Archives: March 2011

Richard Howe was appointed chief engineer of the Ohio and Erie Canal from 1825 to 1850. He oversaw the design and construction of the canal from Cleveland to Massillon, including the Cascade Locks. The 15 step lock system was/is a engineering marvel, especially when you consider that Howe was only 22 years old when he started. Howe also assisted in the construction of the Summit County Courthouse and Jail, and Akron’s Rural (Glendale) Cemetery. In 1850, he was the leader of a group of men that went to California to seek their fortune in “the gold rush.”
The “Howe Mansion,” as it was referred to when first built, was constructed on the southwest corner of Exchange and High streets in 1836 (that’s across the street from the present Beacon Journal building.) The door surrounds, stepped roof facade, and symmetrically placed windows, make this building a perfect example of High Federal architecture. It was the first brick house and now the oldest brick structure in Akron. Originally built with 16 rooms it was passed from the Howe family and several of the walls on the bottom floor were removed, additions added, and the house was converted into a grocery store. The building remained retail space through the rest of its life. Most of us remember it as the ugly old blue building that was the tattoo and piercing place (no reflection on LaRox.) It sat empty for several years and had begun to deteriorate when it was scheduled for demolition. The Ohio and Erie Canal Coalition stepped in and saved the grand old structure, though I’m told that during one inspection it was raining…inside and out. In 2008 the 400 ton building was painstakingly lifted off its foundation and moved 3 long blocks down Exchange St. to its present location next to the canal. Renovation inside and out, has restored it to its former grandeur.
The Richard Howe House is now the permanent home of the Ohio and Erie Canal Coalition, and one of many trail-heads along “the towpath.” The coalition exists to “develop public interest and support the conservation, development, and interaction of the natural, historical, and recreational resources along the route of the Ohio and Erie Canal.”Richard Howe was born in 1799, in Maryland. When he was just 13 years old, his father died and his mother moved to the Columbus area of Ohio. Richard followed, but his mother was unable to support him. A wealthy man in the community, Lucas Sullivan, adopted the young Howe and besides supplying him a home, gave him a good education and taught Richard the surveying trade. At age 21 he had his first job surveying a road and shortly after joined the crew that located the path for the Ohio-Erie Canal. In 1829 he was appointed president of the board of engineers on the canal and so moved to Akron. The executive job commanded executive pay, $720 a year. $156 for substance, and $56 for housekeeping. As noted in the previous post, the home he built was on the corner of Exchange and High. Today the Richard Howe House has been moved to Water and Exchange, is one of the finest examples of Federal Architecture the area and is home of the Ohio-Eire Canal Coalition.
While surveying the canal, Howe watched for available land that he could purchase and farm. He settled on 400 acres (some references say 600) in the Cuyahoga Valley saying it “possessed the most beauty.” Currently, thousands of people enjoy the farm every summer. The Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Special Event site, “Howe Meadow” is across Riverview Road from the popular “beaver marsh.”
Howe leased the majority of the land to tenant farmers but kept the homestead as a summer residence. The eldest son built a house on the northwest corner of Riverview and Ira Roads and though long gone, can still be placed by the (now tall) pines that grew around it. The Valley Railroad constructed a stop at Ira and the children had summer passes to board. On weekends they could often be found riding the train to Akron to watch the picture show. Howe’s children and grandchildren stayed in Ira taking on responsibilities of Postmaster, Postmistress, and Station Master for the Valley Railroad. Richard Howe died on the farm, but still considered the house on Exchange home. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Richard Howe presided over several other construction projects after the initial canal work was done, including the Summit County Courthouse and Jail, the Akron Rural (Glendale) Cemetery. Howe was also a 3 term councilman in the new village of Akron, and instrumental in bringing the first bank to Akron. Often thought to be “austere and stern” Richard also had a soft side. Howe befriended a immigrant youth from Germany who was in America without family or friend. The boy’s name is Hendrick Sentoris and Howe offered him a job. At one point Howe started out of town on business when he realized that he had left a large sum of money out and exposed at home. Immediately returning, he found the young Hendrick trying to defend the money and taking a beating from two other youth who were trying to abscond with the money. Sentoris continued to live with the Howes till his death and today is buried near the Howe family plot in Glendale Cemetery.
In the year 1850 gold fever hit Akron as it did across this young nation. Howe and many others from Akron left for California. Going by boat as far as St. Joseph, they set out by wagon train from that point. Howe was elected “Captain” of the wagon train. It was a title that he would carry with him the rest of his life. The trip was perilous and many of the group ended up leaving their wagons and finishing the trip on foot. Worse were the conditions that waited them when they got there. Many were lost to disease. Howe never did any gold mining, but rather partnered with others from Akron in selling goods and supplies to other miners. When demand diminished, Howe once again was employed in the surveying and engineering fields. The State of California hired him to build a canal to supply water to the mining fields. Returning to Akron by way of the Panama Canal, Captain Howe would have one more major project to complete before he retired. He built a railroad bridge over the Ohio River at Steubenville.
Reports differ as to if Captain Howe died in Akron or at the farm in Ira, but there is no doubt that Richard Howe left his “footprint” on the history of Akron and Summit County.Sarah Gibbs from the Ohio & Eire Canal Coalition has sent me one more picture of the Richard Howe House. The house was converted to a grocery in 1920. several of the walls were removed on the lower floor, and it was dropped 3 feet to street level. The floor has been raised back up in the restoration, but the exact location of the walls could not be determined and the “open” floor plan was more conducive to the coalition’s needs so were left out.
If for no other reason, I like this picture just for the story it tells of the “family” grocer.Henry J Durkin was the owner of the store. They are listed in the 1922 Akron Street Directory as selling; groceries, meats and confectionery. Henry and his wife Ulva had another smaller store on the corner of Westwood and Woodland Aves. next to their home (that‘s off W. Exchange near Rhoads.)
Interesting side note, the Durkins are one of the very few people in 1922 that have a phone. Their entire phone number is, 5025.

During the first half of the 20th century, Robert H. Smith M.D. was trying to find a cure for a disease that was running rampant in the city of Akron and across the nation. The disease had such a stigma about it though, that most all hospitals refused to accept patients that were suffering from it. Doctor Smith found one sympathetic person who was in charge of admissions at the newly built Saint Thomas Hospital. Sister Mary Ignatia was a small Irish-American who would start treatment of the stricken patients by admitting them with a diagnosis of “acute gastritis.” Smith never found a cure, but he and partner William Wilson, “Bill W.”, devised a treatment plan that would save lives, figuratively and literally, of hundreds of thousands of people. Today millions know “Dr. Bob” and the 12 step treatment program of Alcoholics Anonymous, not just in Akron but around the world.For many years alcoholism was thought to be a moral failing, thus the reason that alcoholics were refused treatment, even when they were suffering withdrawal and needed medical treatment the most. It would take the efforts of Sister Mary, Doctor Bob, and others at Saint Thomas to establish the disease for what it is and establish a treatment center specifically for dependency issues. Saint Thomas remains a leading treatment center for those suffering from dependence issues.

Charles Deering was to farm machinery, as Frank Seiberling was to rubber. Deering bought out Akron Works, a farm machinery company, and later incorporated it with the rest of his holdings, which in tern became the International Harvester Company. Though he didn’t live in Akron he wanted to see the city have a Catholic hospital. So in his will he left a bequest with the only stipulation that said hospital would have to be named for Thomas F. Mahar. Father Thomas had pastured the Saint Vincent Parish for 34 years. The bishop of the Akron area formed a committee to oversee the building project. Akron area parishes pledged $300,000, and in a 10 day campaign the good people of Akron raised an additional $525,000. Michael O’Neil (O’Neil’s Dept. Store,) head of the building committee, pledged an additional $100,000 and “the cornerstone” was laid in Sept. 24, 1927. Dedication was exactly, a year to the day later, and the first patient was admitted 6 days after that. The Sisters of Charity of Saint Augustine had operated Charity Hospital in Cleveland for many years and gladly began operations at St. Thomas. Though originally operated by the Catholic Church, its articles of incorporation made it a nondenominational and nonprofit general hospital. The hospital opened with a 164 bed capacity (449 today.)

In preparation for the celebration of Ohio’s 200th birthday (1803-2003,) Scott Hagan was commissioned to paint the bicentennial logo on one barn in each of Ohio’s 88 counties. Hagan, working by himself sketched out each design then paint it by hand. Summit County’s was the 77th barn that he painted in the 5 year project.

Joe Frohnapfel uses the area around the barn to carve Native American figures that have been placed around the county e.g.: the fork at Front and Second streets in Cuyahoga Falls, Adell Durbin Park in Stow, Keyser Park also in Cuyahoga Falls, and Bath Community Activity Center, as well as others.

The actual address of “our” Bicentennial Barn is 3742 Hudson Drive in Stow. It is best viewed from the north bound lanes of the Rt. 8 expressway between Graham and Steels Corners roads. I must recommend that you NOT stop to have a look, but enjoy the view from the passenger seat of a car as you pass (at not less than 40 mph.)

 This view of the James W. Shocknessy Ohio Turnpike, is from the new access bridge to Entrance/Exit 180. We’re looking west, at and under the Olde 8 bridge and the Cuyahoga Valley beyond. Shocknessy was the first chairman of the Turnpike Commission.
As a youth it was always exciting to pass through the toll booth of the turnpike, because it was always the beginning of a good time. West was Cedar Point and east meant the beginning of vacation and a trip through the long tunnel in Pennsylvania. Then as a adult I enjoyed coming home and seeing the big green sign “EXIT 12 AKRON” Of coarse now it says “EXIT 180″, but it’s still a welcome sight after a long trip. Changing the exits to reflect the mileage, is just one of the recent changes on Ohio’s toll road.

Other changes include; modernizing and enlarging the service plazas, E-Z pass toll booths, and adding a fast/third lane from Toledo to Pennsylvania. The only spot in this area that remains 2 lanes is from the Cuyahoga Valley bridge east past exit 180, and construction on that portion is due to start this year. (my personal opinion is that it may have something to do with the 75 to 100 feet of sandstone that needs to be removed)

Other interesting facts;
-Ohio’s original turnpike, built in 1831, was what is now State Rt.125 in southern Ohio. Back then one of the tolls was, 2 cents per horse for every 10 mile.
-Today’s tolls are established by, number of axles, height of the first two axles, and distance traveled.
-The Ohio government established the Ohio Turnpike Commission in 1949. They raised the needed 326 million dollars for construction.
-Ground breaking was Oct. 27, 1952.
-The first section, 22 miles of the most eastern portion, was opened Dec. 1, 1954.
-The remainder opened Oct. 1, 1955, making the total time of construction 3 years, 2 months.
-At the height of construction, 10,000 people were employed, and over 2300 pieces of heavy equipment were in use.
-Maintenance facilities are spaced approx. every 30 miles. Because of it’s excellent maintenance program, in it’s first 40 years, it was closed only 77 hours due to weather.
-First day traffic is recorded as 44,000 vehicles.
First year, 10 million.
2006, 51.7 million.

Summit County’s two exits are; 180 to/from Rt. 8, and 173 to/from Rt. 21, Interstate 77

Manatoc’s rich tradition started even before it opened in June 1932. Karl Butler was physically disabled and confined to a wheel chair, but he had the heart of a giant. While on a trip to California, he visited a Boy Scout camp and envisioned a similar, first-rate camp for the youth of Akron. A few years later, in declining health, he revised his will bequeathing his summer home and farm to the Boy Scouts. Three days later, he died. A stipulation in his will was that the Boy Scouts would have to raise money for buildings, improvements, and additional land. Mind you, the stock market had just crashed and the country was in the midst of the “great depression”. Still, Akron’s three biggest rubber companies: Goodyear, Goodrich, and Firestone, pledged $100,000. The good people of Summit County added another $142,000.

A part of Truxell Road was relocated so Salt Run could be dammed for the creation of a 6 acre lake (now drained.) A dining hall was constructed, predominantly out of chestnut, with a capacity to serve 400 hungry youth. Three lodges, a “trading post,” and the rustic, fort-like entrance were also built.

Today some 4000 Boy Scouts a year still experience “the spirit of Marnoc” (love of the outdoors) said to dwell in the woods of “the high plateau” Camp Manatoc.

This is Twinsburg Township Square. There are many monuments on the square. Here are a few interesting things I found out about the square and the monument as the most prominnent.
-Twinsburg was settled in 1817 by Ethan Alling, a 16 year old boy/man that came here alone to survey the 400 acres that his family had purchased. As the area became more settled the town became known as Millsville. During the year 1819, identical twin brothers, Moses and Aaron Wilcox purchased approx. 4000 acres with the intent of selling it off in parcels and starting their own town. Their intentions paid off when they offered $20 toward the start of a school, and six acres for use as a public square, “IF” the area settlers would agree to change the name to Twinsburg.

-Soldiers Monument was erected and dedicated on July 4th, 1867. It was built in honor of the men who served in “The War of the Rebellion” aka the Civil War. The dedication was also a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the settlement of the community. On that day, as part of the celebration, a 1000 pound ox was roasted whole and enjoyed by 500 people.

-Twinsburg had many stone quarries and the base was cut locally. The first and third portions came from the quarry of Gardner Parmelee. Where was that quarry you ask? For us lowbrow folk, think “Wendy’s” about ¾ of a mile west of the Township Square/downtown on Rt. 82. For the highbrow crowd, think “Blue Canyon.” That base stone alone weights over 25 tons. (Think about it. That stone was quarried and moved at a time when everything was done by hand and animal power.)
-The cannon is Civil War reproduction, still a handsome addition to the square.
-Twinsburg Township Square at the time of the Civil War was a bare field and was used for drilling the troops before they were left to go to war.
-The marble eagle on top of Soldiers Monument, at the time of construction, faced north. At some unknown time and for some unknown reason, it was turned to face east.

I have referenced several times about the change in the amount of water that flows through the streams and rivers in this area. Grismer, Lane, and other local historians have noted that tributaries in this area ran with as much as three times more water than they do today. Apparently I am not the only one that didn’t understand why the volume of water has decreased so much, because a few of you asked why too. I talked to Bill Zawiski, Environmental Supervisor from the Ohio EPA, over and he explained it to me in laymen’s terms so simple, even I could understand it.
Waterways are made up of two kinds of water, base flow and runoff. The ground, like a sponge, absorbs rainfall, then releases the water into streams and rivers in a steady a even flow. This is known as the base flow. Runoff comes when a heavy rain dumps more water than the ground can absorb. 200 years ago, the entire area was covered in virgin forest land. The “urbanization” of the area has greatly affected the balance of base flow and runoff. Have you ever looked at a satellite view of N.E. Ohio? The difference in area covered in cities and towns is notably different than that still covered in forest and/or farm land. Think about how much land is covered by; streets, walks, parking lots, and roofs. Each roof is the same, in this sense, as a parking lot, diverting rainfall from soaking into the ground. All this rainfall is diverted into storm drains (waste water/sewage and rainwater/runoff are handled in separate systems) and immediately deposited into the nearest stream, lake, or river instead of soaking into the ground. Thus, now-a-days, shortly after a rainfall, a local waterways flow is substantially increased. After the initial surge, it returns to the lower concentration of its formal self. Likewise, the same rain water doesn’t soak into the ground to be released slowly into the streams and rivers.

A second part of this phenomenon called “Urban Hydrology,” results from cities that do not produce their own drinking water. Twinsburg, Stow, and Tallmadge all get their water from Akron, which gets its water from Lake Rockwell, which is supplied by the upper Cuyahoga river. Cities and suburbs to the north of Summit County get their water from Lake Eire. The result is that these less populated areas, where rainfall is naturally released from the soil, also get supplemental water that is released in the form of treated waste water. The result is that unlike our rivers and streams in Akron that run with less water than previous years, theirs, e.g. Tinkers Creek and Brandywine Creek run with more water. The same is true of the Cuyahoga, north of Akron. The constant presence of treated waste water from both Akron and the tributaries of the Cuyahoga north of the treatment plant, have increased the flow of water. Several settlers, including Moses Cleaveland and David Hudson, mention in their journals that the Cuyahoga, at its mouth, is little more than a stream. As we can see, that does not hold true today.
My thoughts; What does all this mean? Rainfall amounts have not changed significantly, the water table over all, has not raised or lowered, and the persons involved in making sure clean, refreshing water comes out the tap when we turn the spigot on are doing a fine job. So all this is really just observation, but interesting none the less.