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The Kent Historian, Kent Historical Society Newsletter, Number 111, Fall 2024
No full textTHE KENT HISTORIAN
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE KENT HISTORICAL SOCIETY
FALL 2024
VOLUME 111
Depot Celebration Will Honor Railroad History
Sandy Halem President Emeritus
On Sunday June 1st, 2025, Kent Historical Society will lead the community in celebrating the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Erie Depot. From
3:00 -5:00 the people of Kent are invited to a birthday party in the Depot, now home to the restaurant Over Easy. The program will include games, food, music, and an educationa l program recognizing the importance of the railroad and Marvin Kent in our town's development.
Local educator and railroad historian Bruce Dzeda is
working to complete an updated history of rail
transportation systems in Kent. Dzeda's previously
published book, Railroad Town, has been a bestseller
at KHS ror years. Keep an eye out for news about his
new book as we get closer to Depot 150.
Also on deck for pubI ication is our very speciaI
coloring book -a collaborative efforl between KHS
and Stanton Middle School art teacher Mr. Knepper.
The coloring pages are based on work by Knepper's
s tudenls and the book wi II also include rail roadthemed
games to help bring both fun and local history to kids in elementary school.
Depot 150
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The celebration will also kick off a fundraising
campaign to aid in our continued preservation of the Depot and the historic Clapp-Woodward house, home of KHS' Museum and archival space.
Finally, a new railroad-themed exhibit will open at our Museum in June. The exhibit will feature custom replicas of clothing from that era and highlight Kent's early historian Charlotte Weaver. We are working with a talented costume designer lo recreate what a woman like Weaver would have worn and carried when
traveling by train.
If you would like to be involved in some of these events please contact KHS and we will help you get started.
Haymaker Family Artifact Finds New Home at KHS
Echo Malleo Collections Manager
The repetition of the name throughout the area provides
[n June, KHS acquired a special piece related to d family whose name is likely familiar to Kent residents. some indication of the importance of the fami ly to our
Visitors to our Museum may recall our display on the city's history.
Haymaker family, but if not, it is still likely that at
Story continued on page 2
some point you have driven along Haymaker Parkway or attended the Haymaker Farmer's Market. Story continued from page 1
The desk complements a number of other Haymaker Family artifacts in our front exhibition rooms. Plan a visit soon to take a closer look!
The Haymakers were among the first settlers in the Kent area and built the first grist mill in 1807, leading to the town's early name of Franklin Mills. Other notable firsts belonging to the Haymaker family include the first nonIndigenous child born in the area in 1807 and the first recorded death in 1810. Members of the Haymaker family have been active in the town since, participating in many clubs and even acting as part of city council
over the years.
Earlier this summer, KHS was contacled by a
descendent of Sarah Haymaker Elgin (another notable family name) about donating a piece of furniture previously owned by Sarah. The item in question was a piano Lhat Sarah had had converted into a desk. KHS doesn'L often accept donations of furniture due to limited ability to care for and slore such special pieces. But this desk, related to two such important families to Kent history, was a welcome addition to our collections.
St. Patrick's School Building Now One Century Old
Tim DeFrange Contributing Writer
Thirty-eight years ago, in 1986, Saint Patrick's School on Portage Street turned 100 years old. To mark that anniversary, Record Courier staff writer Elaine Schwinn wrote a sixteen-page special supplemental article about the history of the school. 2024 now marks another anniversary for Saint Patrick's school: 100 years since the 1924 construction of the "old" eightclassroom building.
Plans began in 1920, after the Humility of Mary Sisters had spent 30-plus years educating the parish school children in an 1886 wooden four-classroom clapboard building. Not only was lhe building painfully overcrowded, but its wooden floor was full of holes and a coal furnace burned below. The sisters wou ld often send the boys down below the floor lo sloke the coal rurnace. Mary Armstrong Bissler remembered how some of Lhe boys would come up wilh their eyebrows singed.
Eleanor McCombs recalled the fundra ising effort of selling bricks to make the new school building a reality. Children in the parish were sent out to sell lhem for the wa lls of the school. For just a dime. a donor could own a portion of a brick and a whole brick cost 90,000.
1952 photograph showing the schoolhouse building to the right of the old Church on Portage Street. The building's construction cost of 1. 7 Million today.
By 1928 nearly two-thirds of the cost had been paid. Unlike the old school, bathrooms were inside the building. 350 students were housed in the eight brandnew classrooms in the fall of 1924. Three decades later by 1964, twelve more classrooms had been added to the origi naI eight. The origi na I eight-classroom portion sti 11 serves, providing the school office, classrooms, computer instruction, and the library for Saint Patrick's school children in 2024.
2
Picturing the Past: The Shively House
The Northwest corner of Main and Depeyster Streets has long been home to the Kent Stage, a building with its own fascinating history. But what came before it? Until 1927, on that very same plot of land stood the palatial residence of Dr. Joe Shively. Originally built for Zenas Kent himself, this house was the very first of the "mansions" of Kent. This 1874 artist's rendering shows the home in all its splendor.
Keeping Pioneer Cemetery Beautiful
As part of our stewardship of local historical sites. KHS hosts regular cleanup days of the Stow Street Pioneer Cemetery. We were very excited to have special volunteers at our most recent one on Saturday, November 2nd.
Aicien Ziots. local prospective Eagle Scout, has been working with us since .July to organize cleanup efforts, conduct a tree inventory or the site with Davey Tree, and arrange for a new commemorative plaque at the cemetery's entrance (you'll be able to see it this coming spring!). John Burnell, stone masonry expert, has done an amazing job at headstone restoralion and taking utmost care to preserve details of th~se artifacts.
Big thanks to both of them and everyone else who came to help out!
Top: Before and after headstone restoration work by Burnell Bottom left: Burnell loading stones to the Cemetery Bottom right: Led by Ziots, young volunteers carry raked leaves
The Mission of the Kent · · Histor«:al Soci~:t)' is to plthe primary Kent history resource
and reference center, leading the co.mmunity in .the.col/ectign,
· ' preservation, and~/nterpretation of Kents heritage. The Soriety offers educational programs to
schools, bw.sinesses, civio . .. organizations, ·and individ'iiais. .
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Board of 11 JadcAm rhefn:, Scott Flynn, Vice Presid Carol Strnble, Vice President Matt Metcalf, Treasurer, drey Cie[inski Kessler, Secretary
Jean Booth . -, Howarcj.Boyfe
Rebecca Dunlap i--,,...--...,..._~ --t-:,"t-t-Hg-cftl-1:-f.er -~:£:::"2-::'::?--.c, Tom Hatch Maggie Mc&endry
., Jim Myers Esther Thatcher
Director
Julie Kenworthy
· · Staff Bengt George, Communication~
Echo Malleo,.. Collections·
Contact us:
Kent H1st6r1(ar Societt 237 East Main Street Kent, OH ·44240
(330)678~i112 KHS ~KentOhieHistory:q~g
KentOhioHistory.org ~, Eacebook.com/KentHistoriaaJ Society
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Museum Hours:
Fridays and Satur~ys lOAM~2PM or by appointment . Last Chance to See Liquid Crystals Exhibit
Save the Date: Winter Open House
On Saturday, December 7th. we will have our regular public hours wilh a feslive twist! From I0AM-IPM we wi ll have free refreshmenls and ramily-friendly crafts!
As we near our seasonal close starting December 15th, we would like to encourage members to come see our most recent temporary exhibt. Modern Vision: Liquid Crystal Technology in Kent.
A collaboration belween KHS. Kenl Stale Universily, and local tech company Kent Displays, this exhibit has stood out for a couple or reasons. First, with artifacts and pholos dating from the 1960s through to present day. it is our most modern exhibit ever. Second, il is our most interactive exhibit lo date. Visitors are invited to take a mood ring (which technically makes use of Liquid Crystal technology) and try a variety or Kent Displays' innovative Boogie Board products.
Liquid Crystal Displays, mosl notably used today in phone and TV screens, have an importanl history in Kent. Kent State has been a major international player in
the development in this technology since 1965 when Professor Glenn H. Brown founded the Liquid Crystal Institute. His colleague. .I. William Doane, would go on to author many patents and secure government funding for important work in the field. He would also found Kent Displays in 1993. The company thrives today creating affordable resuable writi ng surfaces for schools, hospitals, and lhe general public. Plan a visil soon before we inslall a new exhibil for spring!
Holiday Book Sale!
Have you read our bestseller Bars, Bands, and Rock 'n Roll by Chas Madonia? Interested in Bruce Dzeda's Railroad Town: Kent and the Erie Railroad?
Stop by the Museum or visit KentOhioHistory.org/shop to pick up a gift for the local history lover in your lire
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
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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~ ~ ~/},_
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And, ofcourse I am grateful for havinggrown up in Kent, a community whose diversity is part ofmy heritage
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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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
Old Kent Shots Postcards
No full textEarly 1900s collection of postcardsKent,Ohio 121 Brady, St.
RADIO ____ . UR. ____ Sig. ~ Hr.
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AUD. ____ . CHAR. ____ . TONE ____ . QRM. ____ . QSS._ .
TMANSMJTTER:• HR. WATT C.W. 5 watt tube. VOLTS R.A.C.
_Circuit RECEIVER
_MOD.
ANTENNA
REMARKS:
Pee. drop me a crd. o.m.
Best of 73-'s.
-
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112 South Lincoln Strool
Kent, Ohio
School • Art • Engineering Supplies
Books - Srarionery - Greeting Cards
Captain Brady Re,taurant
2000 BOOKS
Will Go On
SALE
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1 Lth
lJ1/ e Look Forward to Seeing You
Campus Supply Inc.
L 12 S. Lincoln St., Kent, Ohio
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The Author: Kent Davis
No full textKent Davis is a Montana based author of “A Riddle in Ruby” and the soon to be released sequel, “The Changer’s Key”
The Kent Historian, Kent Historical Society Newsletter, Number 88, Summer 2016
No full textTHE KENT HISTORIAN
The Newsletter of the Kent Historical Society Summer 2016
Number BB
Tickets on sale for Historic Kent Town Tour
KHS fundraiser to be held Sept. 17 & 18
200th Birthday Party
for Marvin Kent
Wednesday, Sept. 21
Eight Kent homes and sites will soon be on
proud display in honor of Marvin Kent's 200th
birthday. The Historic Kent Town Tour, which
will be held Saturday, Sept. 17, and Sunday,
Sept. 18, is the Kent Historical Society's most
important fundraising event of the year.
Our goal is 14,000 in pledges.
The tour will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Each tour attendee receives a 36-page booklet,
which doubles as the ticket. Tickets are now
for sale for 20 (cash or check only) at Kent
Historical Society Museum, McKay Bricker
Framing & Black Squirrel Gifts, Hometown
Bank and Sue Nelson Designs, Ltd Inc.
Call KHS at 330.678.2712 or visit www.
kentohiohistory.org for more information.
See tour poster, on back
KHS Museum Hours
. 237 E. Main St.,
9 a.m. to 2 p.rn.
Fridays and Saturdays
. and. by appoint~ent.
. . Contact -
· Kent J-Ilstorical Society
. 237 E. Main' St. -
Kent,Ohio 44240 :
330-678-271'2
·~ Email
· [email protected]
' . ~ .,_. . . ~
Website · .. ·
www.kent9hiohistornorg
Find.us on-Fate(fook ·
~.fac~bookci:>m/
KentHistortcalSociety
Tour booklet includes:
• Information on the eight tour sites:
Clapp-Woodward House/Kent Historical
Society Museum, Erie Depot
- Second Floor, Marvin Kent Train Car,
Erie Car Shops (Interior accessible only
during guided tours at 1 p.m. & 2 p.m.
each day), Wells-Sherman House, Patton
House, Charles H. Kent Home, Marvin
Kent House/Kent Masonic Center
• Kent family history
• Kent family chronology
• Kent family connections to Franklin
Mills/Kent history
\%nt to help at the tour?
Please call totir co-cha.fr Carol Stroble at
330-221-7703 or ema-il her at
[email protected]
7 p.rn. at Hometown Plaza
(Corner of North Water & West Main streets)
Featuring a short program thanking
Marvin for his contributions to our
town's history
7hen enjoy some birthday cake!
Did
You
Know?
Kent Normal School, now Kent State University, was named after William,
Marvin's son, because he donated the land for the original campus in 1911.
From Franklin Mills to Kent: Prominent Families in Kent's History
Special exhibit opening Sept. 1 at Kent State University
by Cara Gilgenbach, Head, Special Collections and Archives
In celebration of the bicentennial of the City
of Kent's namesake, Marvin Kent, Special Collections
and Archives at Kent State University
is showcasing several collections originating
with prominent and influential families in the
history of Kent.
These collections document the lives of early
European-American settlers and what was originally
established as Franklin Mills and later
renamed Kent. Members of the Kent, Merrill,
Haymaker, and Davey families, among others
featured here, shaped the history of commerce,
transportation, politics, and education in Kent.
This exhibit features only a few of the many
local history collections held in University
Libraries and is displayed in tandem with the
Kent Historical Society's bicentennial celebration
of the birthday of Marvin Kent.
We hope you will explore these and other
archival collections that reflect the history of
our city from the nineteenth century to today.
Special Collections and Archives
Kent State University Library
Room 1212
1125 Risman Dr.
Kent, OH 44243
September 1, 2016 - summer 2017
Walk-in hours: Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday 1 :00 - 5:00 p.m.
Open other times by appointment.
Out-of-town visitors are urged to contact
them in advance of their visit.
[email protected]
330-672-2270
---
Kent Historical Society
Historic Kent Town Tour
Honoring the 200th Birthday
of Marvin Kent
September 17 & 18, 2016
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
East Side Tour Sites
• Clapp-Woodward House/Kent
Historical Society Museum
• Erie Depot - Second Floor
• Marvin Kent Train Car
• Erie Car Shops*
• Wells-Sherman House
* Interior accessible only during guided
tours at 1 p.m. & 2 p.m. each day
11
West Side Tour Sites
• Patton House
• Charles H. Kent Home
• Marvin Kent House/Kent Masonic
Center
Tickets sold for 20 (cash or check only) at Kent
Historical Society Museum, McKay Bricker Framing
& Black Squirrel Gifts, Hometown Bank, and Sue
Nelson Designs, Ltd Inc. Call KHS at 330. 678.2712
or visit www.kentohiohistory.orgfor more info
The Kent Historian, Kent Historical Society Newsletter, Number 90, Spring 2017
No full textTHE KENT HISTORIAN
The Newsletter of the Kent Historical Society Spring 2017
Number 90
Questions about Kent's black squirrels answered
Local authors share book and activities at KHSM event
By Bailey Mulholland
Publications Specialist
Do you know how the black squirrel
came to Kent? Those who attended a
Kent Historical Society & Museum event
on Feb. 18 learned the history and even
some biology of this spunky rodent from
local authors Kathy Frazier and Deborah
Walker.
Frazier and Walker read their book ''And
Now You Know Too! The Story of How
the Black Squirrel Came to Kent" to an
audience of more than 30 children and
adults, afterwards engaging in discussion
and overseeing a variety of activities.
Attendees of all ages enjoyed munching
on squirrel-shaped cookies while making
bracelets, assembling pipe cleaner squirrels
and coloring characters from the book.
''And Now You Know Too!" is available
online and at Off the Wagon in Kent.
Bonnie Garrett, passionate KHSM
benefactor, passes alVay at 85
Bonnie D.
(Shepherd)
Garrett, 8 5,
passed away
Feb. 11 in Cincinnati,
Ohio.
She was born
July 24, 1931,
in Kent, Ohio
to Norm and
Vivian (Poulton)
Shepherd.
Bonnie was a
1949 graduate
of Kent State
University
High School. Bonnie D. Garrett, a generous
supporter of the historical society,
at an event with family. She is survived
by her sister, Barbara Meeker of Kent;
son, Robert (Judi) Garrett of North Richland
Hills, Texas; daughter, Linda (Harry)
Gurgol of Cincinnati; grandchildren, Chad
(Melissa) Garrett of Henderson, Nev., Ali
(Andy) Massingill of Little Elm, Texas,
and Charles (CJ) Garrett of Atlanta, Ga.,
Michelle (Brian) Gurgol Spegal of Hebron,
Ky. and Sara Gurgol of West Chester, Ohio;
great granddaughters, Peyton Massingill of
Little Elm, Texas, and twins Gabrielle and
Madison Spegal of Hebron, Ky. She is pre-ceded
in death by her husband, Charles
(Larry) Garrett, and sister, Bette Geiger,
of Raleigh, N. C.
Bonnie and her husband, Larry, were
employed in family businesses. As a newly
married couple, they had a 300-acre Hereford
farm north of Ravenna. Then Larry
and his father, Robert, built and ran the
first motel in Kent; the Eastwood Motel,
between Kent and Ravenna. Next, they
owned Garrett Asphalt, followed by the
Foster Bodman Co. in Akron. Larry was
also a pilot for the Davey Compressor
Co. and a volunteer sheriff for Portage
County.
Bonnie enjoyed her family, friends, traveling
and life at the lake. She grew up in
Twin Lakes and spent summers at Muzzy
Lake when her family was young. As
empty nesters, Bonnie and Larry enjoyed
boating with Kent friends at Catawba
Island, Lake Erie. They retired to Marco
Island, FL.
Bonnie was a passionate supporter of
the Kent Historical Society Museum. A
future gravesite service at Standing Rock
Cemetery for Bonnie and Larry will be
performed by the Rev. Julie Fisher of the
Kent Christ Episcopal Church.
Frazier and Walker share their book with local
families and answer questions.
TRENO
RISTORANTE
COMING SOON
In our next newsletter, learn
more about the new Italian
restaurant soon to occupy our
historic Erie Depot. Join the
historical society at the grand
opening later this year!
Author and adventurer Marvin Kent Curtis
One descendent of Marvin Kent honors the interesting life of another
By Kasha Legaza-Burton
KHS Trustee
How do you tell the story of a multilingual
World War I aviator-turned-prisoner-
of-war who went on to live a grand
life as an author, illustrator, a skilled
outdoorsman who mentored countless
young summer campers, a yachtsman and
a globetrotter who rubbed elbows with the
famous in 500 words or less? You can't!
It's the very reason Missouri resident
Mary Jo Johnston created both a Wikipedia
page and a blog website detailing the
adventurous existence of her great-uncle,
Marvin Kent Curtis - great-grandson of
Marvin Kent, for whom our city is named.
Johnston admits with a chuckle that researching
the life of "Uncle Kent" has been
her "passion" for the past two decades!
She believes the Chicago-area native's
gadabout lifestyle was a result of him being
held as a prisoner of war for several months
in Germany after the American 148th Aero
Squadron bomber he was piloting over
France was shot down on Aug. 24, 1918.
His killed-in-action death at the age of
27 - a report wired to father Charles E.
Curtis from the U.S. War Department
(mother, Grace Kent Curtis, died in 1907)
KHS Museum Hours
237 E. Main St.,
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Fridays and Saturdays
and by appointment.
Contact
Kent Historical Society
23 7 E. Main St.
Kent, Ohio 44240
330-678-2712
Email
[email protected]
Website
www.kentohiohistory.org
Find us on Facebook
www.facebook.com/
KentHistoricalSociety
- made front-page news in Kent papers.
That provided Curtis with a Mark
Twain-esque "reports of my death are
greatly exaggerated" tale to tell for the next
40 years - and he did! (Record-Courier
Editor Roger Di Paolo detailed this period
of Curtis' life in a Feb. 1, 2015, "Portage
Pathways" column entitled, "Marvin
Kent's namesake lived 40 years after his
obituary.")
Curtis' career as a professional writer was
launched in 1920 when he received a 1,000
in a national writing competition. That's
the equivalent of nearly $14,500 in today's
dollars!
From there Curtis went on to write and
illustrate five novels while continuing to
author magazine essays. Four of Curtis'
books are boys' adventure stories set in
places he loved living: the North Woods of
Minnesota and the Florida coastal islands.
The fifth book, "The Tired Captains," is a
historical novel based on a group of World
War I pilots. Qohnston and her husband,
Kelly, acquired copies of all five novels and
graciously donated them to KHS last fall!)
During his lifetime, Curtis crossed the
Atlantic 2 5 times and the Pacific once. He
lived in Paris intermittently throughout
the 1920s and it was there, while pursuing
his writing career, that he became
acquainted with numerous famous people.
One of them, F. Scott Fitzgerald, wrote
chat Curtis' "The Blushing Camel" was
one of the best boys' books he'd ever read
and compared it to works by Hemingway
and Twain.
Curtis spent more than 30 summers
at Camp Mishawaka for boys in Grand
Rapids, Minn., serving as a counselor,
entertainment director and, eventually, a
co-owner. He led 31 "Big Canadian canoe
trips" for campers through the Minnesota-
Canada boundary waters and also
introduced a sailing program that he ran
from 1937 until his death in 1957.
Johnston said that at the end of most
camp seasons, Curtis would return to his
winter home on Captiva Island by sailing
Photo: Mary Jo Johnston
Marvin Kent Curtis on his sailboat in Miami,
FL circa 1934. Curtis was the great-grandson
of Marvin Kent and was an accomplished
outdoorsman, well-traveled author and favorite
counselor at Camp Mishawaka.
the Mississippi River from Minnesota to
New Orleans. During the 1930s he competed
annually in a St. Petersburg to Havana
sailboat race, captaining his 32-foot
yawl "Marelen II" to a first-place finish in
1932 and third place the next year.
Many letters inherited by the family, as
well as stories gathered by Johnston, reveal
that Curtis' vivacious personality made
him the center of attention - whether at
the yacht dub, aboard a cruise ship, at a
Paris soiree or at Camp Mishawaka.
A man who knew him from camp wrote,
"Kent Curtis was the most unique person
I've known. Multi-talented, Kent could do
anything but add up a laundry slip: writer
(5 books), artist, musician (he played the
piano but couldn't read a note), actor,
woodsman, cook, sailor, expert in canoeing,
raconteur par excellence, but through
all his talents, the humorist predominat-ed.
He was idolized by more boys than
anyone else. He was the life of camp and of
reunions."
To read more detailed stories on the
fascinating life and times of Marvin Kent
Curtis, visit Johnston's blog website at
undekentcurtis.wordpress.com or en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Kent_ Curti
The Kent Historian, Kent Historical Society Newsletter, Number 87, Spring 2016
No full textTHE KENT HISTORIAN
The Newsletter of the Kent Historical Society Spring2016
Number87
Then & Now: New exhibit spotlights Kent changes
The Kent Historical Society Museum's newest
exhibit - "Then & Now," opening June 18 -
gives visitors a fresh look at Kent through
rephotography, a process in which the same site
is photographed at two different points in time.
The exhibit opening event will be held from 10
a.m. to 2 p.m.
"Then & Now" documents the changes in
our town's landscape through the evolution of
buildings that once existed and those that occupy
those same spaces now. Some of our most
historic buildings, streets, houses, industries
and people have been depicted in these rare
photos, then re-photographed so rhe viewer
can see what once was our town and what is
now our modern Kent community.
The Kent Historical Society has gone into its
own photography archives as well as those from
The Arthur J. Trory Photograph Collection in
the Kent State Library Special Collections.
You will see what Kent looked like in photographs
that span from the covered bridge over
the Cuyahoga River and the Kent block chat
burned in the 1970s, up to the newest buildings
and sites of 2016. View the earliest photos of
Thompson Drug Store and the Central Hotel,
which once occupied what is now Ray's Place
on Franklin Avenue. See the beautiful maple
trees lining S.R. 43 North in the 1950s and the
amazing rephotographed "panorama" shots
taken from the top of the old (and now restored)
Franklin Hotel, which were shot when
photo by Jon Ridinger
The Charles H. Kent home on Pearl Street was
built in 1843 by Charles H., the son of Zenas and
the brother of Marvin. It was moved In 1909 from
its original location on West Main Street.
Thompson Drug Store and the Central Hotel, at left, c. 1903, and Ray's Place today at 135 Franklin
Ave.
The Kent Opera House, at left, c. 1925, and Hometown Bank today at the corner of North Water
and Columbus streets.
the Kent Stage was being built in 1927.
"Then & Now" is about us, as a city that
continues to grow and change and the people
who were often pare of the photographic history
of these amazing changes.
The historical society is grateful to Jason
Prufer and Brad Bolton for sharing their won-derful
photographic views of Kent, and to Kem
Stare University Special Collections.
Ocher newer artifacts acquired, including a
rare hutch built by Zenas Kent, are on display
along with rwo interactive exhibits, Emory
Vance's Barber Shop on South Water Street and
Fil's Tailor Shop on North Water Street.
Historic Kent Town Tour set for September
Help celebrate Marvin's Kent 200th birthday
when the Kent Historical Society presents
the Historic Kent Town Tour from Sept. 17-18.
Marvin was born Sept. 21, 1 81 G, and all of the
homes and ocher sites on rhis year's tour connect
to the Kent family's history. The daces for
the tour are Saturday, September 17, and Sunday,
September 18.
'The ticker booklet wi ll include many interesti
ng faces about each of the sires, as well as
che fami ly's history in America, which can be
traced back to before rhe Revolutionary War.
Members can participate by volunteering to
help with the tour, by becoming a sponsor or
by placing an ad in the booklet. A full-page ad
is 5 x 8" and a half-page ad is 5 x 4" . Further
information about becoming a sponsor and all
of the sites are in the enclosed sponsor leaflet.
The booklet, which is also the ticker, will go
on sale Aug. 20 for $20, cash or check only.
You may buy your booklets at these Kent locations:
McKay Bricker, Hometown Bank, Sue
Nelson Designs and the Kent Historical Society
Museum.
See Town Tour, page 2
2
Kent Historical Society
The Kent Historian is a
publication of the Kent Historical
Society, a nonprofit organization
that strives to be the primary Kent
history resource and reference center,
leading the community in the
collection, preservation and interpretation
of Kent's heritage through
exhibits, educational programs and
activities. The society offers educational
programs to schools, businesses
and civic organizations.
Board ofTrustecs
Jack Amrhein, President
Scott Flynn, Vice President
Carol Stroble, Vice President
Matt Metcalf, Treasurer
Audrey Cielinski Kessler, Secretary
Jean Booth
Howard Boyle
Rebecca Dunlap
Thomas Hatch
Kasha Legeza-Burton
Maggie McKendry
Jim Myers
Staff
Julie Kenworthy, Director
Dan Stroble, Newsletter Editor
Museum Hours
237 E. Main St.,
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Fridays and Saturdays
and by appointment.
Contact
Kent Historical Society
237 E. Main Sc.
Kent, Ohio 44240
330-678-2712
Email
[email protected]
Website
www.kentohiohistory.org
Find us on Facebook
www.facebook.com/
KentHistoricalSociety
KHS receives antique hutch with
direct link to 'original' Kent family
The Kent Historical Society acquired a very
special artifact in February that came from the
original Kent family.
Marvin Kem and his siblings had a father
named Zenas and also a grandfather named
Zenas. The elder Zenas was a carpenter and a
joiner by trade and served in the American
Revolution. His son Zenas was born in Connecticut
in 1786 and married Pamelia Lewis in
1811.
The next year the younger Zenas, Pamelia,
and the elder Zenas moved to the Mantua area,
bringing the hutch with them in a covered
wagon.
In the 1830s the younger Zenas bought
about 600 acres ofland in Franklin Mills along
the Cuyahoga Ri ver, which included the rights
to the waterpower.
Zenas and Pamelia had 13 children. Their
so n, Charles H. Kent, married Mary E. Burrett.
Charles H. worked with his brother Marvin
and helped to start the glass factory.
Charles H. was also elected mayor of Kent in
1874 and during his administration the Stone
Arch Bridge was built. Charles H. and Mary
had one child, Charles B. Kent.
Charles B. married Carolyn (Carrie) M.
Pratt. Charles B. worked with his father until
his father's death and then started a wallpaper
business. Charles B. and Carolyn had two chil-
Town Tour, from page 1
This hutch was built by Marvin Kent's grandfather,
the elder Zenas Kent, and was brought to
this area in 1812.
dren, Paul and Bessie, who both died before
their parents.
Carolyn Pratt's relatives, Stella and Phillip
Pratt, inherited the hutch. The hutch was then
inherited by their nephew, Rick Pratt, who donated
it to KHS.
Homes and buildings on Historic Kent Town Tour
Marvin Kent Family Home
(now Kent Masonic Center)
409 W. Main Sc.
Patton House
529 W. Main St.
Clapp-Woodward House
(now Kent Historical Society Museum)
237 E. Main Sr.
Wells Sherman House
247 N. Water Sc.
Charles H. Kent Home
125 N. Pearl Sc.
Erie Depot - Upstairs
(now Pufferbelly Restaurant)
152 Franklin Ave.
Marvin Kent Train Car
152 Franklin Ave.
Erie Car Shops
(now Davey Drill)
200 W. Williams Sc.
Spring 201
The Kent Historian, Kent Historical Society Newsletter, Special Edition, Number 80, Summer 2013
No full textUPCOMING EVENT
Exhibit Open House
Richard Sweet:
Art, Innovation
and Community
The KHS Museum is excited
to be one of three city locations
to showcase photographer
Richard Sweet's work.
Visit the museum 5-7 p.m. July 25
for the reception and art walk.
Record-Courier Photo
KENT
HISTORICAL
SOCIETY
The Kent Historical Society Museum and Archives
237 E. Main St., Kent.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays
(330) 678-2712
Visit our web site at:
www.kentohiohistory.org
Email:
[email protected]
Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/KentHistoricalSociety
THE KENT HISTORIAN
The Newsletter of the Kent Historical Society Museum and Archives
Summer2013 Special Edition - Museum Highlights
History museum offers glimpse into past
Circa 1912 2013
Nearly everywhere you look in Kent - whether it's at a building,
a street or a natural wonder - the past is clearly visible in the
present landscape.
In the spring of 2011, the Kent Historical Society Museum and
Archives moved into its present location at 237 E. Main St. The
Clapp-Woodward house was built in 1883 on land deeded to Harriet
Kent Clapp by her father, Zenas Kent, a visionary entrepreneur
who is considered the city's founding father. Clapp's son,
Charles, lived in the house with his family. At one point, one of
Charles' sons, Leon, elegantly scrolled his initials on a plaster wall
in the front parlor where they remain framed today.
Boasting more than 4,000 square feet and retaining much of its
original integrity, the beautiful Victorian home features four distinctive
fireplaces and decorative wood trim throughout. The
hinges on the pocket doors are original, as are many of the windows.
The grand old home now serves as a repository of all things
Kent, housing artifacts, documents and photos from our town's
storied past. So come visit - and discover a city that you only
thought you knew.
Get to know the inside story at KHS museum
0
Pick a tune and take a shot at playing our 1927
player piano, which is always a favorite with visitors.
Instruments like these were an important part of
family entertainment before radio and television.
An assortment of piano rolls are available to choose
from so pull up a chair and give it a whirl!
The flax
spinning wheel
from the 1820s,
right, is one of
the museum's
many artifacts
from Kent's
earliest days
that give visitors
a sense of what
life was like for
the town's first
residents.
Learn ?bout our earliest residents, including James D. Haymaker, right,
and wife, Mary.James, born in Franklin Township in 1809, was the
grandson of Jacob Haymaker, who bought 2,093 acres from Aaron Olmstead
in 1805. Jacob's son John, along with wife Sally and three children,
arrived later that year and were Kent's earliest settlers. John's brothers,
George and Jacob, arrived in spring 1806. Brother, Frederick, father of
James, arrived in fall 1806.
One of our museum's most popular exhibits is
the Emory's Barbershop display, which
features the original 1919 barber chair and
sink, above, from Emory Vance's store on
South Water Street. Though the doors to the
store were closed in 2011 after more than SO
years in business, museum visitors can sit in
the seat and return to a period of time that
was the golden age of barbershops.
Sit at the desk, above, that was used by Martin L.
Davey, the most famous politician from Kent. Davey
served as Kent mayor, in Congress in Washington,
D.C., and as governor of Ohio. His father, John,
moved to Kent from England and started the Davey
Tree Company.
Try out a lock (which opened with combinations
instead of keys) made by the Miller Keyless Lock
Co. in Kent. Many homes in the city today still
have a combination lock on their doors, right. The
business eventually was sold to C.L. Gougler
Industries, which continued to manufacture the
locks, above, in Kent until the 1970s
Kent Historical Society Garden Tour: Honoring the 200th Birthday of Marvin Kent
No full textKent Historical Society
Historic Kent Town Tour
Honoring the 200th Birthday
of Marvin Kent
September 17 & 18, 2016
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
East Side Tour Sites
D Clapp-Woodward House/Kent
Historical Society Museum
D Erie Depot
D Marvin Kent Train Car
D Erie Car Shops *
D Wells-Sherman House
* Interior accessible only during guided
tours at 1 p.m. & 2 p.m. each day
West Side Tour Sites
Patton House D
Charles H. Kent Home D
Marvin Kent House/ D
Kent Masonic Center
All sites are open and can be visited
on either Saturday or Sunday.
1his tour booklet is your ticket and
will be marked at each stop.
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ekno so ethini about history, too!
We are celebrating our
65th year
serving our friends
and neighbors!
&ufa<t t4e ~ ad tk ~ ~ "Kent f4t μn
5Uta,,,e ~~- "Jlle atze &e4aed ta de a juVtt 1 tt!
vVith appreciation to
The Kent Historical Society
for keeping history alive in
Kent, Ohio
1
In saluting the Kent family we would like to tell
of the historic connection with the family to
Hometown Bank. Early commercial banks such
as the Kent Nationa1 Bank,which was owned
primarily by the Kent Family, were not of the
habit of lending on a long term basis to finance
housing. Seeing the need for this type of lending,
Marvin Kent helped facilitate the chartering of
our bank as an Ohio Chartered Building and Loan
to specialize and encourage home ownership in
the community of Kent and its surrounding area.
His Cashier ( the Executive Managing Officer of
the Bank) at the Kent National Bank, a young
man by the name of W. H. C. Parkhill, became
an incorporator of the new institution as well as
five other local prominent business leaders. Mr.
"'~ William Hamilton Clarke Parkhill ~.. Parkhill became our first Treasurer and the guiding
banking mind behind the newly chartered Building
and Loan. This could not have happened without
the blessing of Marvin Kent. Incidentally, Mr.
Parkhill was the husband of Marvin Kent's niece
Helen Wells. So in saluting Marvin Kent on his
200th birthday we would also like to salute his
nephew W. H. C. Parkhill because with his early
guidance and banking knowledge we have been
able to serve his community for the past .118 years.
Thank you, Mr. Parkhill.
Hometown Banking Since 1898
www.htbnk.com
2
MEMBER
FDIC
Clapp-Woodward
House
(Now Kent Historical
Society Museum)
237 E. Main St.
Built in 1883
In 1883, either Harriet
Kent Clapp, eldest of Zenas
Kent's 13 children, or her
son Charles began building
the house on land Harriet inherited from her father. Harriet had married
Charles Clapp, but when he joined the Shaker religious community, she
chose to leave him behind, living alternately in Kent with her son, Charles,
or in Brooklyn, N.Y., with her brother, Henry Kent.
Charles lived here with his wife, Mary Eliza Wood, and their four sons,
Charles, Frank, Leon and Harold. Leon's initials were scrolled on the
plaster wall in the front parlor, where they remain. The Victorian house
features high ceilings, large rooms trimmed with carved cherry woodwork,
three sets of pocket doors and a large entryway with an elaborate staircase.
It also has four unique fireplaces and sits atop the hill on East Main Street
with dignity and beauty.
In 1912, the Clapps sold their home to John and Jeanette (Greenshield)
Woodward, who lived here with their son Paul, 6, and daughter, Josephine
"Jo," for just 19 months. Woodward owned the Woodward Coal Co. Jo
was in the first kindergarten class at Kent Normal School and later attended
both Kent State University and the Cleveland School of Arts. She
studied Russian ballet with the famous Nijinsky in New York City, but her
father's illness brought her back to Kent, where she married John Solem.
They operated Solem Jewelry at the corner of Main and DePeyster streets
until May 1970. The home was sold to Keller Electric in 1956, but Jo built
a duplex on the Columbus Street end of the property, where she lived until
her death at age 96 in 2007.
In December 2010, the Kent Historical Society purchased the home
from its fourth owner, Mary and Bob Paton, who had already done some
restoration. The society's historic remodeling will continue to preserve this
building as its home for generations.
It is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays or
by appointment for group tours or research by calling 330-678-2712.
3
Erie Railroad Depot
Second Floor
\
152 Franklin Ave.
Built in 1875
The first railroad depot
in Kent was simply a large
wooden box of a building for
people to wait for trains and
where freight could be deposited
or picked up. By 187 4, the citizens of Kent asked the Atlantic & Great
Western Railroad to build a better depot for their growing community.
The railroad agreed, provided the town would pay 10,000 cost. Under the direction of Marvin Kent, townspeople oversubscribed
and this second depot opened in 1875. Constructed oflocal brick
in classic Tuscan design, it was second only to Cleveland's in size.
Inside the depot's first floor was a large waiting room for passengers, a
lunch counter and space for freight shipments. It has three large towers.
The central tower contained living quarters to house the agent; later this
space was given over to the people who worked at the downstairs lunch
counter, such as the Elgin family, who had two daughters born there.
The south tower contained beds where train crews could rest and sleep
on their layovers. The railroad's agent, George Hinds, placed books in
the north tower for the crewman to borrow and read. As the number of
crewmen increased, they could not all sleep in the depot tower and the Erie
Railroad decided it was not in the library business. The books became part
of Kent's Carnegie Library built in 1902.
The depot was the place where news came first via telegraph, where passengers
got their first vivid impressions of Kent, where soldiers and sailors
left their families on their way to war and finally how countless students
arrived to study at Kent Normal School, and later at Kent Sate University.
In January 1970, the last trains departed Kent. Over the next 10 years,
the new Kent Historical Society purchased and restored the station,
utilizing plans by Cleveland architect Robert Gaede. It is still owned and
preserved by the Kent Historical Society.
4
Marvin Kent
Train Car
152 Franklin Ave.
Built in 1922
The railroad coach
"Marvin Kent" was
manufactured by the
American Car and
Foundry Co. in 1922
for use by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. The car known as
Coach 6125 saw service west of Chicago until acquired by the Lake Shore
Railway Historical Society in 1969. It was stored in Ashtabula, Ohio, until
purchased by the Kent Jaycees in the summer of 1976 for use as a meeting
hall for both Jaycees and community use.
When the car was moved to Kent in August of that year, the Jaycees
leased the parcel of land south of the .Erie Depot from the Kent Historical
Society. The Jaycees completely refurbished the car over the next four years.
With an original seating capacity of 83, the coach measures 75 feet in
length and 10 feet in width and stands 14 feet above the ground. It weighs
82 tons.
The Erie Railroad had dedicated a sleeping car here in Kent in 19 51 to
the memory of Marvin Kent, the Ohio president of the Atlantic & Great
Western Railroad. The Jaycees felt that their car would be a fitting tribute
to the memory of Marvin Kent and his importance to the railroad industry
in Kent. The Jaycees' car is painted to resemble that sleeping car. The car is
still used by the Jaycees and is connected to all city services and is air conditioned
for summer use. It was recently repainted in its original colors.
Young professionals age 18 to 40 interested in the Junior Chamber of
Commerce Oaycees) can attend a monthly membership meeting on the
second Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. Email [email protected]
for more information.
5
Erie Car Shops
200 W. Williams St.
Built in 1863
Interior accessible
only during guided
tours at 1 p. m. &
2 p.m. each day
When the Adan tic
& Great Western Rail-road
opened in 1863,
the company established shops in Franklin Mills (Kent). Marvin Kent's
influence as the railroad's president - and his gift of land valued at
$15,000 - brought a complex of buildings that would be the center of the
town's economy for nearly 60 years.
Built by some of the same German-American masons who had built
the canal lock here 20 years earlier and constructed of local stone, the
shops were impressive. The main building was two stories high with three
cupolas. The employment of several hundred men - including at times
more than half of all working men in the town - increased the population
dramatically, adding many new homes on Kent's south side. By 1918, some
800 workers worked for A & GW's successor, the Erie Railroad.
The shops turned out hundreds of cars. While some locomotives were
manufactured in the 1870s, the majority were wooden passenger and
freight cars for the Erie. Workers were highly skilled mechanics and artisans
as well as unskilled laborers. The grounds were full of lumber, barrels of
nails and screws, wheel sets and supplies like paint and glass. The passenger
cars in particular were real works of beauty, while the box cars, gondolas,
cabooses and others were built solidly enough to last for decades. The work
was hard, injuries were common and, in the winter, it was cold. A 12-hour
workday was normal with no overtime. The car shops also functioned as
a sort of public square and the community often gathered there to hear a
band concert or see fireworks on holidays.
There were some labor struggles along with the Erie's perpetual financial
crises. After a major strike in 1922, the car shops closed in 1930. 4
The Davey Compressor Co., started by Paul Davey, purchased what remained
of the shops in 1943. After several changes over the ensuing years,
Tom Myers, Paul Davey's grandson, started leasing space in the building in
1981. His company, Davey Drill Division of Davey, Kent, Inc., continues
the drill operations of its predecessor, Davey Compressor Co.
6
Kent Wells Sherman House
247 N. Water St.
Built in 1858
The Greek Revival-styled Kent
Wells Sherman House was built
on the northeast corner of South
Water and Erie streets in 18 5 8
for Frances Kent Wells, sister of
city namesake Marvin Kent, and
her husband George. George
Wells was a business partner of
Zenas Kent in the Wells and
Kent Glassworks. After the Wells
family sold the house and moved
to Brownsville, Pa., in 1863, it
was eventually acquired in 1868 by Dr. Aaron M. Sherman. He was a Civil
War surgeon, prominent civic promoter, state representative, and one of
the founders in 1866 of the Kent Unitarian-Universalist Church.
The house was moved from its original site to East Erie Street, closer
to Kent Normal College. By 2012, the house, which had been used as a
student boarding house since 1968, was obtained by Kent State University
for the purpose of demolition to make way for the university Esplanade.
Research by avid local historians documented beyond question its significant
historical value to the city of Kent. As a result, the community rallied
and it was moved to its current location in September 2013.
The structure, placed in commercial zoning, now hosts attorneys' offices,
a video company and serves as a meeting place for public and private
gatherings. It is an example of a public-private partnership. Along with
grants, donations and many hours of volunteer work, significant financial
and logistical support from KSU (arranged by retired Vice President Greg
Floyd), the city of Kent, Hometown Bank, and Kent Historical Society, are
gratefully acknowledged. This project serves as an example of what is necessary
to save buildings that are of historical importance to a community.
For information on using the building for meetings, parties or pop-up
retail space, please contact Ann Ward at [email protected] or Rick
Hawksley at [email protected].
7
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BISSLER & SONS
Funeral Home and Crematory
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628 WEST MAIN STREET
KENT, OHIO 44240
(330) 673-5857
www.BisslerandSons.com
OSELECTED
Independent
"FUNERAL HOMES®
?vi.ember by Invitation
8
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West Side Tour Sites
0 Maivin Kent House e Patton House
0 Charles Kent House
~!,Z Martin ~~ ·· ... &Soos. lne.
Industrial Machinery Specialists
330-673-8712 www.rwmai:tin.com
The former Congregational Church, the third church in Franklin Mills (now Kent),
was ded icated on November 30, 1858, two years before t he election of Abraham
Lincoln to the Presidency in 1860. It served the Congregationa lists for almost a
century, until 1955. 310 Park Avenue was purchased by the Martin fami ly in 1969
and currently serves as the corporate headquarters for R.W. Martin & Sons, Inc.
9
Patton House
529 W. Main St.
Built in 1902
Once known as the Patton
Memorial House, the family residence
of W.W. Patton, his wife,
Harriet, and daughter, Emma,
was built in 1902.
Among many community
positions, Patton served as
Kent's postmaster and superintendent
of Kent schools (1872-1878). Having studied at both the Boston
and Oberlin Conservatories of Music, Emma returned to Kent to provide
music lessons in her beautiful home. Upon her death in 1939, Emma
bequeathed the Patton House to Coterie, a ladies organization founded in
1896. This "circle of friends," which formed from the merger of a literary
club and a cooking club, was chosen to maintain the property and provide
space for community groups to gather.
Women of prominent Kent families who were active members of Coterie
in its early years include Mrs. Harry Longcoy, Mrs. Edward Parsons, Mrs.
Duncan Wolcott, Mrs. W.S. Kent, Mrs. Frank Elgin, Mrs. Roy Smith and
Mrs. Burt Spelman.
Having served as the home for Kent State University presidents Dr.
James Engleman and Dr. Karl Leebrick from 1939 to 1942, the formidable
front porch and pleasant large rooms of the Patton House have welcomed
many area social events.
A lovely stained glass window provides a focal point at the landing of
the stairway leading to a large second floor, which houses the family who
oversees the property. The decor includes many of the original elements,
from the hand-carved oak foyer to the antique grand piano Emma used to
share her love of music with her students. Many of her original furnishings
remain, as well.
The home continues in the care of the 125 members of five Kent Coteries
who strive to maintain this historic dwelling, which stands, regally, at
the west entrance to downtown Kent.
This historic meeting site is available to rent for groups of up to 50. For
information, call 330-673-5221 or email [email protected].
Charles H. Kent Home
125 N. Pearl St.
Built in 1843
The Charles H. Kent home
was built in 1843 in the West
Main Street district and is now
located at 125 N. Pearl St. This
home was designed and built
by James Clark of Streetsboro
Village, and is an example of
Gothic Revival architecture. It also features elements of the Greek Revival
and Carpenter Gothic architectural styles.
Charles was the son of Zenas, two years younger than his brother
Marvin, and was married to Mary E. Burrett. Charles was involved in the
dry goods business with his father in Ravenna. When our community was
still called Franklin Mills, Charles was a partner in the Clapp, Spellman
& Kent Dry Goods business and also in a glass company with his brother
Marvin. In 1860, he opened a dry goods and wallpaper store in Kent and
also was an original investor and a director of the Kent National Bank.
Charles died in 1887.
In 1902, the house was moved 150 feet north of its original location
along West Main Street to the current site on North Pearl Street by its
then-owner, Henry Green. This was supposedly prompted by Martin L.
Davey, son of the founder of the Davey Tree Co. Martin, who would later
serve as a mayor of Kent, U.S. representative and eventually governor,
persuaded Mr. Green to move the house to avoid its demolition for apartments
the owner was constructing on the original site.
This home is also referred to as the Palmer House after its longtime owner,
Dr. Maurice B. Palmer, who had accepted a position on the chemistry
staff of Kent State Normal College in 1931. He and his wife, Louisa Fenton,
purchased the home in 1940 and lived in it for more than 50 years.
After the Palmers' death, the house fell into disrepair, and was completely
renovated by Dennis and Jennifer Baughman. Mr. Baughman's company
specializes in the renovation and preservation of historic homes. It was ,
placed on the National Register of Historic Places on Feb. 23, 1978.
11
Marvin Kent
Family Homestead
(Now Kent Masonic Center)
409 W. Main St.
Built in 1884
Construction began in 1880 on
the Eastlake-style homestead of Marvin
and Maria Kent. Kent hired local
craftsmen except for wood carvers,
who came from Cleveland and New
York. Much of the materials used in
the house were likely locally sourced since, among Kent's many businesses,
were a stone quarry and a plate glass factory. The wood for the home was
the finest Kent could find in northern Ohio. When the Main Street covered
bridge was torn down, Kent saved the best of the massive beams and
used one for the arch header near the west coach entrance. There are three
similar arch headers in the west entrance hall and the main center hall.
Among the home's remarkable features are walls and partitions of solid
brick, cellar walls and entrance of thick sandstone, and a sloped slate roof.
Completed in 1884, the home provided 7,335 square feet of living space
with 20 rooms, including a ballroom and 10 fireplaces.
During the 40 years the Kent family lived in the home, four U.S. presidents,
either before or after they were in office, were guests in the home.
When Warren G. Harding, William Howard Taft, William McKinley
and Benjamin Harrison visited, they slept in the southeast second-floor
bedroom. This room remains much as it was in those days, including the
furniture.
When William Kent died in 1923, the home became the property of the
heirs of Marvin's son, Henry Lewis. They sold the home to Rockton Lodge
316 F & A. M. on Nov. 1, 1923.
The Masons have initiated a nonprofit society, the Kent Home Preservation
Society, to raise funds and coordinate the restoration of the home to
its 1923 status or earlier. The society is open to anyone with an interest in
preserving the Marvin Kent Homestead.
12
THE BURBICK
PoUNDATION
IS PROUD TO SPONSOR
THE HISTORIC KENT
TOWNTOUR
The Burbick Foundation
EX OBSCURITATE IN LUCEM
13
A BRIEF HISTORY OF MARVIN KENT AND His FAMILY
By jean Griffith Booth
I would like to thank Don Booth, Howard Boyle and Sandy Halem for their
valuable assistance in compiling this history. For purposes of clarity, I have used
birth names for the women in this article.
The Pilgrims
Marvin Kent's ancestors were part of the Great Migration of 20,000 pilgrims
who left England to come to New England between 1629 and 1640.
The Puritan families who made this dangerous voyage were educated and
prosperous. Among the first of Marvin's family to arrive in the Massachusetts
Bay Colony were: his fifth great-grandparents, William Hosford and
wife Florentia Sarah Hayward, who came in 1630; his sixth great-grandparents,
Thomas Talmadge and wife Catherine Cromwell, arriving in 1633,
and his fifth great-grandparents Henry Glover and wife Ellen Wakeman,
who arrived in 1634. Making the journey in 1640 were Thomas Kent and
his wife Ann Noyes with at least three children - eight-year-old Thomas,
six-year-old Samuel (Marvin's fourth great-grandfather) and three-year-old
Josiah.
The Revolutionary War
Both of Marvin's grandfathers, Zenas Kent (his father's father) and Oliver
Hiram Lewis (his mother's father), fought in the Revolutionary War as
privates in the Connecticut Line.
On May 5, 1777, Zenas enlisted in the 4th Regiment of the Connecticut
Militia for a term of eight months. During his service, the 4th Connecticut
fought in the Defense of Philadelphia Campaign, including the Battles of
Brandywine, Germantown and Whitemarsh, arriving at Winter Quarters at
Valley Forge in mid-December, 1777. He was discharged Jan. 1, 1778.
Oliver fought in the Revolutionary War three times, beginning in 1776
when he joined the 18th Regiment of the Connecticut Militia. He was a
member of Captain Thomas Bidwell's Company and took part in the Battle
of New York on Aug. 27, 1776, and the Battle of Fort Washington on
Nov. 16, 1776, before completing his term of enlistment.
The Kent Family Settles in Ohio
In the early 1800s, Aaron Olmsted hired Ralph Buckland, whose mother
was Mary Olmsted, to survey and act as an agent for the land he had
purchased in the Connecticut Western Reserve. It is likely Zenas and his
wife Anne Plumb purchased their homestead in Mantua from Ralph, since
Ralph was married to the Kents' eldest daughter, Ann. Traveling by sleigh,
14
the Kent and Buckland families left Leyden, Mass., and Middletown,
Conn., in the winter of 1812. The younger Zenas came with his family,
but his pregnant wife Pamelia Lewis remained back east. Sadly, two-yearold
Mary Anne Buckland did not survive the journey.
Zenas Kent
The younger Zenas returned to Connecticut for Pamelia and they moved
to Hudson in 1814. Using the skills he had learned from his fathe
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