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Kent Historical Society, Winter Notes 2009
No full textKent Historical Society
WINTER NOTES 2009
PLEASE JOIN US
Roger Di Paolo will be available to autograph copies of his new book, published
by KHS, which includes 101 columns from his Portage Pathways articles
for the Record Courier. This amazing book also contains more than 125
photographs from libraries, archives & private collections - some not seen in
100 years. This is a MUST for your holiday shopping list.
Special KHS member price 17.00
Author!
Roger Di Paolo
ROOTED IN KENT: 101 Tales from the Tree City
Published by KHS Press
New Book Launching Party & Reception
Saturday, December 12th 11:30-3:30
KHS HOLIDAY SHOPPING
Don't forget to stop by the museum for some special gifts! A list of items
available - including special discounts for KHS members - is included in
this mailing. Holiday orders must be paid for and shipped ( or picked up) by
Saturday, December 19th.
Books, cards, mugs, puzzles, aprons, maps!
NOW ON DISPLAY
1924 Player Piano (DONATIONS of piano rolls gratefully accepted)
Patchwork quilt from the collection of Evangeline Davey
City of Kent Model Trains
1831 rare stampless cover from "Franklin Mills, Ohio"
signed by George B. DePeyster, postmaster
WINTER VACATION
The Kent Historical Society will be closed from December 20th, 2009 to
February 3, 2010. We will reopen on Thursday, February 4th; call for special
tour or research needs.
Call (330) 678-2712 for more information.
Mary Ann Green, administrator
234 South Water Street. Kent, Ohio
www.kentohiohistory.org
(330) 678-2712
email: [email protected]
Mailing Address:
Kent Historical Society
P.O. Box 663
Members Discount Order Form
Call or Mail your order Phone: 330.678.2712
Web: www.kentohiohistory.org
Kent, OH 44240 Free Kent Bicentennial T-shirt with order over 10.00 (s, m, I, xi)
Quan. Title @ Price Total
(New) Rooted in Kent, 101 tales from the tree city (By Roger Di Paolo)
30.00
Kent and the Great War, The Letters of Leo Bietz (KHS Press) 9.00
The Story of Kent (KHS Press) 8.00
Haunting Tales From the Tree City (KHS Press) 19.00
The History of Kent: Historical & Biographical, Karl Grismer 39.00
Portage Pathways, Loris Troyer 14.00
Vintage Aprons (limited quantity) 15.00
J *KHS Coffee Mugs 4.00
DVD - Kent, The Early Years, Historical Overview (KHS Video) 10.00
DVD - A Film by Roscoe Hahn, Kent & Brady Lake (KHS Video) 6.00
DVD - Made in Kent, The Fageol Bros. and Twin Coach (KHS Video) 3.00
Ship To: (Please Print) Total
Name: _________________________ _
Address: _________________________ _
Address 2: ________________________ _
City: ____________ State: __ Zip: _________ _
Phone: Email: ____________ _
Payable by Check or Credit Card:
Please charge my order to: __ Visa __ MasterCard
Credit Card # _________________ Expiration ___ _
Signature: _________________________ _
* Pick-up only
**Do not add shipping and handling if you're going to pick up your order at the historical society.
J (234 S. Water St.)
D Yes I will pick up my order at the historical society D Please ship my order
r ~' s Ti me t o Ce l e b r a t e !
You're invited to spend the season with
us. We have the accommodations for all
of your holiday parties. Make your
reservations today.
The Pufferbelly's 28th Anniversary week
is just around the corner. Be here for
our _9lassic anniversary specials
December 14·-18.
On Sunday, December 20th Santa Cl a u s is
corning to town early. Join us for a
Brunch wi th Santa and enjoy our Sunday
Brunch buffet from 11:00 - 2:30.
Corne celebrate Ne w Year s Eve with us.
We'll supply the noisemakers , hats and
balloons . At midnight we will have a
complimentary champagne toast. All
you'll need to bring is your
resolutions. Don't forget to
make your reserv a t i ons .
H~PPY HOLIDAYS FROM YOUR
FRIENDS AT THE PUFFERBELLY
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P.O. Box 663
Kent, OH 44240
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Nonprofit Organization
U.S . Postage
Paid
Kent, OH
Permit #150
Open House
The historic Marvin Kent Homestead located at the corrw-------er of
Rt. 43 and W. Main St. will be open to the public on Sat rday,
March 21 from 2-5. Tours will be hosted by members f the
Rockton Masonic :Lodge #316 and are FREE to the public Cof-fee
and cookies vv-ill also be served.
)
The Kent Historical Society
Speaker Series Presents
'' All About Kent"
Noted educator and author of the newly published book
Politician Extraordinaire
The Tempestuous Life and Times of Martin L. Davey
Will Speak on
Former businessman, Mayor of Kent, US Congressman, and Governor of Ohio
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Doors open: 6:30 p.m. - Talk at: 7:00 p.m.
Where: The First Christian Church
Corner of West Main & Mantua St., Kent, 0 H
Light refreshments will be served
History of church and tour will follow.
Sponsored by the Kent Historical Society
2,34 S. Water St., Kent, OH
330.678.271
The Kent Historian, Kent Historical Society Newsletter, Number 101, Summer 2021
No full textSpecial issue: In Memoriam
Remembering Roger DiPaoloTHE KENT HISTORIAN
September 2021
In Memoriam
Remembering Roger Di Paolo
By Sandra Halem President Emeritus KHS
In June 2009, Roger and I met at the Haymaker Farmer's Market in Kent and spoke once again about putting together a book about Kent history based on his Sunday Record-Courier newspaper columns. He had taken over the local history column after Loris Troyer had retired. It was his rightful inheritance. While Loris had learned his history as a transplant from Amish country, Roger was born to it. He absorbed the stories of his hometown as well as becoming an expert on all the small towns that made up his beloved Portage County.
As the Kent Historical Society Presi ent, 1 ha ma de publications a priority. We began a six-month accelerated timeline to a Christmas publica
tion assisted by "Team Roger," which included journalists Mary Louise Ruehr, Bob Springer, Kasha Legaza-Burton and her husband Jona, along with Roger, my husband Henry and me. We winnowed down hundreds of columns into categories but couldn't decide on a title. Roger settled on Rooted in Kent.
No one was more "rooted" here than
Jit.ne_3, lq5b -JLLne t't, ~o)J
Roger. He had been an award-winning reporter who could have taken his talents to a bigger city but leaving was unimaginable. Kent was everything Roger loved. Being editor of the RecordCourier was everything he had dreamed about. Few people can be so totally fulfilled by a job that both defined them and contributed to the betterment of their community.
He loved sharing. It was his honor to be asked questions and his greatest pleasure to be able to answer them. But most of all, he left us all with a better sense of the arc of our town's life through the eyes of one of its favorite sons who never had to leave to be successful. Roger stayed out of choice and contributed out of love. His death leaves an enormous hole. We will miss all the books that will never be written, but we are grateful to have had you here with us, dear friend. Thank you for making a difference.
By Wayne R. Enders Historian-in-Residence Portage County Historical Society
For most of its 213 years of history, Portage County has been fortunate to have had several individuals who have had an interest in recording local history. Roger Di Paolo and I met when we were in the eighth grade because of our parents' activity in local politics and stayed in touch over a half century due to our love for local history. Through his inquisitive mind, attention to detail, and his search for truth, he was able to apply his journalistic skills to write some of the best nar-, · l, rative histories of our age. As editor of the
Record-Courier at 36, Di Paolo had the most powerful typewriter in the county. He never used his influence to label or divide, but to encourage and unite. Roger was a great listener. He was not one to interrupt. If asked a question concerning someone he knew or a topic that was dear to him, he could talk at great length with a wealth of information. His books on Kent and Ravenna were a reflection of his commitment to history and his desire to educate his readers. Those narratives were but the tip of the iceberg of the knowledge he had, and the unwritten ones forever lost by his untimely death. A friend of the underdog and those who were denied rights and freedoms, he chose his friends from all walks of life, His only unwritten requirement was that a person be fair, honest and opened-minded. It was my honor and privilege to have been his friend and colleague. 2017, he authored Portage Pathways, a went on to careers in national media.
By David Dix Former Publisher, Record-Courier weekly history column that had been Born June 3, 1955, Roger is survivedstarted by his predecessor, the late Loris by his husband, Timothy Krasselt; his
Roger J. Di Paolo, my editor ofthe
C. Troyer. Di Paolo's Portage Pathways
son, Brian Di Paolo; and his sisters, LinRecord-Courier from 1991 until March were compiled into two books. Rooted da Di Paolo Prezioso and Betsy Soule.
2017, died June 18, 2021, following a
. in Kent was published in collaboration
long battle with cancer.
with the Kent Historical Society and An elegant The Ravenna Record was published to stylist and raise money to refurbish the historic grammarian Ravenna flagpole on Main Street.
By Henry Halem
ofprecision, I will miss Roger. He was a wonderVolunteer, KHS
an avid reader
ful conversationalist and my near daily
and student of Beyond a personal friendship, I had
discussions with him about the day's
local history, Di the pleasure ofworking with Roger on
news after he became editor were never
Paolo chronihis book publishing projects for the
dull. I looked forward to them and
cled the news of Kent Historical Society.
learned a lot. Roger held strong views.
Portage County Sometimes we did not agree, but he I have many fond memories ofsitfor 40 years. He got his start at the Rehad a way ofmaking me re-examine my ting around my dining room table withcord-Courier as a reporter in 1977 when
own opinions and Roger nearly always Roger and his editorial team, hashinghe reported on the protests surrounding
made me laugh. He had a great capacity out which articles and photos to includethe construction ofa building on land for empathizing with those getting a in his book Rooted in Kent: 101 Taleschat intruded on the site where four
ftom the Tree City. His eye forstudents were killed on May 4, 1970.
detail was always present. HereA Roosevelt High School student in
are a couple ofdetails Roger1970, the shootings had a formative
wanted included in the bookeffect on Di Paolo's view ofthe world.
that I found in notes from thoseHe had an affinity for the underdog,
meetings: Include about the Silkpassed on by his father, the late Judge
Mill: "... it took about one millionRoger F. Di Paolo.
bricks to build which were all supRoger's abilities were recognized plied by the Ferry Brickyard which early. In 1978 while a student at Kent was located in town. "About the State, Di Paolo was the recipient of Clapp/Woodward House, "... the James M. Sutherland Award, cited there is a fireplace in every one of as the Most Promising Young Profesthe four rooms facing out on main sional by the Sigma Delta Chi/Society street. No two fireplaces are alike. of Professional Journalist. He was One is oak, one is cherry, and two one of60 honored by the Kent State are paintedstone. "The book was University School ofJournalism and his labor oflove. Mass Communications at the School's
The years passed and Roger60th anniversary in 1997. He was
was itching to get involved inthe recipient offour Ohio Associated
another book. I suggested we putPress Awards including Best Editorial
together a book of Kent, BradyWriter. Honors were also bestowed by
Lake and Kent State Universitythe Portage County Historical Society,
vintage postcards. Roger thoughtthe Portage County Chapter ofthe
the book was a wonderful idea,NAACP, the Kent City Schools of
and we were soon hard at workHall ofFame, the Kent Area Chamber
sorting postcards. Once Rogerof Commerce, and the Ohio School raw deal in life and had no patience for made his decision, he would then writeBoard Association. He set a record as those who feel entitled. two or three lines describing each card.the featured speaker for Kent State UniAs
editor, Di Paolo oversaw a staff of But Roger soon found that for many
versity's town-gown Bowman Breakfast approximately 20 full-time and partofthe cards he had more to say. Howon three different occasions.
time employees and a budget exceedcould it be otherwise? Roger was a man Devoted to local history, Di Paolo ing $1 million annually. He enjoyed ofdetails. On many occasions I would compiled a popular weekly history feateaching newcomers and was proud that have to tell him to "shorten it" and ture called Yesteryears. From 2002 until some ofthe reporters he worked with began to think ofmyself as chat grumpy old editor often depicted in old blackand-white movies. He would grumble, but eventually he'd find a way to shorten it. This book, Welcome to Kent, A Postcard Portrait ofthe Tree City,
was in full color, and Roger was very happy with the result.
In 2020 my wife Sandy revived an idea she'd had when she was the president of the historical society. Roger's cancer was in remission and she hoped he could help develop a walking tour ofStanding Rock Cemetery. I would design a folded two-sided piece; on one side, a full-color map of the cemetery with specific grave sites marked, and on the other, a brief synopsis of the person buried at each site. He couldn't wait to start on the project. Roger and Sandy insisted that the tour include those individuals who represented -our historical diversity. Once the names were decided, Roger set to work writing a brief biography ofeach individual. "A Walking Tour of Standing Rock Cemetery" is a Kent "who's who." Seventy-seven people from all walks oflife who made a difference. Sad to say, there is now one more name to add to that distinguished list.
I loved working with Roger and his "Team Roger," as we were known. I loved Roger. Listening to him reflect on all things Kent was a treat. He was not a man of few words when it came to his hometown and all the families that lived and died here. Whenever a Kent question arose about a family, a person, a place or a date, "Call Roger" was the cry. Call Roger. We
cannot call Roger anymore, and I cannot tell you how many times since his death I have needed to make that call. Farewell, my friend.
By Doria Daniels Civic Leader
Roger and I shared the same passion about the accurate history and recognition of Kent's South End neighborhood. Our interaction with each other goes back over 30 years when as a journalist and later a city editor. He had a keen eye for digging deeper into stories that
emanated from our neighborhood. He didn't gloss over stories or dismiss content as we had experienced before. This is how our
friendship developed. It was years later that I learned his heritage began in the south end and he was obviously not embarrassed to associate or identify with his "South End" roots. He was fully supportive of our efforts to seek historic recognition for the neighborhood and was an asset in providing research, especially on the Italian contributions to this community. The legacy he left to this cpmmunity will be the drive to excel and to continue to overcome the prejudice and stereotypical depictions of the neighborhood. To that end we are PREVAILING.
Team Roger: I to r, Henry Halem, Bob Springer, Roger, Kasha Legeza-Burton, Sandy Halem By Charles Michel Childhood Friend
Conversations with my childhood friend Roger Di Paolo, always went something like this.
Me... "Roger, whatever happened to old Mrs. Kelly?"
Roger... "She died on Thanksgiving Day, 3 years ago. She had been living with her daughter, Lucy (whose married name
was Smith) down in Ft. Myers Fl. Lucy was the youngest of the Kelly kids. There were ten kids in all. From oldest to youngest... there was Tommy, Teddy, Theresa, Mary, Emily, Arthur, Danny, Helen, Ellen, and baby Lucy. They lived on Highland Avenue just behind St. Patrick's Church. They are all still living except for Arthur, who died in Vietnam on September 3, 1969."
No one person has ever known more about or cared more about the people in his own home community than Roger. Roger was much more than the editor of a newspaper... he was the heart that held close every memory of everyone and everything. For Roger, every Kent resident, past and present, living and dead... was family. And the entire community was itself more of a family because Roger lived his entire life there. Like George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life, Roger's life was made wonderful by making a very big difference in his very own backyard. Roger Di Paolo was indeed "the richest man in town." And
the town and the state and the nation
and the world will forever be a bit poorer now that Roger is no longer here
to keep it rich in memories and rich in
love.
By Jack Amrhein
President, KHS
On October 24, 2017 the Kent Historical Society and Museum's Board ofTustees appointed Roger Di Paolo as historian-in-residence. The board was fortunate that Roger was available to do the job and he and his knowledge of Kent's history were well known to the community. Mr. Di Paolo wrote or coauthored as well as edited books for the Society. In his role Roger helped muse
~------------------------
Roger's horse-drawn hearse on its way to Standing Rock Cemetery ~
um visitors research historic questions as well as helped them trace relatives or past businesses that were important to them. He also presented programs
on our behalf to the citizens of the community.
On many occasions I remember Roger sitting down with visitors, employees and members and
weaving Kent's history into fascinating and interesting stories. His knowledge of Kent's long and varied history was amazing. No one had the vast knowledge ofour community's history as did Roger. He was an excellent addition to our Museum's team. His talents as an author, editor and historian enabled the Kent Historical Society to enrich its programs of events, publications and public programs.
Roger will be deeply missed.
To contribute to the Roger Di Paolo Student Scholarship Fund at Roosevelt High School please call KHS at (330) 678-2712 or email [email protected]
Photo credits: Brad Bolton, Tim Krasselt, Sandra Halem, Henry Halem ~ . 1
fu,,b.,fLuc:t~v ill." Jtu~ ~ ~/},_
~-~---, ~ ~1'
And, ofcourse I am grateful for havinggrown up in Kent, a community whose diversity is part ofmy heritage
The Kent Historian, Kent Historical Society Newsletter, Number 109, Fall2023
No full textNewsletter highlighting recent events and collections of Kent Historical SocietyTHE KENT HISTORIAN
The Newsletter ofthe Kent Historical Society Fall, 2023
Number 109
Modern Vision exhibit adds recent Kent history
Researchers, local business, KHS, together celebrate mutual effortfor displays
By Bengt George
KHS Staff Writer
When walking through the front doors of our museum, visitors are often taken with the warm, rustic materials that greet them. The ornate wood and brass trim of the house, the vintage glass and ceramic of our pharmacy exhibit, distressed leather above a stone fireplace in our Early Kent room. It all creates the sort of sensory experience one would expect from a history
museum.
Within these walls, visitors may be surprised to come across space age polymer-dispensing displays in durable plastic. This is exactly the case with our latest (in both senses of the word) exhibit.
Modern Vision: Liquid Crystal Technology
in Kent is the culmination of months
ofwork with both Kent State University's
Liquid Crystal Institute (LCI) and local
company Kent Displays. We are delighted
to continue our preservation of local industrial
history through to the 21st century, tracing our relationship to technological innovation and our continued relevance on the world stage. As President Emeritus Sandra Halem says about the new exhibit, "The reason that Kent is thriving where many small towns are
not, is because we keep
reinventing ourselves."
Liquid crystal displays, most commonly seen in the screens of cell phones and televisions, have a long history with the city of Kent.
In 1965, Kent State
professor Glenn H.
Brown established
LCI as a cutting-edge
research center into
various applications of
liquid crystals.
His colleague and Dr J. William Doane shares his story of of making industrial history in Kent with Liquid Crystal Technology, as Sandy Halem listens.
Director of the LCI,
J. William Doane, products to this day. Their line of reusable would in 1993 co-found Kent Displays, writing tablets, the Boogie Board, are used which continues to create new commercial See Modern, page 4
Tap Talks emerge from natural elements, local history
Unique location brings community through story
By Tom Hatch
KHS Board Member
Before we get to the story ofTap Talks and how this speakers' series has enriched our community, the story of North Water Brewing, the venue at which Tap Talks occurs every third Tuesday at 7 pm, is worthy of some ink. Many things came together to make NWB an important Kent landmark.
First, there's the North: Located at the northern end ofWater Street, past the Mill, the Art Gallery, Scribble's, Lucci's,
Bent Tree Coffee, and the Fairchild Bridge; Don Schjeldahl, chief visionary, calls it the perfect spot. He should know.
Don returned to full-time life in Kent after a career as a site selection specialist and industrial economist. Along the way, Don worked for two years finding perfect spots for Sierra Nevada Brewing.
According to Don, "This location checked all the boxes: an old under-utilized
industrial structure begging for rebirth,
on the hike and bike trail, a stone's throw
from the Cuyahoga River, in a neighbor-
See Talks, page 2 :
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Talks, from page 1
hood showing signs of revitalization, and
part of a resurging Mill District commercial
street." Get some exercise, grab a beer.
Next, there's the Water: Did you know that, because glaciers covering our area left behind deep river valleys and underground tunnels of sand and gravel (nature's premier system for filtering water), we have
access to some of the best water in North
America? Who knew we were walking on
interbedded and interlensing sand, gravel,
silt and day in buried valleys?* Don did.
Finally, there's the Brewing: According to Dylan Hamilton, North Water's master brewer, "Kent's water is as dose to perfection as it gets. Starting with a dean canvas allows me to create exciting beers without the worry ofwater chemistry skewing the results." Ahhh, perfection!
Right spot, great beer, so what's missing? It's complicated. Don Schjeldahl's vision for NWB is to build a sustainable business that fosters social, economic, and environmental responsibility.
His work experience taught him that, in today's world, successful towns grow and prosper when "there's a focus on people, streetscape improvement, and building a lively ascendant downtown." These days, with dime stores gone and pharmacies on every corner except downtown, forward-looking central areas feature used bookstores, art galleries, coffee shops, yoga studios, and, yes, microbreweries. Places that foster reflection and conversation.
Tap Talks, the speaker's series that focuses on telling stories of Kent's past, present
A K
and future, is a natural part of the vision to align culture and community. If you've been to North Water Brewing on a third Tuesday at 7pm in the past year or so, you may have heard the "likely true" story of Captain Brady; the story of Brady Lake as an amusement park; Spiritualist encampment, and mob hangout; how the May 4th site on Kent's campus became a National
Landmark; the key role Kent's Historic South End has played in the growth of our city; how we got the Kent Environmental
Council, the Wick Poetry Center, Davey Tree Expert Company, Portage Parks, and
the Franklin Hotel.
Doug Fuller, retired Kent architect and member of the Kent Historical Society Board, is planning a new slate of fascinating stories for this coming year. In September, we'll hear about the Davey SEED (Science Employee Education and Development) campus currently under construction at the former Oak Knolls Golf Course.
In October, we'll hear about the "Story Mapping" project underway to make information about historic structures in Kent available to building and homeowners and the general public interested in historic preservation.
Could there be a talk about the history of Fageol Twin Coach? We're working on it.
See Talks, page 3
*Visuals provide brief geology explanation
Soil composition, layering, filters water for fine brewing
Photo Oose-up
Sand
Silt
Clay
~ ·.
Left, comparing size differences between sand, silt, clay--types of soil fo~nd in·K~nt area (good for brewing); right, example of interbedding. Don Schjeldahl explains that, because of glacial activity, deep underground tunnels of sand and gravel were formed. This natural mixture provides excellent water filtering.
Fall 2023 2
Talks, from page 2
We're also working on stories about Kent's Black History, the Williams Brothers Mill, the famous Blue Gill dinner at Twin Lakes, Native Americans in Franklin Mills, the Silk/Alpaca Mill, and many more.
There are lots of stories to tell. According to Don Schjeldahl, "Kent is loaded with smart people." Doug adds, "Ifyou come to a Tap Talk, you'll likely learn something you didn't know before and you'll have a chance to sample some great beer."
Ifyou have an idea for a Tap Talk, or would like to research any aspect of Kent history, please contact Julie Kenworthy, KHS Director, or Doug Fuller at Kent Historical Society and Museum. We have lots of resources, can point you in the right direction, pair you with a capable speaker if you are shy, and help you create a Tap Talk that will not only spark conversation among your fellow Kentites, but will help point you in the right direction, pair you with a capable speaker if you are shy, and help you create a Tap Talk that will not only spark con-
At a Tap Talk in November, 2022, Chas Madonio (above, left, with microphone). local author of"Bars, Bands, and Rock 'n Roll," played to a full crowd. Find upcoming topics at https:1/northwaterbrewing.com/eventsltaptalksl or on KHS Facebook during the second week of each month.
Artifact Spotlight
By Bengt George
KHS StaffWriter Most Kent residents are familiar with the Masonic Center, the palatial brick building on West Main that serves as a destination for the city's Ghost Walk and regular flea markets. Well before its 1923 acquisition by the Rockton Masonic Lodge, the mansion had been constructed
in the early 1880s as Marvin Kent's home. While it belonged to the Kent family, the home was visited by multiple US Presidents, who stayed in the guest quarters still dubbed the "President's Room" today.
Photos ofthe Masonic Center can be seen in our Early Kent Room at the museum, but the attic holds other artifacts ofthe Masons.
This season we've chosen to feature two ofour ornate ceremonial swords, personalized for two notable figures from Kent history. These swords belonged to Hugo Birkner and Lincoln Garrett, evidenced by their engraved names on the blades and scabbards and initials emblazoned on the grips.
This type of sword was commonly presented to high-ranking members of Masonic organizations, used not as weapons, but symbolic representations versation among your fellow Kentites, but will help introduce many people to perfect beer.
Join us for Tap Talks, every third Thursday, at North Water Brewing, at 7 p.m.
of their importance to the order. Accompanying these swords is a portrait ofan unknown Mason wielding a similar sword, produced by popular 1870s and 1880s Kent photographer James Wark. The photo shows the kind of ceremonial dress and ornaments that complimented the decorative swords in Mason ceremonies.
More ofWark's work can be seen throughout our collections, including those hosted on our website.
Though these swords are not currently on display, they serve as beautiful
reminders ofKent's enduring history and the importance ofpreserving physical artifacts. As always, we invite all community members to visit our museum during public hours to experience our collections from all eras and corners ofKent society. Remember, our new public hours are Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Fall 2023 3
KHS HOLIDAY -"OPEf4 HOUSE\
.SAVE
Saturday, the t>ATE December 2nd 10 AM to 1 PM
Carolers,
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Modern, from page 1
in schools, offices, hospitals, and homes all over the world.
On June 29, we had the opportunity to bring together the KHS family, Kent State researchers and Kent Displays staff in celebration of the exhibit's opening.
in the community who serve as sources of
"living history," contributing to our mission-
ofpreservation on a constant basis. The exhibit can be seen alongside all our other displays during public hours on Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors can expect to see a variety of
LCI photographs
and documents,
including Doane's
official patents on
its technological
developments.
Below this, a large glass case shows the history of Kent Displays' products, from government projects to commercial prototypes to the affordable and accessible products they sell
today.
:..;..:___ _J
Exhibit contributors, families enjoy displays, mood rings and Boogie Boards. We've also aimed
Dr. Doane himself addressed attendees and shared his first-hand experiences through the events documented in Modern Vision. It's our great fortune to have people to make this our most interactive exhibit to date. There are Boogie Board products to test, mood rings (which contain liquid crystals) to take, and multiple videos
Modern Vision interactive exhibit includes videos, LCI photographs, Doane's official patents, video, Kent Displays' products and more to try.
explaining the science of liquid crystals to watch.
We'd like to thank all of our volunteers, our contacts at LCI and especially Kent Displays for their invaluable help in making this exhibit a reality.
Fall 2023
The Kent Historian, Kent Historical Society Newsletter, Number 108, Spring 2023
No full textTHE KENT HISTORIAN
The Newsletter ofthe Kent Historical Society Spring, 2023
Number 108
Madonio music scene memoir rocks off charts
Inside story delights to tune of 1,000 copies sold
By Chas Madonio
Author, "Bars, Bands, and Rock-nRoll:
The Golden Era in Kent, Ohio"
I had always aspired to be a writer
from the time I was in high school, but
life took me in a different direction. I
freelanced a number of articles over the years, including a few to the Record-Courier about my years in music. My friend, Roger Di Paolo, always published them and after a few, he encouraged me to write a book about those years when Kent was the #1 spot
in the area for
rock 'n roll.
I resisted and never took it seriously. One day over breakfast with Roger Thurman, who was compiling information for such a book, he
encouraged me First-time author, Chas to "just start Madonio, sets 1000+ copies
sold record at KHS Press.
writing" all my memories and see where it took me. So I did. I contacted Di Paolo and told him I
Bars, Bands,and Rock'nRoll
Front cover: Chas Madonio's popular new book delivers memories of Kent's 60s, 70s music scene. [Published by KHS Press.]
would write the book if he would agree
to be my editor. But he related to me
that he was unable due to his illness.
I realized that my generation was dying at an alarming rate and ifsomeone didn't start documenting this period in Kent's history, all the wonderful stories would be lost forever. It was such a magical time in all our lives, I wanted to recreate the atmosphere for those who experienced it to relive it and for those too young to know
Writer, press chronicle local history
By Thomas Hatch
Wearer of Many KHS Hats
KHS Press is the publishing arm of Kent Historical Society. We publish books that chronicle the history and culture of those who have lived, worked, or grown up in Kent. "Bars, Bands, and Rock 'n Roll" by Chas Madonia is a great example of a story that comes out of the lived experience of some remarkable people -and Chas has told it well.
Publishing a book requires the skills of many. For this book, Jona Burton offered his graphic design expertise for the book design and typography, I served as editor, and Nancy Madonia skillfully copyedited the manuscript. Jim Gundlach designed the cover.
Editor's note: Previous KHS Press publications include "Rooted in Kent, " "Railroad Town" and "1hen & Now. "
what it was like, to find out. So, I started
writing.
It was in the fall of 2018, a few months before the word Covid debuted in our vocabularies. My plan was to contact as many of my old contemporaries as I could find and let them tell their stories. I wanted to collect all the stories about not only the musicians but also those who hung around with us, the clubs where we played, the club owners, the places we hung out and all the many characters who made everything even more interesting.
Without Facebook, I would never have found so many of them. They all had stories and nearly everyone thanked me for
.,}_,_i""":~..,~~-1'-~--,1-.:i
-~,_____......;::i-.._ ___::::s.a==~
Back cover: Finding their cool: Madonio with "Monopoly" band-mates, (L to R) Dave Andress, Rod Reisman, Rich Underwood
and Chas Madonia.
undertaking the project. They all wanted to be remembered.
Sadly, many had faded memories. And even sad
der, manyhad died.
Three years later, the book was complete, with as many pictures as I could find. Unfortunately, there were few pictures from the early years. My hope is that anyone reading the book can be transported back to the magical days of the 60s and 70s to share our experiences.
Editor's note: copies ofChas' book may be purchased online (kentohiohistory. org).
Volunteer Opportunity STOW STREET PIONEER CEMETERY
SPRING CLEAN UP
Date: Sunday, May 7 Time: 2-4 a.m. Located in Kent, OH, on Stow St. (near Kramer Fields) Artifact Special Edition
By Bengt George,
Spotlight
KHS Collections
advantage oftechnological innovations,
Following the disastrous fire of and boasted a daily yield of 1,200 barrels
December 2, 2022, in the historic by 1922. This rapid improvement in
flour mill on North Water Street, we've production put pressure on a competing
decided to highlight some ofthe items mill on the west side ofthe river, which
in our collection related to the history ended when the famous 1913 flood deciofflour
manufacturing at the complex mated both mill and business.
originally known as Peerless Roller The items pictured here are smallMills.
sample bags, bearing the Williams Bros.
Charles A. and Scott T. Williams first moniker, used to market the mill's
funded the construction ofthe mill in 1880, with an initial investment of products to prospective buyers. Each one
1.2 million today. Production began to recipients. (In 2023, KHS does not
recommend attaching stamps to bags
the following year with a daily yield of ofpowder and dropping them in USPS
125 barrels offlour. The brown building destroyed in the collection boxes.)
A number ofartifacts from the mill
recent fire housed the original grain elewill be on display in the Museum-stop
vator for the company (the iconic white by and browse.
towers would be built later in 1936). The Williams Brothers periodically Remember, our new public hours are Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
renovated the mill, always taking
New exhibit-in-progress explores history being made
........ ........ .... ................................
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A HISTORY OF LIQUID CRYSTALTECHNOLOGYIN KENT, OHIO
Season Year
The Kent Historian, Kent Historical Society Newsletter, Number 81, Fall 2013
No full textTHE KENT HISTORIAN
The Newsletter of the Kent Historical Society Fall 2013
Number81
Buildings a
reflection of
Kent's past,
present
Architect: Preservation is
cornerstone to the future
By Douglas Fuller
Fuller Design Group Architects
Can you imagine what downtown Kent
would be like without the Atlantic & Great
Western Railroad Depot, the Old Franklin
Hotel, the Kent Theatre or the many ocher
buildings that form the fac;:ade of the historic
downtown?
Now can you imagine the downtown if we
could have found a useful purpose for the old
Opera House built in 1889, had not covered
the old Kent National Bank built in 1869 with
green glass, and, if we had not lost to fire in
1973, the original downtown block built in
1837? What an addition to the downtown
these buildings would have made.
The preservation movement in Kent began
with a bang in 1975, only two years after the
original downtown block burned. The Kent
Historical Society and several investors
purchased the old train depot. They, along with
the Pufferbelly Restaurant ownership, restored
the blighted building, which many thought was
destined to be raised, back to life. Its
restoration is symbolic to our town in several
ways.
First, because of its distinct architectural
character, second because it reflects our town's
gritty past as an industrial railroad town, and
third because it brought to a hale the loss of
important architectural buildings. Buildings
like these reflect so much of where we have
been as a community and who we are today.
See Preservation, page 6
The historic
Franklin Hotel,
at left, which
opened in 1920,
has been brought
back to life
through the
efforts of
developer Ron
Burbick and city
officials. The
five-floor building
houses Buffalo
Wild Wings, the
Secret Cellar,
below, a 1920sera
club, and
offices and luxury
apartments.
Newspaper contest in 1919 was a hotel natne gatne
Details of history can be gleaned
in 191 published suggestions
In 1919, Kent was abuzz with the excitement
and promise of a new hotel with a style and
design that had never been seen in the city -
or the state, for chat matter.
In honor of the event, The Executive
Committee of the Kent Hotel Company
announced a hotel naming contest that was
open to every resident of Kent and Franklin
Township.
"Every person in Kent is vitally interested in
this project which means so much to Kent
prosperity, so it has been decided that every
man, woman and child shall have an
opportunity to participate in seeking the
name," the contest announcement read. It went
on to say, "A name is wanted chat is distinctive,
and, preferably, one relative to the history of
chis city, this county or the State. Buffalo has
its 'Iroquois'; Rochester its 'Onondaga';
Pittsburg (sic) its 'William Penn'; and
Washington its 'Raleigh', etc. etc. Let us have a
name that means something."
Cash prizes in the amounts of 30 for second and 20 for third were to be
awarded for the name that garnered the largest
number of votes from subscribers to the capital
stock of the Kent Hotel Company.
The following suggestions, reasons and
names of contestants are highlights reprinted
here from the 1919 edition:
1) Kentownza Hotel: - Signifies chat the
town and people of Kent own the new hotel.
Helen G. Parker also suggested Kenczown.
2) The Tyre House - Mason "tires" have
put Kent on the map. - Mary Myers
3) Franklin - In honor of our city's original
name, Franklin Mills, which will show the
enormous increase in population since early
days. - No name given
See Contest, page 6
r ~< ,<.i\(~1; •;:i~:;;~t;Jf;r{ c·.f. -;f~- ,,,:_:-~ -- -il ,.: ~'<'f !130,000, was funded
entirely by generous donations from the
Woodward Foundation, the Christenson
Foundation, and KHS members such as
Bonnie Shepherd Garrett, Linda Bradscock
MacDougall, and you.
The complete cost of the elevator was made
possible through the donation by Bonnie
Shepherd Garrett.
"Everyone of all ages may now enjoy each
and every exhibit," Mrs. Garrett said in a letter.
"This is a momentous day for the museum!"
In addition, Mrs. Garrett also was
instrumental in the creation of the Garrett
Room on the second floor highlighting the
museum's Victorian heritage. Her gift funded
the renovation of the room with periodappropriate
carpet and wallpaper, was given in
memory of her husband, her father-in-law and
his father. Additional work at the museum
includes the renovation of the interior space
that will become the Bonnie Garrett Gallery.
Also, plumbing that was badly deteriorated on
the second floor has been upgraded.
Garrett, who lives in Florida and will not be
in town to take the first elevator ride, is thrilled
that her sister and brother-in-law, Barb and
Bob Meeker, can lend a hand in her absence.
"I send my love to each as my honorary
House, from page 4
the back of the lot.
We will remove rooming house interior walls
but keep the original walls, plaster and
woodwork. The old, wide baseboard, door and
window treatments from 1858 are mostly
intact. The original staircase newel post and
treads survive but the railing and spindles will
need to be reduplicated. Presently we will
retain the vinyl windows but eventually there
will be very expensive new historic design wood
windows. Under debate is whether to strip the
aluminum and vinyl siding now or wait until
spring. The house suffers aesthetically from the
modern siding work bur underneath are the
original wood siding, corner boards, window
and door trim. Also coming soon is split stone
veneer to be installed over the front and sides
Fall 2013
An 80-foot crane, above, was brought on
site to remove a chimney on the east side
of the Clapp-Woodward House and to repoint
the chimney on the west side of the
house. The shaft that will house that elevator,
above right, can be seen at the rear of
the Clapp-Woodward House. Prior to the
construction, a porch and roof were torn
down, right.
representatives," Garrett said.
In addition to the construction of the
elevator, work has been completed at the
Clapp-Woodward House in preparation for
reroofing. One old chimney on the home that
was no longer functional was removed and a
second was repainted.
Work at the historic Depot has included the
reroofing of the three cowers; the painting of
of the foundation to echo the look of a mid-
19th Century building. Installation of a steel
staircase co the front door, brick pavers and a
beautiful street clock (courtesy of the Kent
Historical Society) are also being planned. A
nod of appreciation to Chris Myers, who is
providing used brick pavers at a very reasonable
cost. There is plenty of work and expense
awaiting us. Inexperience has resulted in some
mistakes bur the intent is genuine. The only
claim is that we have done our best and hope
co improve. We have benefited from the
unwavering support of architect Rick Hawksley
and Tracy Wallach who have invested, along
with the board members, tremendous amounts
of personal time and, in some cases, personal
financial resources.
trim and windows above the first floor;
correcting a drainage problem on the north
end; and repair of the landing and stairs.
Phase 3 of the Depot renovation will be
tackled in 2014. Work includes replacing the
canopy on the Depot.
To date we have been supported by Kent
State (especially Vice President Gregg Floyd,
who refused to allow the legal difficulties to
prevent our effort), the Kent Historical Society,
Hometown Bank, attorney J. Michael Gatien,
Kent City Council and the Department of
Community Development. We also want to
thank Roger DiPaolo of the Record-Courier, as
well as those who have already donated money
and time to this project.
We are a 501(c)3 non-profit so donations
given in our name through the Kent Historical
Society are tax deductible.
( The Kent Wells Sherman House board is led by
Ann Ward and staffed by Roger Thurman, Alan
Orashan, Sally Burnell and Tim Simandl The
group's web address is: http://www.kwsh.org)
5
Preservation, from page 1
The Kent Historical Society's dedicated
effort to purchase and renovate the building set
the cornerstone for preservation in Kent. The
Atlantic & Great Western Railroad Depot will
always be the building chat set the standard, in
our town, for why preservation is important.
We can't
The Kent Historian, Kent Historical Society Newsletter, Number 82, Winter/Spring 2014
No full textTHE KENT HISTORIAN
The Newsletter of the Kent Historical Society Winter/Spring 2014
Number82
Town and Garden Tour returns June 7, 8
Kent is an eclectic mix of old and new, of
past and present.
In June, residents will have a special opportunity
to see this up close.
1he Kent Historical Society will host the
Town and Garden Tour on June 7 & 8, with a
special sponsors night party on June 6. The
tour will include a variety of unique historic
homes, gardens, and buildings in the downtown
and the West Main Street area. It will also
feature unique urban living spaces at Acorn
Corner.
Tickets will be 1 ,400 with a good portion of that going to
support the mission of Kent Historical Society.
KHS also raised 1,400, which will help support
the mission of Kent Historical Society.
The Brady Lake Park opened in 1891 and
remained in operation until the late 1940s,
when it deteriorated into a gambling and
nightclub resort.
veloper, Don Wilson Sr., rook over the park in
the late 1920s and led it during its "golden
age," Endres said.
The park eventually featured a figure-eight
roller coaster, a carousel and a midway. Campsites
and summer cottages were developed.
Big-name bands and acts performed, including
Cab Calloway and Rudy Vallee. Unusual
acts were brought in to draw larger crowds including
"aerial daredevils ," rodeos and horse
swimming acts. Bingo was added in 1938. In
1942, the park was sold to a group of Clevelanders,
who changed the focus to gambling,
which ultimately led to its closing in late 1949-
50.
Winter/Spring 2014
Sandy Halem steps down as KHS president
By Sandra Halem
This January, I retired from the presidency
and board of the Kent Historical Society. fu I
look back, I remember so much of the history,
both institutional and personal, that has
made this 40-year partnership so gratifying.
I was cleaning out my files and came across
an interview in the Record-Courier from
May 1977 which began with the following
paragraph: "Keeping Kent history alive is
Sandra Halem's hobby, a hobby that is keeping
her quite busy lately. Sandy and members
of the Kent Historical Society are preparing
to restore the Kent Railway Station."
At that time, I was a producer and writer
in the Television Services Department at
Kent State University, creating programming
for the newly opened PBS station Channels
45/49.
Our daughter, Jessica, was three years old
and my husband, Henry, was building the
glass program within the Kent State Art Department
from the ground up. His academic
appointment at Kent State was the reason we
had come to Kent in the summer of 1969.
We were newly married and anxious to find a
place to call home.
Loris Troyer, then editor of the RecordCourier,
had met my husband and I during a
1970 Town/Gown meeting held following
the tragic events of May 4th on the Kent
State campus. At that first meeting, Loris
learned of my love of history and convinced
Henry and I that Kent was a great place to
live and raise a family. It was the beginning of
a friendship that would last more than 40
years until his death in 2011.
Loris submitted my name to the Kent Historical
Society Board ofTrustees in 1974. I
would be replacing John Carson, who was
leaving to serve as county commissioner. I
was 30 years old and would serve as the first
woman, still unusual for membership on
boards of trustees. John Flynn also was appointed
at the same time, and Howard Boyle
would join in 1977 as the board sought to
engage younger members with skills that
would help in our 10-year quest to preserve
the Erie Depot.
See Halem, page 6
KHS board members in the spotlight
Amrhein new KHS board president
Retired teacher has served on
KHS trustees board since 1997
Jack Amrhein joined the Kent Historical Society
Board of Trustees in 1997 after being
asked by then-superintendent Marc Crail to
represent the school district.
Amrhein began his education career in 1980,
teaching at Davey Junior High, Stanton Middle
School and Theodore Roosevelt High
School before retiring in 2013. He also serves
on Kent City Council representing Ward 2.
This is his second term.
Amrhein moved to Kent in 1976. He graduated
from Kent State University in 1980 and
fell in love with the city and decided to make it
his home, he said.
Amrhein and his wife, Claudia, who is the
general manager of P ARTA, have two sons,
Joshua and Matthew and a daughter-in-law,
Raquel, who is married to Matthew.
Amrhein said chat although he has big shoes
to follow in caking the reins from Sandy, he
said he has learned valuable skills from her.
"Sandy has taught me to go with my gut instinct
and she has taught me to listen to others,"
Amrhein said. "She has also taught me to
think outside the box."
Amrhein said he always had a deep interest
in history and pop culture and has had the
Winter/Spring 2014
"privilege and good fortune to work in the
Kent Schools for some 33 years teaching those
subjects."
Amrhein's avid interest in pop culture helps
him to better understand what Kent was like
during the 1900s and how it has affected the
community as we know it today.
He hopes to continue to share his love of the
topic by hosting pop culture presentations for
the community in the near future.
He said his main goal, though, is to continue
on the same track char Sandy has taken, adding
that education, membership and preservation
are his top priorities as board president.
"History is important because WE ARE the
past: we are the sum of all the events - good,
bad, and indifferent - chat have happened to
us. This sum product guides our actions in the
present," he said.
Amrhein said he encourages people to get involved
with KHS to support the mission of education
and preservation and to assist with the
ongoing renovation and maintenance of KHS
museum's new permanent location at 237 E.
Main St. The museum has been located in the
historic Kem home for nearly three years. Amrhein
wants people to learn to know and love
the museum like he does.
"The Kent Historical Society is the caretaker
of the city's past. I love it," Amrhein said.
Sandy Halem resigned in January as
president of the Kent Historical Society
Board of Trustees. Jack Amrhein has
been selected as the new president of
the board. See story, below.
Friends look
back at Halem's
contributions
Booth
JEANBOOTI-1
KHS Board member
I have only known Sandy
well since I started volunteering
at the Kent Historical
Society a few years
ago. Over the years we
have spent a lot of time
in basements, attics and
storage rooms finding
and preserving historically
significant Kent artifacts. With Sandy
everything is fun no matter if it was a dirty
project like pulling weeds; a tedious one like
folding newsletters or a scary one like climbing
down rickety basement stairs (at our new museum)
to a damp dungeon (at our old museum
on Water Street.) A growing vibrant museum is
Sandy's legacy to Kent Historical Society. Although
Sandy has resigned from the board we
expect that she will continue to share her enthusiasm,
sense of humor and joy in life with
all of us.
See Friends, page 4
3
Halem from page 3
ROGER DI PAOLO
Historian, author, editor
"(Sandy's) like a force of
nature ... a whirlwind of
energy and ideas, but always
with a focus. She's a
great motivator. People
enjoy working with her
because she brings a sense
of fun to whatever needs
to be done. She decided it
was time that I had writ-
Di Paolo ten a book and she did so
much to make it happen. "Rooted in Kent"
would not exist without Sandy and Henry. We
started talking about "doing a book" in June,
she promised me that if I did what she told me
to do, it would be ready by the holidays. I did,
and we published it in early December 2009.
We sold 500 copies by Christmas."
BECKY DUNLAP
KHS board member
For countless years I have accompanied
Longcoy's third-graders on their walking tours
of the city of Kent. One of the students' favorite
stops was the Kent Historical Society
Museum. Sandy (or Mrs. Halem to the students)
would captivate and amaze her 9-yearold
audiences (and the parent chaperones) with
stories of Franklin Mills, early pioneers, etc.,
and show students some of the many interesting
artifacts housed in the museum (including
Martin L. Davey's desk from his time as governor,
antique wedding dresses, an early letter
with a Franklin Mills postmark, Haymaker
family tree quilt, etc.)
She made Kent's history come alive year after
year with the kind of enthusiasm a gifted
teacher wishes to instill in her students. Sandy's
eyes would shine and glow as she shared the
gift of the Kent Historical Society Museum.
Ending the tours, she would sit at the player
piano, pop in a roll of music, and her feet
would pedal to power the music that would
have students swaying to the beat as we exited
the museum.
Thank you Sandy, on behalf of all the children
you have helped educate on the rich and
varied history of Kent, Ohio!
AUDREY C. KESSLER
KHS board secretary
I remember the time after I first came on the
KHS board and Sandy asked me to be the person
to do the newsletter. We met about starting
up the publication. I was impressed with
Sandy's vast knowledge of Kent history. She
knew the information in such depth and detail.
She had ideas for the newsletter but was open
to my suggestions as well, including content
and the name of the newsletter. Her enthusi-
4
asm for the project also increased my excitement
about the work ahead. I felt honored to
be working with her and being able to tap her
expertise and wisdom about Kent history and
how that history could be expressed through
the newsletter.
SCOTT FLYNN
KHS board vice president
Everyone knows that
Sandy was a tireless and
passionate leader of
KHS, but what I'll miss
most is the sense of
humor Sandy brought to
KHS. She and Henry are
a hilarious couple. You
never know what will
come out of Sandy's
mouth next, which is
Flynn part of the reason the
KHS board is going to
miss her so much. Sandy joined the board in
'74, and left in '84. She rejoined the board in
'94 and became president in '04, only to leave
now in '14. I'm looking forward to her return
in 2024.
TOM HATCH
KHS Director
The entire Kent community has been fortunate
for Sandy Halem's leadership of the Kent
Historical Society and Museum over the past
10 years. Sandy's vision and articulate advocacy
has brought us acclaim and growth as she ably
helped us achieve our goal of collecting and
telling the important story of Kent's history
and keeping it accessible for future generations.
KASHA LEGEZA-BURTON
KHS board member
I always assumed historical
societies were stuffy.
And history? Never much
cared for the subject during
my school days. Then I met
local-history dynamo Sandy
Halem - and everything
changed!
In 2009 Sandy recruited
my husband, Jona Burton,
and me to volunteer as de- Legeza-Burton
signer and editor, respectively,
for our mutual friend Roger Di Paolo's book,
"Rooted in Kent: 101 Tales from the Tree
City." We (along with many others) worked
great together as a team to get a fantastic book
published on a very tight deadline. And I was
hooked on local history - and the Kent Historical
Society!
Not long thereafter, Sandy encouraged me to
join the KHS Board of Trustees - yet another
volunteer job I simply couldn't resist because of
her never.:.ending examples of energy, enthusiasm
and a heartfelt commitment to the preser-vation
and promotion of Kent history.
Sandy's youthful spirit permeates every aspect
of KHS - and it's the reason I constantly
find myself encouraging younger friends to join
our local history family with the catchphrase,
"We're not your grandmother's historical society!"
MATT METCALF
KHS board treasurer
Sandy's knowledge of the Kent community,
its people and history will be impossible to replace.
The size and the incredible state of our museum
is a direct result of her years of hard work
and dedication to the Kent Historical Society.
And now that she is no longer volunteering on
our projects, she better learn to keep her checkbook
ready.
JIM MYERS
KHS board member
Sandy, more than anyone
in the history of our
organization, has
PUSHED us to do more
and do better as a group,
encouraging others and
relying on the skrns of
others to make it happen.
We should all be grateful
for her being interested in
the history of her adopted Myers
home town. Since I as one
of the founders of the KHS, have seen her accomplishments
make others, who like myself
have helped along the way, seem "pale by comparison"
to what Sandy has done for us. The
"latch of Hatch," that is the hiring of Tom
Hatch, has taken us to a new higher level!
CAROL SfROBLE
KHS board member
I first met Sandy about
seven years ago when I
stopped in the historical
society when it was on
Water Street. There had
been an article in the
paper about the society
looking for new board
members.
So when I stopped in
to inquire about the open- Stroble
ing and to check out the
place (I had never been there before), I met
Sandy for the first time.
I was so impressed and inspired by her enthusiasm
for the society, her love of the history
of Kent and her passion for preserving it, I just
knew I wanted to be a part of this group!
I know we will all miss her constant presence
there, but she can be reassured that she has
been an inspiration to many others who will
carry on her work.
Winter/Spring 2014
From the pages of history
Fire destroyed Longcoy grocery 102 years ago
Store operated next day, was
rebuilt after Feb. 1912 disaster
The following is reprinted from a story in the
Ju61 30, 1952, edition of The Record-Courier as
the store shuttered its doors cifter 87 years of
operation in Kent.
In 1865 The Civil War had just ended when
a new grocery store and meat business was
started in Kent. Today, after 87 years'
continuous service to the community under the
same name, the store has gone out of business.
The Longcoy grocery store is no more. The
store that has carried the name "Longcoy" for
87 years, serving many of the old-time
Kentites, has sold its stock and fixtures.
***
THE STORE was started in 1865 by David
Longcoy with his twin sons, Frank and Francis
as partners. It continued that way until 1876
when Frank pulled out and went to Iowa. Soon
afterward, the market was moved from its
original location at the corner of Main and
River Sts. to 124 S. Water St.
Frank returned to Kent in 1889 and, with
his brother, handled the store until 1902.
Then, Harry C. Longcoy, son of Frank, bought
the store along with WA. Sparror.
It was during the tenure of these owners that
disaster struck. Early Sunday morning on
Lincoln's birthday in 1912 fire broke out and
destroyed the store.
H.C. Longcoy, aided by his employees,
worked all day obtaining a new stock and
business was resumed as usual Monday
morning in an adjoining room.
In 1917 Harry Longcoy bought out Sparror's
interest and became sole owner. He continued
in possession until 1946 when he sold to Harry
De Voe, who operated the store for a year and a
half under the Longcoy name.
***
ON DECEMBER 1, 1947, David B.
Longcoy, cousin of Harry Longcoy, bought the
store and carried on in the family tradition
until July 19. That date was the last business
Tour, from page 1
the Masonic Temple, the Clapp-Woodward
House (KHS Museum), the Franklin Hotel,
the May Prentice House (new home of the
Wick Poetry Center), the former Lilac Gardens
of Daisy Wolcott, and several other gardens
and historic homes where prominent figures
from Kent's early days lived.
One of the featured houses is the home and
Winter/Spring 2014
A fire in 1912 destroyed the Longcoy grocery store at 124 S. Water St. It was rebuilt and
continued operating until 1952.
day for the Longcoy grocery.
H. C. Longcoy expressed a desire and a hope
that the store could have continued for 100
years. But in this modern day of constant
change and movement, tradition has been
overcome by practicality.
Dave, whose health was the primary reason
for the selling, said, "It was unfortunate that it
fell to me to end the st
The Kentennial, Newsletter of the Kent Historical Society, Volume 36, September 1999
No full text.waterpower: The
A Note from Genesis of Kent the Qirector
Over half of the lim- Often in studying his- As the importance of
ited edition of Kent, tory, we s.ee a com bi- the river's force be-
Ohio: the Dynamic nation-of f~,ctors that came clear, other en-
Decades has already produ~e an effect. For terprising spirits begc
been sold. We're example, without the using the force of the
proud of the book presence of water- · Cuyahoga's flow to
and feel that it is an power along the produce the energy t
. important r~c<?rd of · course of the Cuya- run sawmills and gris
our community's his- hoga River, Kent as miils. it was no arbi-tory
in the 20th cen- we know it today would trary decision to call
tury. never have material- our early community
ized. "Franklin Mills."
Currently, we are
working on two more One of the first actions The great flood whic
book projects. The the Haymaker family swept through town i
first is a children's took when they arrived 1832 destroyed the
history of Kent here early in the 19th original dam and de-scheduled
for publi- century to found the mostrated to the con
~ation at year's end. town was to dam the munity the importanc
river and harness its of flood control for iti
The other is a re- power, building the major power source.
issue of Grism~r's first dam in 1806. It The present dam wa
venerable history of was seven feet high, built concurrent with
Kent in a soft-back built out of stones, the construction of ti
format with a much- earth, and logs just Pennsylvania and
needed new com- above our dam today. Ohio Canal.
plete index, slated to Soon after, the first
be issued in 2001 . gristmill, a primitive Even after waterpoY
"corn cracker" was in was supplanted by
place. other forms of enerf
Continued on P .2
Waterpower (from P .1)
the dam and waterfall in the heart of the
community became symbols of the force
which helped to establish the settlement
on the river's banks that we now call
"Kent."
After the great floods which devastated
Ohio in 1913, the
dam , which
thwarted a
greater disaster
downriver, was
damaged. Karl
Grismer, in his
History of Kent,
tells us that when
some citizens
suggested removing
the o,d dam, " ... most people did
not like the idea of destroying the old dam,
which had served the community so many
-years .. . "
In 1924, a drive was launched to repair
the dam. Even though its waterpower was
no longer needed, it and its waterfall were
such symbol~ of Kent's past that a
community-wide drive began to collect
funds for the restoration . Almost 6000 in
donations were collected through a grassroots
effort and allowed for the work to be
completed in 1925.
When the Kent Industrial District was
made part of the National Register of Historic
Places in the 1970's, the waterfall
and dam were placed at its heart as symbols
of our town's industrial heritage. The
creation of the district meant that both the
national Trust for Historic Preservation
and the Ohio Preservation Office recognize
the area bounded by River Street,
Main Street, Franklin Avenue, and Stow
Street as being one of the nation's historic
treasures.
From the windows of our historical society
offices on the second floor of the Great Atlantic
and Western Railroad depot, there
is a spectacular view of the Cuyahoga and
the falls. Blue heron come every morning
to fi~h near the base of the falls. Humans
fish there too, and iri
a constant parade,
hikers stroll along the
~ ... ~ walkways. The ~-- ;-~ arches of the historic
. sto·ne bridge form
.... ,_ ._ .. , ·,! perfect circles with
. :~ , ~ .. : ~:.· ·,. , · their reflection in the i/J. · · ·:" > · :·· · riyer below. If you sit
~· · :,: an_d watch for any
length of time, you
can grasp the flow of history in the power
the dam represents. In the roar of the water,
you can near the voices of historythe
Haymakers', -John · Brown -Zenas ·Kent . ' ,
Marvin Kent, Martin Davey-imagining
these historic figures watching the water
flow over the dam which has served its
community for over one hundred and sixty
years.
Ted Sapp Passes Away
Trustee Emeritus and long-time supporter
of the Kent Historical Society, Ted J.
Sapp, died June 30, 1999 at age 89. An
alumnus of Kent State University, Ted was
a life-long lover of Kent history. In addition
to his service on the historical society
board, he a_lso served on Kent City Council,
the Board of Trustees for Standing
Rock Cemetery, and the Portage County
Board of Elections. He was at one time a
Portage County Commissioner.
Kentennial June 1999 p. 2
Coming-
A history of Kent, Ohio written especially
for children
(but grown-ups will like it, too!)
Kent Historical Society
P.O. Box 663
Kent OH 44240
(330) 678-2712
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
KENT OH 44240
PERMIT #ISO
·@~;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;:;;;;;;;;;;:;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;:;;;;;;;;;;:;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;:;;;~=~0,1
At Last!
A history of Kent designed for younger readers:
THE STOilY OF KElfT, OHIO
J" AM:E8 :F. l!Al!l!AM:O
Award-winning author and Director of the Kent Historical Society
For release December of 1999
50 pages, soft-cover, illustrated, indexed, this new history of Kent was written with children in mind but is suitable reading
for all ages. Hr. Caccamo is the author of many books induding Hudson, Ohio and the Unde'lround Railroad and The
Jtory of Hudson, Ohio. From the days before the settlers came, through canal days and the arrival of John Brown, right
into modem times, The Jtory of Kent Ohio presents the history of an Ohio city in a dear and accessible manner.
Non-members: SI 0 .. 00 plus .63 sales tax: total SI 0.63 __ Number of copies x SI 0.63 S __ _
Members: .50 sales tax: total 8.50 __ Number of copies x 8.50 ___ _
Libraries and other non-profit organizations 8.00 __ Number of copies x ___ _
Shipping@ __ _
Total Order S ----
Name ----------------------------Address ---------------------------
Phone # ( ) _____ __check here if you will pick your copies up at our office above
the Pufferbelfy Ltd. at 152 Franklin Ave. and save the shipping charge.
Hake checks payable to the Kent Historical Society and mail to:
Kent Historical Society
P.O. Box 663
Kent OH 44240
. .,
Thanks! Oral History Project Continues
bur thanks go out to long-time member and Under the g'u"idance ·of K~nt Historical Soci-supporter
Marjorie Woodring, who recently ety Trustee Bill Wileri , our long-standing oral
donated four scouting uniforms (Cub Scouts, history project continu,es. Qnce again this
Boy Scouts, Bluebi~ds, and Campfire Girls) year we will be using students from Kent
frpm th~ 1950's and 1960's. We plan to fea- Roosevelt High Scho_or as interviewers. The
ture these uniforms ·in next year's exf1ibit on Society is pleasea ·to continue its support of
sport and leisure in Kent. · · this important documentation of our commu-
, - · •., · · nity's past. ·
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0 Hours: 0
□ ·. . □
□ The Office is open every □
·
0 Monday: Wednesday, 0
~ and Friday from 10-4 ~
□ The Museum is open ev- □
0 ery Wednesday and Fri- 0
~ day from noon to 4 ~
0 0 □ . □ 0 DD O □ DO O □ DD D
Membership in the Kent Historical Society
Name ---------------------------
Street Phone ----------------- --------
City __________ State _____ Zip _____ _
Student
Senior Citizen
Single
Family
5.00
15.00
Additional donation of 35.00
100.00
---------
Make Checks Payable to the Kent Historical Society and send them to
P.O. Box 663, Kent OH 44240
Your continued support through your membership dues and through contributions helps us
maintain the day-to-day operations of our historical society and enables us to undertake
projects such as Kentennial. Thanks to all for your generosity.
Kentennial June 1999 p.3
The Kent Historical Society
P.O. Box663
152 Franklin Avenue
Kent OH 44240
(330) 678-2712
Nonprofit Organization
U.S . Postage
PAID
Kent OH 44240
Permit #150
Kentennial p .
The Kent Historian, Newsletter of the Kent Historical Society, Issue 67, Fall 2009
No full textTHE KENT HISTORIAN
Newsletter of the Kent Historical Society
Fall 2009
Number Issue
HISTORY FEATURE
Beckwith Orchards Owned, Operated for Five Generations
F or many, a visit to Beckwith Orchards
on Lake Rockwell Road in
Franklin Township is much more
than a trip to buy freshly harvested
apples, tasty apple cider and gifts
with a country flair. For area school
children, it's a field trip to learn how
Johnny Appleseed planted apple
seeds when America was still a wilderness
beckoning pioneers westward.
Beckwith's has two Johnny Appleseed
trees started from a tree he
planted in Ashtabula.
The Beckwiths' home journal entries
were initiated in 1891 by Jay Beckwith,
with contributions from Beckwith
family members over the decades to
provide a sense of what life and hard
work were like in a more rural and
pastoral Portage County during the late
19th and early 20th centuries.
For example, this excerpt from
March 7, 1891 : "Today is Saturday.
The men have been hauling logs for
lumber for the new house . .. . The
sled went very nice across the fields
in the forenoon, but in the afternoon
it thawed quite a little
and in some places was quite
muddy."
Charlie Beckwith inspects one of the apples in his orchard.
Two entries describe how
even when hard frosts threatened
crops, Beckwith family
members looked forward to
warmer and brighter days.
Take this one from May 4,
1891: "We had a hard frost
night. The fruit trees are mostly
blossomed now. The frost
did a great damage to the
strawberries last night. I have
made a flower bed out in the
A family owned and operated
farm for five generations, Beckwith Orchards
has been growing and selling
fruit for more than 125 years. Also on
site is a gift and apple pie shop.
For those who want to explore
the history of this Portage County
treasure, a visit to the Kent Historical
Society is in order. The society's holdings
include an article by Jay Beckwith,
who noted that the Beckwith
family history can be traced to before
the Revolutionary War. Jay recalls
.ow his parents, Frank and Mary
Beckwith, provided the foundation
for the "Beckwith Clan" when they
married and began to raise a family.
garden. Zinnias, four o' clocks, bachelors
buttons, poppies, sweet alyssum
and sweet peas are in it."
And from June 7, 1891: On the
night of May 18, a hard frost visited
this part of the country and killed all
the wheat, and small fruits, doing
great damage. School let out May 5.
... Three months vacation now."
The entry for January 1, 1892,
shows that New Year's Day was more
of a work day than a holiday: "Marvin
and James and I butchered a beef
in the forenoon. A nice young cow. In
the afternoon we cleaned out the well.
I went down into it and fished out
two pails, a chain, rope etc.
In the 1890s, horsepower meant
exactly that and not automotive power.
This entry from December 31, 1893,
also adds a commentary on a play: "A
large party of young people from the
neighborhood went on a sleigh ride
about the 14th to [Redbrush] Schoolhouse.
I shall always remember that
ride, how I froze when I got there and
melted after we go there. The play was
not so good as the sleigh ride."
One entry describes a time before
rotary tillers and clothes dryers. April
9, 1892: "Frank began plowing our
garden patches. I helped first round.
Held the plow for part of one furrow.
It is Saturday and Maud is washing.
The wind is doing its best to keep us
from hanging our clothes out. The
sheets can wind around six times and
hav e room to flap as many times
again. How the wind did blow. Nothing
like air. Fresh air.
A very cold winter in January
1893 hampered one journal contributor
as shown by this entry: "Lakes are
frozen solid. Roads are drifted terribly,
such a freezing, sweeping wind. I
must close, for my ink is froze; my
hands are numb."
An entry one summer shows
what multitasking would have meant
See APPLE, p. 4.
Inside ...
' School Days ' Exhibit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Kent World War II Veterans . . . .... . . 2
Tales of Kent Forthcoming .. ..... . ... 3
In Memoriam: Pat Morton . . . . . . . . . . . 3
New KHS Web Site Debuts . . . . . . . . . . 3
Ghost Stories/Walk Coming . . . . . . . . . . 3
Garden Tour Blossoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
DiPaolo Book of Tales from Kent
Coming Soon to KHS Gift Shop
~ ave room on your holiday shopping list for a new book, Rooted in Kent: 101
J Tales from the Tree CihJ by Roger Di.Paolo. Di.Paolo was reared and educated in
the Tree City. He is editor of the Record-Couriie,~ where he got his start in journalism
in 1977 as a reporter. His weekly column, "Portage Pathways," is an opportunity for
him to share his interest in local history with readers.
The new book will focus on events, people, businesses and industries as
well as trends that shaped the community from its founding through the middle
of the 20th century. A form will be mailed in November for Kent Historical Society
members to preorder the book at a discounted holiday price.
In Memoriam: A Tribute to Pat Morton,
Long-Time KHS Board Member
T he Kent Historical Society lost a dedicated volunteer and board member when
Pat Morton passed away on July 20, 2009, of cancer. She was born in Champion,
Ohio, on January 2h, 1948, and moved to Kent in 1981. Pat served on the
board of the society from 2005 to 2009. She was very active
in numerous projects and events that showed her affection
for the city and its history.
Because of her love of flowers and gardens, Pat organized
a successful garden tour during Kent's bicentennial
celebration and another for the historical society this year.
For the society's tour, she created very attractive program
booklets, and found four tour sponsors and 15 lovely gardens
(to be shown over three Saturdays and staffed by more
than 20 volunteers). This highly praised event raised 5 in the society's gift shop.
The Kent Ghost Walk is set for
October 24 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30
p.m. Ghost stories that take place in
historic downtown Kent will be used
for the ghost walk If you have a Kent
ghost story, send it by e-mail to
[email protected] or postal
mail it to Main Street Kent, 138 E.
Main St., Kent, OH 44240.
If you would like to volunteer to
help with the ghost walk, contact
Main Street Kent.
KHS Volunteers
in the Spotlight
Volunteers in the spotlight for the
fall are Ann Phillips (top) and
Jean Giulitto (bottom).
"Volunteering let's
me travel in time
through Kent's rich
and diverse history.
It's a pleasure
to help preserve
this heritage."
"I love being
able to help the
historical society
out, and it's a
pleasure working
with Mary
Ann Green and
other volunteers."
3
Kent Historical Society
WINTER NOTES 2009
PLEASE JOIN US
Roger Di Paolo -will be available to autograph copies of his new book, published
by KHS, which includes 101 columns from his Portage Pathways articles
for the Record Courier. This amazing book also contains more than 125
photographs from libraries, archives &: private collections - some not seen in
100 years. This is a MUST for your holiday shopping list.
Special KHS member price $17. 00
Author!
Roger Di Paolo
ROOTED IN KENT: 101 Tales from the Tree City
Published by KHS Press
New Book Launching Party & Reception
Saturday, December 12th 11:30-3:30
KHS HOLIDAY SHOPPING
Don't forget to stop by the museum for some special gifts! A list of items
available - including special discounts for KHS members - is included in
this mailing. Holiday orders must be paid for and shipped (or picked up) by
Saturday, December 19th.
Books, cards, mugs, puzzles, aprons, maps!
NOW ON DISPLAY
1924 Player Piano (DONATIONS of piano rolls gratefully accepted)
Patchwork quilt from the collection of Evangeline Davey
City of Kent Model Trains
1831 rare stampless cover from "Franklin Mills, Ohio"
signed by George B. DePeyster, postmaster
WINTER VACATION
The Kent Historical Society will be closed from December 20th, 2009 to
February 3, 2010. We -will reopen on Thursday, February 4th; call for special
tour or research needs.
Call (330) 678-2712 for more information.
Mary Ann Green, administrator
234 South Water Street. Kent, Ohio
www.kentohiohistory.org
(330) 678-2712
email: [email protected]
I t' s Ti me t o Ce l e b r a t e !
You're invited to spend the season with
us. We have the accommodations for all
of your ~oliday parties. Make your
reservations today.
The Puf·ferbelly' s 28th Anniversary week
is just around the corner. Be here for
our 9lassic anniversary specials
it' December 14·-18.
On Sunday, December 20th S anta Clau s is
corning to town early. Join us for a
Brunch with Santa and enjoy our Sunday
Brunch buffet from 11:00 - 2:30.
Corne celebrate Ne w Years Eve with us.
We'll supply the noisemakers , hats and
bnllofJr·s . At midnight we will have a
complimentary champagne toast. All
you'll need to bring is your
resolutions. Don't forget to
make your rese rvations .
HA_pp·y rIOLil)AYS FRO~! YOU'R
E'RIE?IDS Arr urriE PUFFE!RBELLY.
-~ Kent Historical Society
P.O. Box 663
Kent, OH 44240
'-·
Nonprofit Organization
U.S. Postage
Paid
Kent, OH
Permit #150
Because many of you have called the Historical Society asking about the future of the Christian
Science Church, we want to remind you that the September Meeting of the Library Board of
Trustees is scheduled for Thursday, September 21 at 3:30 pm in the new library.
Thursday evening, September 21 st the Kent Historical Society will co-sponsor a lecture at the Kent
State University Museum. Curator Dr. Anne Bissonnette will present a talk about her exhibition
Tlte Age of Nudity which exhibits clothing from 1 780 to 1820 in the Museum's Murphy Lecture
Hall. There will be no admission charge for our members that evening, but seating is limited. Call
330-672-3450 for reservations no later than 5:00 p.m. Monday, September 18th.
On Saturday, September 30 we are looking forward to re-opening our Museum. We have
reorganized our first floor including the library, "reading" room, " Visitor's Center" and our main
museum collection. We will be open to the public on Thursday and Friday from 11-3 and Saturday
from 11-2. Please call our Administrator Mary Ann Green if you would like to help volunteer with
the library, oral history program or our collection.
October 26-27 the KHS will host "The Building Doctor" Program which brings experts to assist in
preserving older buildings (built before 1955). Thursday evening's presentation is open to the
public. If you would like to be considered for one of the ten on-site visits on Friday, please request
an application from us.
We are rowing because of the support of our members and community. Please be advised that our
NEW E address is www.kentohiohistory.org and our NEW EMAIL is khs(cukentohiohistorv .org
Thaqk~ ·~k--
an a Halem, President
KENT HISTORICAL SOCIETY
BOARD Of TRUSTEES
Sandra Halem, President
Dawn Carpenter, Vice President
Recd Strimple, Treasurer
Bill Wolcott, Secretary
ADMINISTRATOR
Mary Ann Green
Jack Amrhein
Howard T Boyle, 11
Doug Fuller
Margaret Garmon
Pat Morton
Jim Myers
John Wunderle
Scolt Flynn
234 S Water St/PO Box 663/Kent 01-1 44240ffel: 330-6 78-2712/330-6 78-2852/Weh: www.kcntohiohi .tory.org /Email : k!J~.@kcntohiohistor .,_Qi
The Kentennial, Newsletter of the Kent Historical Society, Volume 49, Winter 2002
No full textTRIBUTE TO JAMES F. CACCAMO
by Ralph Darrow
Kent Historical Society director James F. Caccamo,
50, of Munroe Falls, died Saturday,
November 9, 2002, at home following an apparent
heart attack.
,
Born July 27, 1952, he was the son cfEmest
and Alice (Alboreo) Caccamo.
A 1970 graduate of Walsh Jesuit High School,
he received his bachelor's and master's degrees
from Kent State University.
Mr. Caccamo had been employed as the archivist
at the Hudson Library since 1979 and the director
at the Kent Historical Society since 1998.
He was a member of the Ohio Underground Railroad
Association, Friends of Freedom Society
Ohio Genealogical Society, Munroe Falls Historical
Society, Stow Historical Society and the Hudson
genealogical Society group.
He was the author of several books on local history
and the Underground Railroad. He enjoyed
researching local Underground Railroad history,
genealogy, collecting Wedgewood pottery and
pampering his pets.
Survivors include his wife, Brianna (Marion),
whom he married December 14, 1974; son, Jason;
and sisters Doris Braden and Christine Caccamo.
Memorials may be made to the Kent Historical
Society, P.O. Box 663, Kent 44240 or to the Hudson
Library and Historical Society, Special Endowment
fund, 22 Aurora Street, Hudson, 44236.
Jim Caccamo was a
great asset to the society
as well as to the community
of Kent. His efforts
to save the Kent Dam
waterfall were long and
from the heart. Jim always
helped everyone
with any subject of historical
research that
came to the museum.
Elementary students will
long remember the Kent
Historical Society from
the paperback he wrote,
THE STORY OF KENT,
as well as his talks at the
schools.
Jim will be greatly
missed by not just his
immediate family and
firends but by his Kent
Historical society family
& friends.
Coincidentally, two major
tragedies have hit Kent
on May 4th. In 1936 it
was the start of a strike
at Lamb Electric; in 1970
four students sue- ·
cumbed to National j~
Guard bullets on the
Kent campus.
DO SOME CHRISTMAS SHOPPING
The Kent Historical Society continues to offer
many gift items, including hand-blown glass
inspired by the colors and forms of historic
glass produced in our area. Each piece is
marked by its creators at Hale Farm and
these designs will be marketed exclusively by
the Kent Historical society. We have bowls
and pitchers in these four colors: cobalt blue,
amber, green, and amethyst.
We also have other items to fill stockings: our
dark green coffee mugs illustrated with our
historic depot, our new postcards, and original
flour bags from the Williams Brothers Mills;
and don't forget our selection of Kent history
books, including the new edition of Grismer's
HISTORY OF KENT that we just released in
2001.
Our hours are 9-4 Mondays, Wednesdays,
and Fridays.
Looking forward to your visit.
In the coming weeks the Board will begin considering
an appropriate tribute to honor Jim's
contributions. We encourage your suggestions.
Any donations to the society in Jim's
honor will be held in a separate account. We
will keep you updated on the search for a new
director and plans for the Kent Historic
Preservation Coun~il.
As expected for one who had become wellknow
to many for a mutual love of history and
heritage, the Kent Historical Society has received
messages of condolence and inquiry
about how the work of Jim Caccamo can be
honored.
We will have a display highlighting the career
of Jim Caccamo. Please visit the museum
and view a small part of what Jim had accomplished
at the Kent Historical Sociey.
The present display in the museum is THE
-------------------tLIFE IN KENT featuring basketballs auto-
DEAR FELLOW SOCIETY MEMBER,
graphed by the Kent State University men and
women teams. Featured with THE LIFE IN
KENT will be Christmas decorations with the
Harry Potter train running under the Christmas
Tree. Also, featured are three generations of
We are ~aeply sadened by the untimely death wedding gowns: Metta-Marsh-Kunsman 1913;
of Jim Caccamo, director of the Kent Histori- Leah-Kunsman-Bradstock 1943; and Unda-cal
Society. He contributed much in dedica- Bradstock-MacDouga/11968. These gowns
tion, time, ideas and enthusiasm for the Kent will be on display until late spring
community and beyond. We will also remember
his compassion, humor and humanity.
Fortunately, the direction and strong management
that Jim provided to the Kent Historical
Society will enable us to continue operating
smoothly and effectively in the coming weeks.
We are very pleased that Mary Ann Green;
administrative assistant to the director, will _1
continue providing us with her enthusiastc ·
and competent work as with our long time volunteer,
John Cheges.
Please feel free to call during the mentioned
office hours with suggestions, questions or
ideas.
PLEASE COME AND VISIT THE ROWE MUSEUM
AND SEE A SMALL PART OF JIM
CACCAMO'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
PLEASE VISIT AND SHARE YOUR
THOUGHTS AND MEMORIES OF JIM CACCAMO
BY WRITING IN THE "MEMORIAL
BOOKn PROVIDED IN THE LIBRARY.
Kentennial Winter 2002 ... p 2 .I" .
,
THE SEARCH HAS BEGUN ...... .
The Kent Historical Society Board of Directors are launching a search for a new director following
the death of our previous director, Jim Caccamo. The Board is seeking a candidate who will continue
the dedication and spirit Caccamo brought to the position. Jim's scholarship, interest and enthusiasm
for perserving our community's history will be among the qualities the Board will look for
in choosing his successor. In the interim during the job search, the Rowe Museum, owned and operated
by the Kent Historical Society, remains open.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. The Board plans to have a new director on
board by March 1st. For information on the job positing, go to the website http://www.kenthist/
· aol.com, or call the Kent Historical Society at (330) 678-2712.
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0 day, Wednesday, and 0
: Friday from 10-4 :
□ The Museum is open □
0 Wednesday and Friday 0
D D
0 from noon to 4 0
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Membership in the Kent Historical Society
Name -----------------------------
Street _________________ Phone_,.,._-_____ _
City __________ State _____ Zip _____ _
Student
Senior Citizen
Single
Family
5.00
15.00
Additional donation of 50.00
100.00
----------
Make Ch€cks Payable to the Kent Historical Society and send them to
P.O. Box 663, Kent OH 44240
The Kent Historical Society depends on revenue from memberships to help sustain the society.
Please consider increasing the level of your support by moving up to a higher category.
Kentennial Winter 2002 ., p.3
.I"
Kent Historical Society
Board of Trustees:
Jack Amrhein
Howard Boyle (President)
Dawn Carpenter
Ralph Darrow (Secretary)
Margaret Garmon
Sandra Halem
Jim Myers
Reed Strimple (Treasurer)
Loris Troyer
John Weiser
Bill Wilen
Jq~n Wunderle
Staff:
Mary Ann Green, Administrative Assistant;
John Cheges, Museum Docent
The Kent Historical Society
P.O. Box663
152 Franklin Avenue
Kent OH 44240
(330) 678-2712
We wish to thank the following businesses
for their membership and in-kind services:
Ametek, Inc.
The Art Armory
Sissier & Sons Funeral Home
City Bank Antiques
Copy Print
Davey Tree Expert Co.
Diversa, Inc.
Doug Garmon Photography
DuBois Book Store
Escott & Co.
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PAID
Kent OH 44240
Permit #150
Winter 2002 p.
Guest Artist Recital: R. Kent Cook, Piano; October 17, 2006
No full textCenter for the Performing ArtsTuesday EveningOctober 17, 20068:00 p.m
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