners" in Macedonia. [t was a big trough and many people drove their horses there for water. Several families obtained their water supply from the feed pipe that brought it from an artesian well in the cellar of William Dixon's home.

At the corner of Shepard Road and Route 82, a very large stone trough was fed through a pipe from the farm of Henry

Reed in Macedonia. People came from miles around to fill a can with this water. Because of litterbugs this trough was removed in the 1940's.

In 1902, trustees made a motion to purchase a stone watering trough to be placed at the side of the road at R. F. Maxam's at a cost of $6. R. F. Maxam was a Macedonia farmer.

At a trustee meeting it was resolved to employ W. J. Powell to purchase iron pipe to carry water from a farm spring to a watering trough located on the roadside on Valley View Road, just west of the cemetery. It was also resolved to protect the watering trough on Pine Hill by placing planks around the edge of the stone.

Very early in the history of Northfield Township a large trough was set up at the center of Northfield (now Northfield Center). This trough of stone was fed by a pump. Both the trough and the pump were wrecked by a bus in the summer of 1971. Township trustees have since restored it.

Three post offices were officially established in the original Northfield Township, which was settled in 1807. The first post office was granted at Brandywine Mills on December 20, 1825. It was in operation for thirty years. George Wallace served as postmaster until April 14, 1849. He was succeeded by his brother James Wallace who served until February 21, 1855 when the office was discontinued. The second post office was established at Northfield March 23, 1837. The third post office was the Macedonia Depot established on June 21, 1852. The name was changed to Macedonia in 1908. It was discontinued as a post office on August 27, 1965 when it became a branch of the main post office at Northfield.

Names of the Northfield postmasters and dates of their appointments are: George Lillie, March 23, 1837; Jeremia H. Woodman, July 15, 1849; George Lillie, December 21, 1853; William L. Palmer, August 5, 1856; Robert Alexander, April 18, 1863; Hosea Bliss, April 11, 1866; Albert L. Bliss, June 26, 1874; George L. Bishop, September 16, 1897; Perry E. Leach, August 5, 1905; Elmer E. Folk, February 15, 1921 ; Clark W. Mathias, October 2, 1934; Marie Novotny Agee, July 25, '939; Fred H. Bonker, October '4, 1961; James P. Hanacek, January 17, 1964.

Northfield Township's early history indicates that in many cases, the names of postmaster and storekeepers were identical, the post office and the store were in the same building, both operated by the owner of the store.

George Lillie owned what old timers will recall as the John McConnell place. That post office site is now the Charles Fenton home at 9538 Brandywine Road next to the Northfield Center Town Hall.

The Bliss brothers kept the post office in their home. Their house was built as a tavern and stage coach stop known as "The Half Way House." The historic structure, situated on the southwest center of the village green, was torn down to make way for the Humble service station.

George L. Bishop became the owner of the L. D. Lyons & Company cheese factory and store (across from Northfield Center Town Hall) and at this time the post office was relocated in this store. In 1905 Perry Leach purchased the L. Bishop store and the post office again changed hands but was kept in the same store.

Mr. Leach sold this store to Elmer E. Folk who became postmaster in 1921 and continued in the original building. After a few years went by, Mr. Folk tore down the old cheese factory and remodeled the store into the present stucco building which is on Brandywine Road at the Center.

In 1925 Mr. Folk erected a larger, new stucco building extending from Brandywine Road to Old Route 8. The main floor housed the post office and a fine general store. Mr. Folk was the last of the "Fourth Class Storekeeper-Postmasters." In September of 1934, the Post Office Department authorized a change of housing quarters. Accordingly a new place was secured about fifteen hundred feet north on Olde Route 8 in the new business block which had been recently built by Dwight and Ray Dawson. There were 434 square feet of space and rental was fifteen dollars per month. The property is now owned by L. A. Griffiths and his daughter, Jean Ames. The old quarters are now Dr. Virginia Huffman's office.

The post office advanced to third class in July of 1936. The postmaster of a third class office in 1939 received a salary of fifteen hundred dollars a year. Out of his salary he was required to furnish all the equipment, such as mail boxes, desks, files, cafe, etc., necessary for the operation of the office. A clerk earned about thirty cents per hour. Mail messengers contracted their vehicle and personal services for thirty seven dollars per month to shuttle and handle all mail from the Pennsylvania Railroad to the post offices at Northfield and Macedonia. During the twenty year period from 1935 to 1955, he office receipts increased 2,000 percent.

The next post office quarters were occupied on September 15, 1955 in a new leased building on Leonard Avenue which was owned and built to government specifications by Mr.

and Mrs. Wallace Hannaford. The leased quarters comprised approximately twelve hundred square feet. Operations in the outgrown quarters terminated November 19, 1966.

Mail transported into Northfield was by horseback, train, street car, and truck. Billy Wallace brought mail from Bedford on horseback three times weekly until the Pennsylvania Railroad was built through Macedonia in 1851. Mail from the train was delivered to the post offices at Northfield, Macedonia, and Twinsburg. When the Northern Ohio Traction and Light Company operated the A. B. C. Street Car line through Northfield, mail was received twice daily, mornings between seven and eight o'clock, and late afternoon between five and six o'clock. After the street car line was discontinued, the Pennsylvania Railroad again served the communities until 1950 when the Star Route Service was established.

For many years George Goosman and later Glenn Meddles held mail messenger contracts, transporting mail from the Pennsylvania Railroad station. In 1956 the Cleveland-Pittsburg trains number 353 and 354 were discontinued. Northfield began its delivery service in 1900, or four years after the rural delivery was established in the United States. Nelson Truby served as rural carrier until 1911 when this service was taken over by Earl R. Peck. Mr. Peck served until his death on June 29, 1935 For a short time his son, C. Albert Peck, served as a substitute. The Department then combined the delivery service with Macedonia's rural route.

Mrs. M. Lillis Peck, Earl Peck's widow, has related some-thing of the human element of a rural mail carrier. She said, "For some time Mr. Peck delivered mail on horse-back. He often rode one horse for part of the trip, then changed to another. If he rode the same horse all one day, he rode a different horse the next day. Later he used a two wheeled carriage. Mr. Peck purchased a team of very young mules from Alva Copeland and broke them in himself. They were very tough and we kept them as long as they lived." C. Albert Peck added that his father bought his first automobile in 1916 but could use it only two or three months of the year because of such bad roads.

Following the death of Earl Peck, Northfield rural carrier, the Northfield rural route was transferred to Macedonia in 1935. This service continued until July 18, 1954, when the rural route was transferred to the Northfield Post Office. In time the C. & P. Railroad ceased to carry the Macedonia mail. Since then mail trucks carry the mail to Cleveland, where it is transferred to other places.

The Macedonia Post Office has had three classifications since 1852. Until 1927 it remained in 4th class. At that time it advanced to 2nd class, where it remains today. These are the main facts about the Macedonia Post Office.

There are many human interest stories connected with the Macedonia Post Office. In the horse and buggy era, the farmers, after leading their morning milk onto the "milk train," congregated at the store containing the post office and discussed politics and crops, while waiting for their mail.

During the great depression, long lines of automobiles stood in front of the post office while men waited for their W.P.A. checks on Saturday nights.

The post office was the center of interest in wartime. People came here to buy bonds and war savings stamps. Women gathered here after every mail, hoping for a letter from a loved soldier. Overseas packages were sent to far away places. Too many times the Hudson postmaster would stop here to find out where to deliver a death telegram from Washington.

Nettie Brooks, who was clerk in the Macedonia Post Office, while her brother, Andrew Brooks, was postmaster, told this story. People were complaining that their post cards were read by the post office workers. Someone wrote to Washington asking if this was lawful. Nettie said the answer came back, "If you have something to say that you don't want known to everybody, don't put it on a postcard."

On July 19, 1954 the Post Office Department adopted an inspector's recommendation to move the rural delivery route back to Northfield from Macedonia and to divide it into two separate routes, R.R. #1 to be 31.28 miles long and R.R. #2 was to be 36.25 miles in length.

The area was growing rapidly. Farms were being sold

to developers which resulted in rapid population increase. Summit County Engineering Department had completed its house numbering system. Rural delivery was no longer adequate in this area and was subsequently discontinued when city mounted delivery service was inaugurated in 1958. Three mounted routes grew to seven by April, 1963 and to eleven in 1965. When Macedonia became a branch, four mounted routes were transferred. The carriers serving them are Robert Gilder, Robert Olmsted, Arthur MacMenigal, Walter Mendat, and Wiljo Hanel.

Carriers serving from the main office are Ben Eppele, Howard Duke, Christian Nielsen, Frank Novotny, Vernon B. Nine, Kenneth Tropf, Harold Zakrajsek, Louis Fisher, Richard Pobiega, and Robert White.

All mail is delivered from eleven government owned vehicles. A collection and special delivery service was established.

The first International money orders were issued in 1939 at Northfield.

On July1, 1948 the Northfield post office was advanced to second class.

Contract Station Number one was awarded to the Gray Drug Store at the Northfield Plaza in 1961.

By 1960 the office's receipts topped $40,000 and the office was advanced to first class in July 1962.

The position of assistant postmaster was authorized in 1960. Mr. Vernon B. Nino served as assistant postmaster from November 12, 1960 to July 20, 1963. Mr. Hanacek transferred on November 23, 1963 from the Cleveland Post Office to serve in that capacity until he was appointed acting postmaster on January 17, 1964. Thomas Burroughs transferred from the Hudson Post Office in 1964 to become Postmaster Hanacek's assistant.

The new Post Office on Route 82 was erected in 1966.

Cheese-making, an art long gone from Olde Northfield Township, was once one of its chief industries. In the days of the Northfield settler, the cheese was made by the housewife in her farm kitchen. The milk was heated on the stove to just below the boiling point. The curds were then separated from the whey and worked by hand. They were then salted and placed in containers where the ripening process took place.

By 1840 when Summit County was formed, small cheese factories appeared on all the country roads. The Northfield section was part of what was called "Yankee Cheesedom."

In 1851, the Pennsylvania Railroad was built through Macedonia. The cheese business increased enormously, as the farmers now had a good outlet for their product. It is said that in one season alone 60,000 pounds of cheese were shipped from the Macedonia Depot.

Small cheese factories gradually combined to form larger ones. Some of these were the Lyons, the Patron, the Spring Grove, the Richey, and the Straight factories. An 1874 Atlas of Summit County shows the Lyons Cheese Factory in the center of Northfield. Smoke pours out of the chimney of the small building at the left, indicating that here the milk was heated. At the right, a larger building next to it has the sign "Lyons Cheese Factory" printed on the front door. Fanciful pictures of farmers with their horse-drawn wagons, taking their milk to the factory, are shown in front of the buildings.

The Straight Factory in Macedonia, known as the Town-line Factory, stood at the northeast corner of Shepard Road and Route 82. It was one of thirteen Straight factories in this area with headquarters in Hudson. It was last operated by John Leuenberger, a native of Switzerland, who came to the United States in 1872. He had learned the art of making cheese in Switzerland and was probably one of the best qualified men in the business in Ohio.

From his daughter, Rose Leuenberger Riehl, come this description of the way he made his cheese:

Around 1895 , the Straight Company broke up, and the Townline Factory was purchased by A. T. Brooks who owned and operated a grocery and dry goods store in Macedonia.

The cheese factory was moved to a new location near the railroad station on Little York Road. Brooks incorporated the Brooks Creamery Company in 1896. Members of the corporation were A. T. Brooks, L. R. Foster, B. A. Robinette, P. E. Leach, Walter Beaney, H. J. Reed, H. H. Wallace, 0. E. Griswold, C. B. Tryon, and J. B. Carter. These men were, for the most part, farmers with large dairy herds in Macedonia and Northfield.

John Leuenberger was asked to work at the Brooks Creamery Company. The Company did a big business shipping butter and cheese to Cleveland for distribution until 1900 when the factory burned down.

Rose Riehi recalls the excitement in town the night the cheese factory burned.

The cheese factory was never rebuilt. A small annex took care of the milk which the farmers continued to bring to Brooks for a time for distribution in Cleveland.

Although cheese making came to an end in Northfield and Macedonia around the beginning of the present century, it continued to be a major industry in other parts of Ohio. The state produces over 45,000,000 pounds of cheese each year. It is especially noted for its Swiss cheese produced south of this area.

Cheese factory and grocery-J. D. Lyons.

Farm machinery-J. G. Alexander.

General store and post office-George L. Bishop. This store was bought by Perry E. Leach in 1905, and then by Elmer F. Folk about 1921. Soon after, all old buildings were taken down and new ones erected.

Blacksmith shop-Christian Seidel. Torn down at time new buildings were erected by Folk.

Tailors-Bliss and Taubman and Max Klein.

Tavern called Halfway House-Orrin A. Bishop. This was later renamed Washington Inn. Still later, it was owned by various individuals and used for business establishments. Finally, it was made into apartments. It was demolished in 1961 to make way for a gas station.

Wholesale growers of potted plants and cut flowers-Kurt Laubinger and sons. The company was founded in 1918 as Heepe Wholesale Company. The firm which was reorganized in 1946 is located on Ledge Road.

The 82 and 8 Tavern in the early teens was a grocery store run by Marvin Berry. The upstairs was used as a dwelling by many different families. The store room was a shoe repair shop and later became a grocery store run by Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Lane who finally moved to Twinsburg. Harold "Shorty" Taylor from Brecksville bought it about 1935 and made it into a tavern. Later he sold it to Louis Yerse who operated it

as a tavern for many years. At this writing, he still owns the property but has sold the business.

What is now the Center Building at 46 West Aurora Road was built in 1905 by B. F. DeHaven for a grocery store and dwelling. Through the years it was owned and operated by various people for various uses. In 1959, Louis W. Assmus acquired it and remodeled it strictly for business purposes. It houses a beauty shop and offices for doctors, dentists, and attorneys.

The Eleanor Block was built in 1927 at Olde Route 8 and Leonard Avenue. When first opened, it housed the Acme Grocery Store, the Hansen Hardware Store (moved from Macedonia), Stan Plevney Meat Market and George Kusta Drug Store. Dr. R. M. MeCulloch had his office and apartment upstairs. Some time later another building was added.This building was built by Max Klein and was occupied by

Mr. Klein's Tailor Shop and Department Store. Mr. Llewellyn Griffith built the next section of the business block. It was occupied by the Post Office, with Marie Agee as postmistress for many years. Also in this block the A & P Grocery and the Variety Store were housed, Mr. Griffith being the proprietor of the Variety Store and Frank Jenkins operating the A & P. After Mr. Jenkins left the store Marguerite Forbes worked there for many years.

The last block to be built at the Center of Northfield was the Regauer Block just north of the other stores but not attached to them. It housed a Beauty Shop operated by Rose Regauer and also a Barber Shop operated by Mr. Regauer. At present the Barber Shop is there but the Beauty Shop is now occupied by an Insurance Office operated by Mr. Glenn Beers.

Most early residents of "Olde Northfield" made their living by general farming. Threshing machines were used for threshing wheat, oats and rye. It was some time later when bailers came into use. They bailed the hay and straw to make the handling and storage of hay and straw easier. Then came the ensilage cutters to shred the corn and fodder for the silos.

One early threshing outfit was owned and operated by J. F. Richey who owned the steam engine and Charles Mehling owned the thresher. This partnership lasted until about 1908.

Before 1905 Perry F. Leach also owned an outfit and did threshing for several years during which time he hved on the farm in Little York. Jim Leslie of Bedford threshed grain in this area in 1915. His steam engine had an upright boiler, but no steering mechanism and had to be drawn by horses. He had a big black and white team which he hitched to the separator, put the engine in the middle and the water wagon on behind. He would stand on the separator and drive the team, it was said, "as proud as a peacock in all its glory." While on a threshing job, the boiler exploded, killing Jim Leslie and injuring one of his men.

Lyman Post of Hudson had an outfit trimmed with brass bands which had to be polished every day and was used and displayed with pride in this area. George and John Groh of Bedford worked in the Snatchpenny area near Tinkers Creek and Dunham road with their threshing rig. From 1909 to 1913, Will Sisler of Macedonia threshed in the area of Macedonia, Northfield and Peninsula. Bill Bliss and the Gleason brothers also had outfits. After working for Cy and Louis Gleason for some time, George Eisenman acquired a threshing rig of his own.

In the early days the thresher was fed by hand, one man to cut the bands of binder twine and another to feed the machine. If not fed evenly the machine would choke up and stall. A

"self-feeder" was invented that required two less men and eliminated a very dirty job. Hand feeding required men to feed evenly, slowly, and with the grain heads all one way.

If the threshing was done in the field, grain was put into bags made of closely woven, heavy cotton. The machine measured out the grain by the bushel and was set for the correct number of pounds to equal a bushel, which varied with different grains; 60 pounds per bushel for wheat, thirty-two pounds per bushel for oats and 56 pounds per bushel for rye. The farmer paid "per bushel" to have his grain threshed, prices varying with the type of grain.

The wagon loads of sacks of grain were hauled to the "granary." Sometimes sacked grain was set aside to be taken directly to the mill. These bags were tied shut with binder twine. The sacks to be emptied into the granary were not usually tied. If the threshing was done in the barn, the sacks were used but if the granary was close by sometimes an open bushel container was used.

There was a "knack" in knowing how to "stack" straw as it came from the blower so that the stack would have a good and secure shape to withstand the weather. Cooperation was required between the man at the blower and the man on the stack who received the straw and placed it so as to be windproof and rain proof.

Sometimes the farmer "shocked" the wheat in his field and awaited his turn for the thresher or until the oats or rye could be threshed at one time. By the time the oats were threshed it would be time to cut corn for silage. Everyone tried to finish before the corn was too ripe or the fields too muddy from the fall rains. Wheat thrashing started the first week in August, was followed by oats, and then rye if ready. Rye was disliked by most threshers because it was "unpleasant to handle."

Bailing hay was done as time permitted. Two or three wires were bound around each bale. One man fed the wires from one side and another tied them from the other side of the baler. Each bale was weighed and tagged with a cardboard tag about I" x 2". The tag was marked with the weight

and put under the middle wire. Weights were recorded and added up so that the farmer paid his baling bill by the ton. Most bales weighed between 100 and 150 pounds for ease in handling. A skilled baler knew not to twist the straw and just when to "trip" the locks and get the right sized bale.

On a threshing outfit, three men were required, one to run the fire to keep up the steam for power, one to care for the oiling and the cleaning and care of the belts, and a third to supply water and to care for the horses. Until automobiles became common, the threshing crew stayed over night where the threshing was to be done. They often went home only on Saturday nights and many times slept in the barn because there was not enough room in the farmhouse.

Threshers horses were a remarkable breed. They had to be quite unafraid of the steam engine, the whistle and the noise of the machine and also strange people and places. In the early days wood was used to fire the engine but later coal was used entirely as it kept a hot fire longer and did not require so much tending as wood. Each farmer bought enough coal for his job and enough to get the rig to the next job.

A Huher tractor was used in this area in 1938, belonging to J. G. Wright. It eliminated the use of horses, the water wagon and the purchase of coal. Men did not need to get to work so early to "stoke up" and get ready.

Between 1925 and 1930 few farms were still operated in Olde Northfield. Land was slowly being converted to manufacturing, homes and towns. The age of the threshing machine and the silo filler was coming to an end. Even conversation changed. Discussions of more than thirty bushels of wheat per acre or more than fifty-five bushels of oats per acre was a thing of the past.

In Mr. Perrin's History of Summit County, he tells us that in 1819 the eligible voters of "Old Northfield Township" met

at the cabin of George Cranny and elected officers to care for the area.

Each subdivision elected trustees to serve their respective interests in their own units as well as the interests of the overall area.

For many years the area worked agreeably. The areas were Northfield, Brandywine, and Macedonia; but in the 1900's many developments created a desire with the areas to become villages.

After Macedonia separated from the original Northfield Township in 1906 the remaining part stayed a Township until 1912 when it became a village. In 1932 another section wished to be severed. It consisted of, mostly, the western part of the village and was the main farming part. This was to be known as Sagamore Hills Township. It became a village in 1943 but surrendered its charter in 1947 and is once again a township.

In 1935 there was another division made when the southern part of the remaining Northfield Village was severed from the northern section. The northern section retained its right to remain a village and is known as Northfield Village. While the southern section returned to Township rule and is known as Northfield Center Township.

The school system covers all of the City of Macedonia, Village of Northfield, Sagamore Hills Township, Northfield Center Township and a section of Boston Heights Village and is known as Nordonia Hills School System.

Northfield was just replacing rail fences with posts and wires. Farms were large and prosperous, managed and owned by the second generation-the children of the pioneers. Silos were beginning to be built for ensilage.

The Bliss Swamp was pretty wet as were the ditches between Northfield and Macedonia and Little York.\

Brandywine Mill was grinding graham flour, cornmeal, and white flour as well as horse feed.

The rails and ties for the A.B.C. Electric Line were hauled from Silver Lake Junction by a small steam locomotive with a saddle tank, and how the sparks would shoot up when she made a run for a hill with two flat cars loaded with rails.

There were watering troughs at Northfield and halfway up Pine Hill, at the Rob Means farm on Valley View Road, and at the northwest corner of Shepard Road and Route 82.

The only time dirt roads were good was in the summer. At other times, they were badly rutted. The boys who rode horseback to school always had mud on their clothes.

The farmers hauled hay to the hay market. They hauled potatoes to Fleet Street in Cleveland where everything was sold off the wagons to Polish and Bohemian families.

Buildings were moved over the snow on skids or on rollers by horses as many as ten teams on one hookup.

George Mac had a harness shop at Macedonia and sold pork chops on the side. His shop was a wonderful place for a small boy-collars, hames, and traces hanging everywhere. Old muskets, cavalry sabers, cavalry revolvers, caps and balls from the Civil War, and souvenirs of Mac's service as a Rough Rider in 1898 were also displayed.

Windmills were commonly used on farms, and many barns had a cistern under the ramp that went up to the main floor.

Hydraulic rams were sometimes placed where enough flow existed to work them.

Ice was cut in winter and stored in sawdust.

Cider barrels were filled in the fall; and, if the cider became "hard," no one complained.

The wood lots were cleaned of small logs, pieces of stumps, etc., and all piled near the house or barn to be "buzzed" up for firewood and furnace chunks by some neighbor with a traction steam engine and portable saw.

Many men living today can remember getting up plenty of sweat on the crank of a hand-turned corn sheller or fodder cutter.

Remember the high milk stand at every crossroad? The

shining black funeral car? The lively doings on the midnight run on Saturday nights? And the crackling blue flames thrown off by the trolley? Remember the "Depot Orators" full of spirits of frumenty?

Camp meetings, revivals, and picnics were held at Boston Ledges.

At Van Horn's Pond (now Willow Lake on Willow Lane-first road off Dunham) boats were kept for hire, and people crossed a wire suspension bridge, patterned after the Brooklyn Bridge, to the largest island where there were tables for family use. There were also tables along the boat landing.

The three Bliss brothers held the Northfield Post Office for several years; and one of them, Albert, had a telegraph set connected to the Macedonia Railroad Station where Nelson Brown was agent. Mr. Bliss paid for the line personally.

At this time, the G.A.R. was at its greatest strength, for the men just passing beyond middle age had nearly all served as Union soldiers in the Civil War.

Henry Bower had a sawmill at the foot of Pine Hill located between the river and the canal, just south of the diversion dam. Hugh Burns lived halfway down the hill on the west side of the road, and Dan at the foot of the hill on the right. Jack Burns lived between the canal and the river. Jack was a lock tender at 17-mile lock.

In the old coach over the mountain.

Poem by ALICE MORSE EARLE

There were no mountains to climb as the stage coach made its way through Northfield Township, but the "jolt and roar" were there just the same. The body of the coach had no springs, and it had plain board seats. When the traveler climbed aboard, he reached for a leather strap fastened to the side of the coach. The stage swayed and jostled mile after mile in the dust or mud; there was always one or the other. The traveler was sure to be called upon to go on foot part of the time and was often expected to carry a rail from mud hole to mud hole to pry out the coach in which he was sup-posed to be riding. There was a constant need for balancing the stage coach by all the male passengers leaning to one side to prevent it from overturning in the deep ruts in the road. The driver would call out "Now, gentlemen, to the right," upon which all the male passengers stretched their bodies halfway out of the coach to balance that side. And then, "Now, gentlemen, to the left," and so on.

The name stage coach" was applied to a coach that ran from station to station over a number of stages of the road, usually with fresh horses for each stage. It carried mail as well as passengers, and its arrival was eagerly awaited at the halfway houses along the route. Sometimes the passengers were charged for their ride according to their size and weight, rather than by the miles to be traveled.

All the stage lines were named. Some of these names were "The Pioneer," "The Good Intent," and "The June Bug."

That this advertisement was rather an overstatement of the delights of travel by the Pioneer Fast Stage Line, you

may judge from the following account by Alexander Campbell of his journey by mail coach from Hudson to Cleveland in May, 1836.

We spent the whole night on the road from Hudson to Bedford, a distance of only 12 miles. Thus carrying the mail at the rapidity of I mile in three-quarters of an hour. We had only to walk some four or five miles through mud and swamps and to abandon the coach some six or seven times to prevent up-setting and the breaking of our bones during the night watch. We mercifully and sometimes barely escaped the disaster of being upset, and with no other detriment than fatigue and mud and water, completed our journey of 27 miles from Hudson to Cleveland in something less than a day.

This ride from Hudson to Bedford may have been through Twinsburg, rather than through Macedonia. Perrin's 1881 History of Summit County' states that in 1825 a well-traveled stage route passed through Northfield Township and brought such prosperity that two Twinsburg citizens bought the stage property and had the stage changed to pass through Twins-burg Center. This transfer was made in 1838.

A new State Constitution was adopted in Ohio in 1851. Several Northfield area men were chosen as Summit County officials. In October, 1860, John A. Means of Northfield was elected clerk for three years. In 1861 John entered the army, and his son, Nathan A., served the rest of the term. Captain Means was elected again in 1864 and served one year.

Thomas Wilson of Northfield was elected sheriff in April, 1840, and served four years in all.

Augustus Curtis of Northfield was elected sheriff in October, 1866, 1868, 1872, and 1874.

George Y. Wallace of Brandywine was appointed by county

commissioners to serve part of a term as treasurer of Summit County.

The Ladies' Soldier Aid Society was formed in Akron, early in i86i, and lasted until the end of the war. Both Martha and Mary Carpenter of Brandywine served as nurses during the war. They were sisters, and daughters of Aaron Carpenter and Tirzah Drake.

On June 28, 1893 the township trustees adopted the orders and regulations for a township board of health. Lorin Bliss was made the president.

A New Name for Isaac Bacon Neighborhood-We hear that a peddler, passing through the Isaac Bacon district, was unable to sell a single item. He remarked that the people was so stingy they would snatch a penny from a dead man's eye. It is reported that some people have begun to call the neighborhood "Snatchpenny".

Total abstainers will be sad to know that the source of the name of their thriving village, Brandywine, is New England rum, which was called brandy-wine, by the Dutch of New York (Early i8oo's).

Fine Furniture for Sale - . Amzi Chapin announces that he is prepared to make fine furniture to order in walnut, cherry, or maple. If you wish to see a sample of his work you may call at his house, where he has recently finished a square candle stand, a cherry Governor Winthrop desk, with key insets of ivory and a hidden drawer for valuable papers, and a schoolmaster's desk in cherry wood. Mr. Chapin also makes coffins, to order. He will accept in payment for his work any farm product, such as pickled pork, or beef, bacon, butter or potatoes. He will accept whiskey at the current rate of 18 cents per quart. Customers may also pay for their furniture

in labor, such as hoeing corn, mowing meadows or spinning. (Early 1800's)

Fence Viewers-Robert Wallace, Jeremiah Cranmer, and William Cranny complain that many farmers are not keeping their fences in proper repair. Good fences are very essential in these perilous days. Mr. Henry Wood reports that he heard a loud squealing one night recently, and hurried out to find a large bear carrying off one of his pigs. The squealing at a distance in the dark forest soon disclosed its fate. Wooleynigs are also reported to be in this neighborhood. They have the appearance of a huge' wild-cat, look savage, and are as savage as they look. (Early 1800's)

A Long Horse and Buggy Ride-Elihu Griswold will soon return to his 164 acres on Lot 7 in Macedonia. Last year he cleared 10 acres of land, and in the fall he planted it to wheat. He has built a nice log cabin on his place. Recently he borrowed a horse and buggy from Col. Arthur in Northfield Center, and drove to his former home in New York to marry Betsy Potter. They will be back in time for him to harvest his wheat crop. (This would have been a news item in 1832.)

High Cost of Road Building-The cost sustained in laying a road in the northeast part of Northfield was $22. Of this Horace Holbrook paid at different times $3, $1.85 and $1.85. Mr. Holbrook owns a 165 acre farm on both sides of the road. Other contributors were H. Philes $1.50 G. Lillie $0.50 and A. Cooley $4.00. John West laid the road. (Horace Holbrook's Expense Book 1839-1840.)

1839 PRICES FOR FARM PRODUCTS

Total 2 bu. wheat $1.50 6 fowls $.75

2 bu. corn $1.00 1 fat sheep $2.00

8 bu. potatoes $2.00 1 sheep's pelt $.50

9 lbs. pork $.55 ½ ton hay $3.00

25 lbs. veal $62 ½ 4 bu. ashes $.32

A New Year's Eve Ball sponsored by Philander Cranney, Horace Palmer, W. R. Cranney and Albert Wilkins was held

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at Half Way House in Northfield on December 31st. Guests came by bob sled and seigh from as far away as Bedford. Musicians fiddled and pretty girls and their beaux danced the hours away while their elders sipped whiskey toddies or rum and molasses, and gossiped or discussed politics and the success of the hunters and trappers. The Ball lasted well into New Year's Day. (1842)

North field Cornet Band, formed in 1864, has been reorganized and named the Bliss Band in honor of its leader, George Bliss. The members have purchased new brass instruments and bright green uniforms, and are now ready to play for any occasion. (1877)

Decoration Day at this place passed oft very pleasantly, with one or two exceptions. The procession formed on the public square, at 12.5 o'clock p.m., then proceeded to the cemetery, where the graves of the fallen heroes were decorated by soldiers who served in the late war. The Historical Address was delivered by Mr.. Amzi Wilson of Northfield. The oration of W. L. Marvin of Akron was very appropriate for the occasion.

The President of the Day was Mr. A. W. Bliss of this place. The Marshal was Mr. Will Howe. Miss Luella Bishop acted as Goddess of Liberty for the Little York School. The Northfield Cornet Band rendered some choice selections of music during the day. The exercises of the day closed with a prayer by Rev. I. W. Logue.

(From Household Visitor, June, 1879)

Which Was Wrong?-Upon last Decoration Day, when everything should have passed quietly and harmoniously, a little trouble arose between Snatchpenny School and the Committee on Arrangements.

The Committee agreed that the school furnishing the nicest turnout for the occasion should be entitled to a flag and take the lead in the procession; but the Committee, finding that the arrangement was going to cause hard feelings, changed the

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order of procession, having the schools arranged according to the School District, which would bring Snatchpenny School last, instead of first, in the procession. The result was, Snatchpenny withdrew from the procession and went home. (From Household Visitor, June, 1879.)

"Plenty of dust on Decoration Day."

"We won't take anybody's dust, so pull Out for Snatch-penny.

"The oldest resident of the town, Mr. Harry Wood, was present on Decoration Day."

"The valuation of the personal property of Northfield is $129,750."

"The best turnout on Decoration Day was from Snatch-penny (it turned out and went home) and is, therefore, entitled to the flag as it took the lead in the procession-about half a mile." (From Household Visitor, 1879)

New Recipe Book-"Brown's Excelsior Recipe Book" is just off the press, and will be sent anywhere for 30 cents. It contains over 500 excellent recipes, and other valuable information, such as Contents of Cisterns, how to measure grain, fencing, papering, and how to find the number of perches in a wall. (1878)

Simon Shaw Announces that he will include a fine piece of dinnerware in each sack of his flour. Sour apple jelly will be for sale at his cider mill this fall. ("The Gay Nineties")

Cheese Factory Burns-The Brooks Cheese Factory was totally destroyed by fire one night last week. The engineer on a passing freight train blew his whistle to arouse the sleeping townspeople, but it was too late to save the factory. The cheese was taken to John Leuenberger's house nearby. (1900)

Mysterious Disappearance-Mrs. Will Holbrook reports that her cousin Lena has never had any news about her husband. He was supposed to join her at Mrs. Holbrook's home, where Lena was visiting. When he failed to appear, Lena returned to her home in Cleveland. She found her husband's

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working clothes on a chair, but no trace of him. He had evidently dressed in his best clothes and started along the tow path of the canal to join her. It is feared that he was the victim of two outlaws who have been lurking along the canal, robbing and killing their victims. They then cut open the bodies so that they will sink, and throw them into the canal. (In the 1880's)

Closed Crossing a Cause for Wrath-The citizens of Macedonia are wrathy over the announcement that the Pennsylvania Railroad will close the public road leading from Bedford to Little York, where it crosses the railroad tracks. Last night they tore down the fence the railroad officials had built to prevent horse and buggy traffic over the tracks. ("The Gay Nineties")

New Store Owner-Perry Leach has bought the store formerly owned by George L. Bishop. He and his family, and their Jersey cow, have moved from his Little York farm to the Center. The family will live in rooms connected with the store. The cow will he quartered in Johnny McConnell's barn. This will be a handy arrangement for Mrs. Leach, whose job it is to milk the cow. (Early 1900's)

Narrow Escape from Death-At a recent baptism at Van Horn's Pond, George and Frank Goosman almost drowned when the student minister, Mr. Orrin, held the boys' heads under water during all the baptism ceremony. Miss Emily Smith came to the rescue and showed the young minister how to baptize. ("The Gay Nineties")

High School Pupils Enjoy a Bob Sled Ride-High School boys and girls of Macedonia enjoyed a bob sled ride last Friday p.m. They stopped at Northfield High to pay a call.

Northfield High visited Macedonia High a few weeks ago.

(1900)

A-B-C Street Car Line Now in Business-The Akron, Bedford and Cleveland Street Car Line, running through North-field, welcomes all customers. A fine new station has been built in the center of Northfield. Let us all help keep it in good condition. (1895)

After the building of the Ohio Canal (originally called the Lake Erie and Ohio Canal, traveling became more enjoyable than it had been by stagecoach. In 1827, the Western Reserve portion was ready for business and the whole distance from Cleveland to Portsmouth was completed in the summer of 1833.

An early transportation advertisement read as follows:

Daily line of Ohio Canal Packets. Between Cleveland and Portsmouth distance of 309 miles. Thru in 80 hours. A packet on this line leaves Cleveland every day at 4 clock and Portsmouth every day at 9 o'clock a.m.

These packets carried mail and some freight as well as passengers. They were about 80 feet long and 14 feet wide. They were usually drawn by two horses, one of which carried the driver. There were two other drivers on board as well as a captain, two steersmen, and a cook.

They had space for freight at one end and a dining room at the other; also, cabins containing berths for sleeping during the four nights of travel between Cleveland and Portsmouth. There was an upper deck where passengers could sit and enjoy the country scenery.

Probably the most remarkable canal trip was made in 1827 when the Western Reserve portion of the canal was completed. This event was celebrated on July 4, 1827. Harlan Hatcher describes the trip as follows:

At Boston, Ohio, this boat was joined by the Allen Trimbell, likewise crowded with excited passengers.

In Cleveland, at 8 o'clock, July 4th, a capacity load of passengers crowded aboard the Pioneer. It was lying in the basin of the flats at the foot of Superior Street, decked with flags, and carrying a cannon to fire salutes. This gay party now moved up the canal to meet the official party coming down.

Six miles up the canal, the Pioneer met the governor 5 party coming down. They exchanged cannon salutes and amid prolonged cheers proceeded down the valley to Cleveland.

They got off their boats and went up the bluff and across Superior Street to an arbor on the new Public Square. Here the Declaration of Independence was read, a prayer was offered, and an oration was delivered. Then the

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One wonders how many people from Northfield Township gathered on the banks of the Canal to witness the "State of Ohio" boat from Akron and the "Allen Trimble" boat from Boston as they passed through this township on their way to Cleveland. It would indeed have been a day to remember.

It is amusing to read some of the arguments against the early railroads: "the farmers would be ruined; horses would have to be killed, because wholly useless; therefore, there would be no market for oats or hay; hens would not lay on account of the noise; there would be constant fires from sparks of the engine, etc."

The days of the stagecoach began to seem more attractive as they receded into the past. Holmes writes thus of the former delights of stagecoach travel, forgetting the many discomforts.

Now we have a dirty railway car, heated almost to tinder by the sun; with close foul air, filled, if we try to have fresh air, with black smoke and cinders; clattering and noisy ever, with shrieking whistles and bells, it has but one redeeming quality-its speed; for thereby is our journey shortened.

There were many accidents on the early railroads. So many cattle were killed that the cow catcher became a necessary part of the engine. The engine itself looked like an old-fashioned sawmill on wheels. The tall, ornate smokestack poured out black smoke. The engineer stood on an open platform as the train sped along at the rate of 15 or 20 miles an hour. The passengers sat on hard seats, in coaches that looked like elongated stagecoaches.

In 1851, the Cleveland to Pittsburgh Railroad was completed between Cleveland and Hudson. In celebration of the event, a delegation from Cleveland was taken on an excursion over this portion of the railroad to visit the village of Hudson. The track was rough and the travel was slow. The train on the return trip jumped the rails and was delayed until late at night. Hudson had not been able to feed all its guests, and they arrived in Cleveland late at night, weary, famished, and less sure of the benefits of travel by railroad.

If you could step into the past, which of these rides would you choose; the horseback ride from Northfield to Newburg; the ride by stagecoach between Hudson and Bedford; the ride on the Ohio Canal celebrating its completion from Akron to Cleveland; or the excursion train ride between Cleveland and Hudson in honor of the opening of the C. & P. Railroad through this section of the country?

The Pioneer Stage Line going from Cleveland to Pittsburgh is of special interest to Northfield Township as it passed through this township on its way from Cleveland to Wellsville. It traveled along Valley View Road. It advertised in this flowery language:

That this advertisement was rather an overstatement of the delights of travel by the Pioneer Fast Stage Line, you may judge from the following account by Alexander Campbell of his journey by mail coach from Hudson to Cleveland in May, 1836.

We spent the whole night on the road from Hudson to Bedford, a distance of only 12 miles. Thus carrying the mail at the rapidity of 1 mile in three-quarters of an hour. We had only to walk some four or five miles through mud and swamps and to abandon the coach some six or seven times to prevent upsetting and the breaking of our bones during the night watch. We mercifully and sometimes barely escaped the disaster o being upset, and with no other detriment than fatigue and mud and water, completed our journey of 27 miles from Hudson to Cleveland in something less than a day.

This ride from Hudson to Bedford may have been through Twinsburg, rather than through Macedonia. Perrin's 1881 History of Summit County states that in 1825 a well-traveled stage route passed through Northfield Township and brought such prosperity that two Twinsburg citizens bought the stage property and had the stage changed to pass through Twinsburg Center. This transfer was made in 1838.

The history of Northfield is closely intertwined with the history of its churches. The story of the growth, changes and

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struggles of these churches during the 150 years is the story of the religious life of the community as well as that of the Northfield Presbyterian Church (United).During the early years, families of similar religious beliefs met in homes and log school houses. The Methodists were served by circuit riders; the Presbyterian-Congregational groups by ministers and students from Hudson; the Associate Presbyterians by ministers from the Pittsburgh area. In the early 1830's these groups began to organize and find permanent places of worship, since the population was increasing after the opening of the Ohio Canal in 1828. The Associate Presbyterian Church united nationally in1858 with the Associate Reformed Church and the Northfield church adopted the new denominational name, United Presbyterian. In 1834 a lot was purchased by the church from Hezekiah Palmer: for more than 125 years it was the site of a house of worship. The first building was used from 1837 to 1871, when a larger place of worship was needed. The building was sold and moved between Brandywine Road and old State Road and used as a cheese factory and warehouse. The second building burned one Sabbath morning in March of 1889. The third building, which was dedicated in the fall of 1890, was demolished for the erection of the Library in 1964.In the 1846 tax records the old building was appraised at $450; the Presbyterian at $800; and the Methodist at $400.

Ten ministers have served the United Presbyterian Church:

Joseph Banks, James W. Logue, who served 40 years, William Lawther, John Schrader, Alexander Smeallie, George Roseburg, L. L. Gray, J. J. Ross, H. G. Snodgrass and W. R. Robb.(to the time of the merger in 1956)

The family names among the early members were: Matthews, Nesbit, Lemmon, Coon (SamL), Leslie, Darling, Pope, Van Horn, Morrison, Alexander, Phillips, Richey, McConnell and others.

Rev. James W. Logue was a strong abolitionist. Under his leadership the Church came to be known as an abolitionist church.

A Bible School had its beginning about 1850, also a mis-

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sionary group known as the Female Mite Society was the forerunner of a later group called the Women's Missionary Society. The Women's Guild and various organized classes of the Bible School helped with furthering the work of the Kingdom. The church was responsible for starting Boy Scout Troop No.261 in Northfield, also the Camp Fire Girls movement originated through the efforts of the church.

According to Perrin's History of Summit County (1881), the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized on July 21, 1833, with the Cranmer and Bacon families as the nucleus of its membership. Their land was bought in 1 847 from the farm of Daniel S. Stanley on Brandywine Road. Its membership drew from Northfield, Macedonia and the surrounding territory.

The Presbyterian-Congregationalist group had met at intervals in the school house at Brandywine Falls. On November 9, 1833, they met in the "West Center School House," a log house (opposite the present new church site) on the northeast corner of the intersection of Route 82 and North Boyden Road. Land for a cemetery was deeded by Dorsey Viers adjoining this in 1834 and this was not sold until 1872.

Rev. Caleb Pitkin was sent by the Portage Presbytery to moderate this first meeting. The original compact is still in existence. When in 1837 the Congregationalists withdrew from "The Union Plan of 1801," the Presbyterian Church became a member of the Wooster Presbytery (Old School), and is now the third oldest church in the Cleveland Presbytery of sixty-nine churches.

AGE OF BUILDING

The obituary of Hannah Chapin, wife of Amzi Chapin Senior, trustee and an original elder, says the church building

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was erected in 1834. Another source of information in Perrin's (1881) History says: "A church was built by this denomination (Presbyterian) in 1834, which was used until about thirty years ago when the present one was built." That would be 1851.

Among the names of early elders and members were: AmziChapin, Senior and Junior; Gabriel Curtis, John Wilson, Robert McConnaughy, H. H. Palmer, Dwight Boyden, George Richey, Benjamin DeHaven, Malcolm Darrow; later, Dana

Sherrill, Harper Duncan, Samuel Brandt, Hiram Boyden, Samuel Gallie, Ossian Holbrook, Charles Peck, A. Stuart Means, Charles Viers, William H. H. Kuhn, Alexander Mackey, John C. Wallace, James McElry and others.

All the early records that are available are contained in "A Historical Sketch of the Presbyterian Congregation at North-

field, Ohio, in the Cleveland Presbytery: delivered as a discourse, by the direction of the General Assembly in 1 876 (the Centennial at Philadelphia), by Rev. William Hamilton, D.D., pastor at Northfield." A photostatic copy of these records from1834 to 1874 is on file with the Session.

In 1907, Mrs. Hannah Chapin Wilson, widow of John Wilson, willed her residence at 9511 Brandywine Road to the Presbyterian Church as a parsonage. Rev. John Hobert was the only minister to occupy it as a manse (1910-1911). Later it was rented and the money was used to keep it in repairs.

The membership was dwindling due to deaths and removals from the neighborhood, so on March 22, 1911, Dr. Charles

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Zorbaugh, of the Extension Committee of the Cleveland Presbytery, declared the pulpit vacant and considered the doors of the church closed. After a year of visiting around, a "faithful few" decided to carry on by hiring David R. Reese, the young assistant pastor of the Central Presbyterian Church of Akron to come by streetcar on Sunday afternoons for preaching services (1912-1913). Otherwise there would have been no Presbyterian congregation in Northfield today.

INTERIM

After the collapse of Dr. Zorbaugh's plan to have tile Presbyterian congregation absorbed by other neighboring churches, he and Dr. Luce, the District Superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Church, proposed a union whereby the Northfield Methodists would join, as a unit, the Presbyterian Church. The Methodists failed to agree with this plan. Rev. John M. Keck, who was serving the M. E. congregations in both Macedonia and Northfield, proposed trial meetings with the idea of a Federation of the two bodies.

The Methodist Church had been contemporary with both of the other churches since their founding in 1831. The first trustees who bought the plot of ground for their church in 1847 from Daniel S. Stanley were: Abner Hunt, David C. Bacon, Lucien Bliss, Benijah Geer, Thomas Baum, Charles N. Johnson, Resolved Palmer, Benjamin Waite.

The church carried on with intermittent preaching services, Sunday School and Epworth League until the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1891 in Macedonia by the members who lived in Macedonia. Then the same minister served both churches. The last of these was Rev. J. M. Keck (1909-1924). Later, there were periods when the Federated Church hired the minister whom Conference sent to Macedonia.

The family names which appear: Bliss, Munn, Burroughs, Seidel, Fell, Stanley, Truby, Williams, Kettlewell, Langford,

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Hunt, Rinear, Powell, Gilbert, Goosman, Murphy, Efau, Martin, Duncan, Brush, Van Tassell, Seymour, Wells, Holzhauer and others.

Thus the two small, rural churches carried on their separate work for about eighty years, through pioneer days, Civil War, the industrial revolution, population shifts, economic changes and fluctuations, until by 1914, the maintenance of small churches became recognized as a problem.

After a year of consideration and trial, Rev. Keck finally consummated the federation of the Northfield Presbyterian and Methodist Churches into the Northfield Federated Church on June is, 1915. The Articles of Federation were approved by the Cleveland Presbytery and the Ohio Methodist Conference by September. The Presbyterian building was used as the place of worship. Under the 1927 revised Articles 0£ Federation, the church operated until 1953, almost forty years-serving two generations.

Relationship had been maintained with the Cleveland Presbytery. The Methodist Conference had released all claims to the Methodist congregation when they closed the church and allowed the Trustees to sell their edifice in 1920. At the time of the sale to Frank B. and Viola (Meutzel) Swartz for $1500, the following were the trustees: Florian Seidel 0. T. Wells, William Holzhauer, George Bliss, John Goosman. The building was torn down and a residence was erected at 9503 Brandywine Road. The interest on the funds from this sale was used in the general maintenance fund of the Federated Church.

When the Presbyterian parsonage was sold to Dennis Hoyne in 1938 for about the same amount as the Methodists had, the two funds were pooled to finance the raising of the Presbyteria