Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 17

Author: Doyle, William B., b. 1868
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1150

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At first the society had no grounds of its own and was obliged to request the county commissioners for permission to hold it on the grounds surrounding the (then) new county court-house. The permission was will- ingly granted, and the fair was held in the grove which then covered the block of land between High, Church. Broadway and State Streets. The court-house building was used for the display of flowers, fruits and domestic - articles, while the stock was exhibited in the surrounding grove. There was no race-track and, of course, no races. If the interest it aroused in things agricultural may be taken as a criterion, the fair of 1850 was a big success. On account of the fact that no ad- mission was charged, the total receipts for the first year were only $327.53, of which $100 were spent in awarding premiums. The so- ciety secured the court-honse grounds for its fair of 1851, and also held its third fair there in 1852. The increasing number of exhibits made it necessary to erect temporary

booths and sheds to accommodate them. This being a source of expense which might be avoided by securing permanent grounds, and the interest of the public throughout the whole county increasing, it was determined by the society to lease suitable grounds and erect more substantial and worthy buildings. The president of the society, Simon Perkins, then offered it, without charge or rent, the use of a tract of land on South Main Street nearly opposite the plant of The B. F. Good- rich Company, and consisting of about six acres of land. An exhibition hall. stock- sheds and a high fence around the grounds were built. The fourth fair was held on these grounds on October 12th and 13th, 1853.

In five years the annual attendance had grown so large that the grounds had be- come entirely inadequate. The receipts had increased to $1,400 in 1858. When the so- ciety decided to secure new quarters, the fine public spirit which Cuyahoga Falls had al- ways shown, was once more demonstrated. That village made an offer of $6,000 if the new grounds should be located there. Never- theless. the society leased for a period of five years a beautiful tract of about thirty acres of land in the western part of the city. It was owned by David L. King and consisted of the high land immediately west of the canal between Glendale Avenne and Ash Street. This site is now occupied by the Mil- ler and Conger mansions and the fine grounds surrounding them. . The society fitted up these grounds with the necessary buildings. a race-track, etc., at a cost of several thou- sand dollars. The first fair held on these grounds was that of 1859. In 1864, the lease from Mr. King expired. Although he offered to sell the whole tract to the society. for fair purposes only, for the extremely low price of $5,000. and although the site was perfectly adapted to such purposes, yet the society. in pursuance of a short-sighted policy. deter- mined to move again. This time they went still further west and located on the grounds of P. D. Hall. just east of Balch Street. Mr Hall leased thirty acres, most of it covered

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with a fine grove of trees, to the society for ing. Although it was not decided until June a term of ten years. This tract has been 26, 1875, to purchase this tract, vet by dint of much hard labor the next fair, that of October, 1875, was held there. It was the first fair held on the society's own grounds. Contrary to the expectations of many citi- zens of the county, it was a big success. The attendance and the exhibits were larger than ever before. In the next few years, the so- ciety spent much money in grading, improv- ing and beautifying the grounds. It became a real exposition, on a small scale. Mercan- tile Hall, Agricultural Hall, Floral Hall, the Grand Stand and many dining halls, exhibi- tion booths and stands were built; the grounds were laid out in an attractive man- ner with artificial lakes, fountains, etc., and the name "Fountain Park" was given to the new fair grounds. Since 1875, the successive fairs of the society have been held here, in- cluding the 1907 fair just held. Since 1906 there has been a strong sentiment setting in toward selling Fountain Park and securing more accessible grounds. The society has been successful on these grounds, but the in- creasing crowds make it impossible for the transportation companies to properly handle visitors. The present grounds would make very desirable railway yards, and it is now understood that one railway company, at least, would like to add them to its posses- sions. The many dangers attending the ap- proach to the present grounds certainly ought to lead the present members of the society to consider the purchase of other grounds more favorably situated. known, popularly, ever since as the old "Hall Fair Grounds." The first fair held here was in the autumn of 1864. Successful fairs were held on these grounds during the whole of the ten years. The expiration of the lease found the society with several thousand dol- lars in its treasury which it could devote to the purchase of grounds of its own. A spir- ited contest then began between the advocates of different sites. Nine or ten different tracts adjoining the city on the west and south were offered to the society at prices ranging from $200 to $500 per acre. Every one of these tracts has since increased in value to as many thousands. At first the society de- termined to purchase the property of Dr. S. H. Coburn and Samuel Thornton west of South Main Street. Then the committee of purchase concluded to accept the offer of James McAllister for his thirty acres on the highest point of West Hill, just west of Por- tage Path. The deed was made and the so- ciety became the owner of it. This action aroused a storm of protest. The people of Akron objected to the long distance from the business center of the city and the inhabi- tants of every township in the county, except those in the western part, were loud in their objection that, for them the location was practically inaccessible. As a result, the so- ciety, in 1875, decided to sell the new grounds and buy others located on North Hill. Mr. A. T. Burrows had offered them forty-five acres there at a price of $400 per acre. At a meeting held six months later The officers of the Summit County Agri- cultural Society for 1907 are: President, L. M. Kauffman; vice president, B. H. Prior; secretary, O. J. Swinehart ; treasurer, G. W. Brewster; superintendent of races, E. M. Gan- vard. this determination was reconsidered and a final choice was made of a tract of forty- five acres lying in the valley of the Little Cuyahoga, near the old Forge, and known as the "Austin Powder Patch." This tract of land had belonged to the Austin Powder When the Summit County Agricultural Society reached the determination to move the site of its annual fair from Hall's Fair Grounds to the New Fountain Park, much dissatisfaction was expressed by those opposed to the new site. The discontent prevailed mostly among the farmers in the southern Company, and had been the site of their pow- der mills until about 1860, when they were moved to Cleveland. Explosions and fires had long before destroyed all the buildings upon the tract. The writer first saw it in 1874, and it certainly looked far from invit-

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and western parts of the county. It was said that the new site was difficult and dangerous to approach, and doubts were held as to the healthfulness of it. These feelings and ex- pressions of dissent finally culminated in the formation of a rival association called the "Summit County Fair Association." The society was incorporated with a capital of $5,000, and the following officers were elected: President, James Hammond, of Cop- ley; vice president, Frank A. Foster, of Copley; secretary, Wellington Miller, of Nor- ton ; treasurer, Philander D. Hall, Jr., of Akron. Mr. Hall made a new lease of his large tract on favorable terms to the new society, and the capital paid was expended in providing buildings, sheds, fences, etc. The fair was held in the last week of September, 1875, and was an entire success, both from the point of attendance and interest, and from the point of exhibits. The new society was much encouraged, and made more exten- sive plans for the fair of 1876. While the latter was successful from all points of view. yet the rival fair in Fountain Park had con- tinued to grow in popularity and the old objections to its site had been found by the experience of two years to be largely un- founded. The younger association did not feel encouraged to continue their exhibition. in face of the strong sentiment setting in toward the "old fair" on the new site. It . was accordingly decided to wind up the affairs of the new association and disband. Since 1876, the Summit County Agricultural So- ciety has conducted the only agricultural ex- hibition held in the county. It has been uniformly successful and is today an exceed- ingly strong and prosperous organization.

When the difficulty over the selection of new grounds arose in 1859, the fine public spirit of Cuyahoga Falls was again mani- fested. That village made an offer of $6,000 in cash to the Summit County Agricultural Society, provided the new fair grounds should be located there. Upon the refusal of this splendid offer. the citizens of the village de- termined to have an agricultural exhibition of their own. They formed an organization

called the "Union Fair Association," and pro- vided extensive grounds in the northern part of the village as a site for an annual autumn festival. The advantages of the site were all that could reasonably be asked. In fact, it was superior in nearly all respects to any of the sites previously or since selected for this purpose. The grounds were first opened for exhibition on September 1, 1859. The fair was well attended and netted the asso- ciation a profit of several hundred dollars. The attendance was mainly from the north- ern part of the county. The profits of this first fair were all wiped out, however, by a race meet, which was held in the latter part of October of the same year. In 1860, the date of the fair was changed to the first week of October. The attendance was not as large as had been hoped for, although the exhibi- tion itself was well worthy of patronage. The last fair held on these grounds was that of 1861. The display of stock and products of the farm was excellent, and an attraction in the form of competitive military drills be- tween the different military companies of the county was added, but the attendance was far below the line of profit. With the inevi- table staring the association in the face, it was decided to disband, and the Summit County Association from that time on had no competition from the "Union Fair Asso- ciation."

Two other townships which tried to con- duct rival fairs without lasting success were Richfield and Twinsburg. The citizens of Richfield organized the "Richfield Agricul- tural Club" in 1851, and in the fall of that year conducted a fair which was reasonably successful. It was supported by a well-popu- lated and wealthy community, and being economically conducted, it continued to grow in popularity and influence. At length, in 1858, the "Union Agricultural and Mechanic Arts Society" was incorporated. comprising citizens of parts of Medina and Cuyahoga counties as well as Summit. This tri-county fair continued to prosper and held successful exhibitions each autumn on well-appointed fair grounds, situated between the two villages

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of East and West Richfield. Finally, the in- terest in the central exhibition at Akron be- came so strong that it was decided that the agricultural interests of the county would be best subserved by limiting the exhibitions to the big one held at the county seat. The last fair on the Richfield grounds was held in 1875. The next year the society sold its grounds and wound up its affairs.

About the time the Richfield Fair was started, the people of Twinsburg commenced an annual township exhibition of agricultural products. In 1855, this was expanded into the "Union Fair Association," composed of Twinsburg, Hudson and Northfield town- ships in Summit County ; Solon and Bedford townships, in Cuyahoga County, and Aurora township, in Portage County. Fine fair- grounds were established near Twinsburg Center, and the society prospered for many years. After the war the interest began to wane, and after the fair of 1871, it was de- cided to discontinue them. In 1872, the grounds were sold and the "Union Fair As- sociation" of Twinsburg was, from that time on, merely a matter of history.

SUMMIT COUNTY GRANGES.

Among the organizations which the agri- culturists of the county have provided for their betterment, physically, mentally and spiritually, the Grange occupies an important place. That the movement has been well thought of in this general vicinity is evi- denced by the following imposing list of Summit County Granges. The names of their respective officers is for the year 1906- 1907. Granges and officers are as follows: Pomona Grange-Eugene F. Cranz, of Ira, master; S. J. Baldwin, of Tallmadge, lec- turer, and Mrs. O. S. Scott, secretary. Dar- row Street Grange-W. M. Darrow, master ; Mrs. F. R. Ilowe, lecturer : Mabel E. Shively. secretary. Osborn's Corners' Grange-W. E. Ruple, master; Monnie Woodruff, lecturer ; A. L. Aikman, secretary. Northampton Grange-George W. Treap, master; O. Me- Arthur, lecturer; Howard G. Treap, secre-

tary. Richfield Grange-Henry S. Gargett, master; Mrs. Mary Baughman, lecturer; Frank M. Hughes, secretary. Copley Grange -Arthur Chrisman, master; R. J. Dallinga, lecturer ; Herbert Hammond, secretary. Bath Center Grange I. L. Underwood, master; Mrs. William Waltz, lecturer; E. C. Robin- son, secretary. Tallmadge Grange-S. C. Barnes, master; Mrs. Lottie Clark, lecturer; H. J. Walters, secretary. Highland Grange -E. Blender, master; George Lauby, lec- turer; J. W. Foltz, secretary.

SUMMIT COUNTY'S HORTICULTURAL INTERESTS By Aaron Teeple, Esq.

In the early settlement of Summit County our pioneer fathers were beset with the stern realities of life-a house to shelter, the pro- eurement of raiment and the wherewithal to be fed. The forests had to be cleared away, habitations, though rude, erected, and the unbroken soil subdued. Without markets in which to dispose of any surplus products or to procure necessary supplies, only at remote distances through roadless forests, their con- ditions, as we view them now with our mod. ern improvements, were that of unwonted hardship and deprivation. The writer can well remember the old time "log-rolling," when the neighbors came together for miles around to pile the timbers previously cut into huge heaps for burning. Then it was the custom for each farmer to grow a piece of ground to flax, that was in time pulled, broken, beaten, heckled, and finally spun and woven into cloth for clothing or bedding. Almost every log cabin was then provided with an upper chamber reached by ascending a ladder, where the children were put to bed. with only a puncheon roof above to protect from the storm without. Usually in this cabin near the ladder stairway, a hole was bored in one of the logs, and a strong wooden pin driven, where any wild game, brought in to add to the food supply, was hung. At night, when the meat supply became low, the sturdy woodman would take down the

LAAN

RESIDENCE OF WALTER A. FRANKLIN, AKRON

FEE:

RESIDENCE OF HARVEY BALDWIN, AKRON

RESIDENCE OF ELMER A. GAULT, AKRON

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rifle, fasten a lighted candle on his hat and visit the chopping. Deer were plentiful then and the newly cut timber afforded excellent browsing. The approach of the light would give alarm, and the reflected light from the eyeballs of the deer give the hunter the point to aim at, while the light of the candle en- abled deliberate precision for deadly work.

The pre-eminent factor then was the so- ciability everywhere manifest. Did a neigh- bor want, he had only to make it known .. Be it labor, food, or other supply, all were ready to sacrifice, if need be, to meet the want. In those days but little attention was devoted to the esthetic culture of home or the ornamentation of its surroundings. Doubtless our ancestors had as ardent taste or desire to cultivate and enjoy the beautiful, as we, their progeny, but the sterner demands had first to be met and overcome ere these could be gratified, or luxuries be considered. The wild flowers, in many instances, were transplanted and in a measure domesticated by culture, as were several species of grapes and berries found growing on low lands in the forest.

Among the early settlers in our county were Austin M. Hale, of Mogadore, Dr. Men- dell Jewett, of Middlebury; Daniel Hine, of Tallmadge; Andrew Hale, of Bath; Edwin Wetmore, of Northampton, and a. Mr. Robinett, who lived just over the line of Northfield in Cuyahoga County, father of B. A. Robinett, of Northfield. With them the love and culture of fruit was supreme and uppermost. To provide a supply in their new home, to be, various kinds of seeds, vines and small trees and shrubbery were brought from their New England homes, and planted in their gardens, becoming the basis from which most of the orchards and gar- dens of Summit County sprung.

Daniel Hine was the pioneer in grape and pear culture, Andrew Hale and Austin Hale of apples, and Edwin Wetmore of peaches. By careful cross fertilization, the wild with improved varieties, many new types were se- cured. Of the tree fruits, especially the apple has undergone but few changes. The old

Rambo, the Rhode Island Greening, the Bel- mont, and many of the older varieties, re- main as distinct as when first introduced and propagated.

The pioneer nursery business was instituted by Austin M. Hale of Mogadore, Denis A. Hine and M. Jewett of Middlebury, and Jobe Green, just over the Bath line in Granger, Medina County. In order to increase their stock, seed of fruit was planted and the seed- ling stock set in nursery rows, producing in most instances fruit of very inferior quality. To improve the fruit, long journeys were made to South Eastern Ohio near Marietta, where Israel Putnam, jr., had established a nursery of forty or fifty varieties of choice fruit brought from his old home in Connec- ticut prior to the year 1817. Scions were secured and young trees grafted. About the year 1824, the Kirtlands established a nur- sery in Trumbull- County with stock brought from New England, including peaches, pears, apples and many of the smaller fruits. Our home nursery men, alert to increase their product in quantity as well as quality, were not slow to avail themselves of anything new in their line and became customers to some extent of the Trumbull County nursery. from these sources most of the orchards and small fruits were originally desseminated. Among the older orchards of Summit County were that of Maxwell Graham in Stow, John Ewart of Springfield, W. B. Storer of Por- tage, and Andrew Hale of Bath-orchards that, by careful treatment have and are now vielding large crops of choice fruit annually. For many years Summit County was noted as being a dairy and farming community. The milling interests at the county seat created a demand for cereals and the southern part of the county being adapted in soil to their growth, it became largely a grain-grow- ing section. While the northern part of the county was a heavier soil better adapted to grass, and the dairy interest thrived. But with the building of railroads increasing fa- cilities of transportation, the close proximity to coal fields cheapening fuel, Akron became a manufacturing center. With each new in-

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dustry came a corresponding increase in pop- ulation, creating an increased demand for fruits, vegetables and garden products. Mar- ket gardening became a fixed industry. Per- haps the earliest to engage in gardening to any extent was Charles C. Miller and Foster A. Tarbell of Copley, W. B. Storer and Sam- uel Bacon of Portage, and Charles H. Welch of Springfield. The business became so

profitable that soon others followed. At present the business has grown to such an extent that frequently in the summer months from eighty to 100 wagons loaded with fruit and garden products are on the Akron mar- ket on a morning. This demand for food supplies, with the diversity of the soil of the county, has been the means to enable the culture of many hitherto neglected products. The swamp lands near Greentown were drained and brought under culture, and Jo- seph A. Borst became the pioneer in celery growing. Soon after the Atwood Brothers of Akron commenced in a large way the rais- ing of celery on the muck land of Copley swanıp just west of Akron. Many acres of once-thought waste land have become drained and are now producing celery, onions, cab- bage and other hardy garden products in dif-

ferent portions of the county. Matthew Crawford for more than forty years has been growing plants of small fruits and developing new varieties. Many of our choicest varieties of strawberries are the result of his labors. Recently his attention has been given mostly to growing bulbs. With Rev. M. W. Dal- las, a few years ago he grew about nine acres of gladiolas. The market responded, the de- mand became so great that the supply has not been sufficient. This season one dealer, we learn, has placed his order for 2,000.000 gladiola bulbs, requiring at least 10 acres of land to produce them. Hyacinth and daffo- dil bulbs are now grown successfully, and the time will likely soon come when further im- portations from abroad will become unnec- essary.

The first effort at organization of the Agri- cultural and Horticultural interests. aside from the Summit County Agricultural So-

ciety, was made in the year 1878 by a call from Dr. M. Jewett, M. C. Read, L. V. Bierce and others to form a Farmers' Club. The meetings were held monthly in the Empire Hall in Akron, and continued for several years. The meetings were at first well at- tended and were usually of much interest and profit. Subjects relating to the home, prod- ucts of the farm, fruit growing, as well as those more intricate and scientific relating to how plants grow, how to originate new varie- ties, were presented in well written papers and, in some instances, pointedly discussed The club became so heavily freighted, how- ever, with professional men, who spun out their paperse so fine and to such length that the interest began to lag. As an instance, one, a Dr. Smith, was asked to prepare a paper. He chose for his theme "Sexuality in Nature." He argued that in the mineral as well as in the animal and vegetable king- doms, distinct traces of sexuality exist. The article was highly scientific, and of sufficient length to fill a whole page in the Summit County Beacon, and required over an hour in reading. At the close of the reading but a small audience remained to discuss its merits. It became evident to the officers of the organization that to impart new life a radical change must take place. Hence a call was made to meet at the Friendly Inn. at the corner of Howard and Mill Streets in Akron, for consultation. The meeting was held on the 18th of January, 1882. There were 19 persons present. Dr. Jewett was chosen president, and Matthew Crawford sec- retary. The object of the meeting was stated by the chair, and enlarged upon by several others. At the suggestion of Mr. Crawford the matter of reorganization along the lines of horticulture was considered with much favor. An adjournment was made to meet with Mrs. E. O. Knox (on her invitation), then editor- ess of the Cuyahoga Falls Reporter, on Feh- ruarv 8, 1882. At this meeting it was do- cided to organize the Summit County Horti- cultural Society. Dr. Mendall Jewett was chosen president and Matthew Crawford sec- retary. A committee was appointed to pre-

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pare a constitution and by-laws for the gov- ernment of the society, which were presented at a subsequent meeting and adopted. The meetings of the society are held monthly, on invitation, at the residences of its members, who regard it a privilege as well as a duty to entertain its membership. Reports are re- ceived on orchards, vineyards, small fruits, ornamental planting, ornithology, ento- mology, botany and forestry at each meeting from a standing committee in each depart- ment appointed for that purpose. Some com- petent person is selected in addition to pre- sent a paper or address, which forms part of the program for each meeting. The discus- sions following the reports of the standing committee and the points presented in the essay or address serve to make the meetings of much interest. The program for the year's work is prepared in advance by the executive committee of the society, giving place of meeting for each month, essayist, and list of officers and standing committees for the year.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 17

Author: Doyle, William B., b. 1868 Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1150

Author: Doyle, William B., b. 1868
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1150