43,469 research outputs found
Kent College of Law Stock Certificate #3 - Thomas E.D. Bradley
No full textThis stock certificate, numbered 3 and dated January 2, 1895, signifies the purchase by Thomas E.D. Bradley of one share of stock in the Kent College of Law, which would later become the Chicago-Kent College of Law. The certificate bears the signatures of Milton O. Naramore and Marshall D. Ewell, founder of Kent College of Law. The back of the certificate indicates that the stock share was transferred to J.A. Moran Jr. on June 11, 1900, witnessed by Ewell.https://scholarship.kentlaw.iit.edu/memorabilia/1001/thumbnail.jp
Jimmy Hill [picture] /
No full text"Kent, photo"--Etched on photograph and obscured with black ink, bottom right corner.; Condition: Glued to mount.; Part of: Arnold Thomas boxing collection.; Also available in an electronic version via the Internet at: http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn3257806
Kent College of Law Stock Certificate #12 - Kent College of Law
No full textThis stock certificate, numbered 12 and dated January 11, 1900, signifies the purchase of 41 shares of stock in the Kent College of Law (issued to Kent College of Law), which would later become the Chicago-Kent College of Law. The certificate bears the signatures of William F. Momeyer and Marshall D. Ewell, founder of Kent College of Law. The back of the certificate indicates that the stock shares were transferred to Thomas A. Moran (first dean of the Chicago-Kent College of Law) in June of 1900, witnessed by Momeyer and Ewell.https://scholarship.kentlaw.iit.edu/memorabilia/1010/thumbnail.jp
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
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
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Independent
"FUNERAL HOMES®
?vi.ember by Invitation
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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
The Kent Historian, Kent Historical Society Newsletter, Number 77, Fall 2012
No full textTHE KENT HISTORIAN
The Newsletter of the Kent Historical Society Fall2012
Number77
Kent school
celebrates
90 years with
KHS program
'All About Kent' series to be held
at 7 p.m. Sept. 24 at Davey school
Excerpted from columns by Roger J. Di Paolo,
published in the Kent-Ravenna Record-Courier
and in "Rooted in Kent: IO I Tales from the Tree
City, "published by Kent Historical Society Press.
A new school building is a cause for pride for
any community, a concrece expression of its
regard for the importance of educacion and its
faith in young people, writes Roger J. Di Paolo
in Rooted in Kent: 10 I Tales from the Tree City.
Ninety years ago this fall, there was plenty of
pride in Kent as Theodore Roosevelt High
School opened its doors for the first rime. The
new high school truly was a showplace, the
likes of which Kent - then a community of
7,000 - had never seen.
The Kent Historical Society will mark the
90th anniversary of this school building that
currently houses Davey Elementary School and
originally housed Theodore Roosevelt High
School (1922-1959) and Davey Junior High
School (later Middle School) from 1959-1999.
The "All About Kent" series program, which
will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday Sept. 24,
at Davey Elementary School, 196 N. Prospect
Ninety years ago, Theodore Roosevelt High School opened in Kent on North Prospect
Street, top. Today, the school, above right, serves elementary and preschool students.
KHS has many Roosevelt artifacts, including this cheerleader's uniform, above left, recently
donated to the museum by Cheri Gressard.
St. , will feature presentacions by local historian,
Jon Ridinger and Roger Di Paolo. After the
program, docents will lead guided tours
through parts of the building.
Theodore Roosevelt High School, located on
a 10-acre site at the end of North Prospect
Street at the intersection ofWhinier and
Lowell drives, was a ;5{~fifZf§%Z~~JifS.~s>'~~:?~::s%~JB.'Zf§£j I Program marks 200th .------...,,...----, M
I~ anni.v ersary ofWar of 1812 ~j
ij Two hundred years ago, for the first time ~
i!lo in its earl yh i story, t h e United States d e- I~ ti dared war on another nation, the United i~
Ij Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. f Often referred to as ''America's second war Gen. Joshua ~
; of independence," The War of 1812 offi - Woodard I
f~ cially beg-an on June 18, 1812. (1779-1854), ~ right, an 1. 1
~ This v, ear, a commemoration will be held early settler ~
I at 2 p.m. Sept. 22 at the Portage County of Portage H
~ Historical Society in Ravenna. The event tough~~~~~~ ~
M will honor Portage County veterans who War of 1812. I ij ~ "'--="-----'--' I i served in the war. i.'
~ One well-known Franklin Township resi- and John D . Gardner at Standing Rock; and ~
; dent who served in the War of 1812 was Woodard, George Haymaker, James i
I Gen. Joshua Woodard. Although Woodard Holden, Hubbard Hulbert and Asa Stanley I
J and his wife, Rebecca (Wooden) first settled at Pioneer Cemetery. ~ I in Ravenna Township, they soon moved to The program will last about 45 minutes. I
~ Kent where Joshua established a woolen mill After the ceremony, The Garrettones, a 20- ~
' h ~ ~ wit John Haymaker. The Woodard family piece orchestra, will have a "lawn chair con- S
! home at the top of the hill on Fairchild Av- cert" at the Workman Pavilion. The PCHS ~
~ enue is believed to have been a station in the museum, 6549 N. Chestnut Sr. , Ravenna, f
I Underground Railroad. will be open from 4:30 to G p.m. I
I Several other Franklin Township men 1he program was organized by Jacqueline I I served in the War of 1812 and their graves Woodring of Brady Lake and Sharon Myers f
j are in Kem, including, Raymond Bassett of Summit County. f
! I
~~~"®."-~~'&"®.'1&~'&~~~~1&"R1&.0.~~~~~1&."R'Ra'&'&1&,1&1&.~~~'&~'&"®."?&.~~~~a"®."?&.1&.~<'~1&.~1&."R~-&~~~~1&.~'&~~~'I&~~~
Fall 2012
Exhibit to tell story of devastating commercial fire
Fire in 1972 destroyed landmark
Kent Block, built by Zenas Kent
Forry years ago chis August, a devastating
blaze destroyed the city's oldest block on West
Main Street.
1he fire on Aug. 27-28, 1972 - the worst
business fire in Kent history - destroyed a
building that had been a reflection of the economic
times in the city since it was built in
1836-37 by Zenas Kent.
Tonia Krueger, a KHS intern and a student
from Germany, has spent the last four weeks researching
the history of the Kent Block and
conducting oral histories with people linked to
the building throughout the years.
Krueger obtained additional information in
newspaper clippings, business advertisements,
photos and letters, as well as video of the fire
and the building demolition.
KHS Director Thomas Hatch said Krueger
has many talents and has provided KHS with a
valuable and comprehensive resource.
"Her ability as a researcher, her ability to
connect with people in an oral history environment,
and her command of the English language
has allowed her ro create a project chat
The Kent Block, built in 1837, seen at top
and above, after the fire that destroyed the
building in 1972. An exhibit detailing the
history of the building is being organized.
will stand as a lasting contribution to our communiry
and to our understanding of the roots
of our town.''
Lamppost shines light on history
Gougler artifact donated to Kent Historical Society
One of the lampposts that stood as a sentinel for years outside the C.L.
Gaugler Machine Co. recently was donated to the Kent Historical Society. President
Jeff Crane of Furukawa Rock Drill (FRO USA), the firm that succeeded
Gaugler, donated the lamppost. In the above left photo, taken by Brad Bolton,
the lampposts are seen outside of the Gaugler building before it was torn
down. Gaugler Industries was the largest employer in Kent during World War II.
The Gaugler headquarters building, which was on Lake Street and was constructed
in the 1940s, was demolished in February 2012.
Fall 2012
Intern tackles fire project
By Tonia Krueger
KilS intern
This summer, I
came to Kent to visit
some old friends and
made lots of new
ones.
I came co Kem because
I thought it
would improve my
English but it did a
Krueger lot more for me.
As a student of History and English at
the Universiry of Goettingen, Germany, I
was thrilled to learn about the Kent Historical
Sociery because what you love
doing as a history major is researching.
At the Kent Historical Society I met
great people - helpful, open-minded and
motivated. I found that a very inspiring atmosphere.
I started seeing and understanding
the character of the town while I
See KRUEGER, page 4
The lamppost, which
weighs about 450
pounds, was first
moved on a forklift,
middle, loaded on a
truck, then placed on
a concrete slab at
KHS, left. The site
was wired and a lightsensitive
switch was
installed so the light
turns on at twilight.
Gaugler restored and
painted the lamppost.
3
Kent Historical Society
P.O. Box 663
Kent, 0 H 44240
SCHOOL, from page 1
The new facility received a glowing write-up
in the New England Journal of Education,
which described it as having "every modern
suggestion of the school and art of high school
design and equipment so that it has every
convenience, comfort and opportunity for up
to date education." Today, we call that a stateof-
the-art facility.
"If there is a better high school plant in any
particular, we have yet to see it," the article
noted.
Heady praise, indeed, but the Kem Courier
was no less effusive in its tributes to
Superintendent WA. Walls and the Kent Board
of Education as the new facility was dedicated.
Walls and the board "spared no pains to give
the city the best possible up to date building
and equipment they could have gotten for the
money," the Courier reported. "It is no idle
flattery to say that rhey have reared for
themselves, as well as for the city, a monument
that will stand to their credit long after they
have passed away."
The new school received congratulatory
messages from Edith Kermit Roosevelt, the
widow of its namesake, and her son, Theodore
Roosevelt Jr.
4
CHURCH, from page 1
hard wood timbers char none of the original
structure was discarded when the church was
enlarged in 1900,'' Carl Grismer writes in Histor_
y of Kent.
The original building, which remains a part of
the church today, was a simple wood frame
structure with a bell tower, a basic Gothic style.
Although alterations and renovations were
made in 1867, 1886 and 1900, it wasn't until
1927 that the church was entirely remodeled.
The reconstruction was made possible through
a ~equest of 5,000 by WS. Kent, a member for
many years.
In 2002, the church tore down its education
wing and built a new ministry wing, meeting
rooms and administrative offices. And in 2010-
2012, the congregation undertook the first major
renovation of its worship space since the 1920s.
Christ Church was the fourth denomination
organized in Franklin Mills. Preceding them
were: the Congregationalists (United Church of
Christ) in 1819; the Methodists in 1822; and
Disciples of Christ in 1827. The Baptists organized
the same year as the Episcopalians.
Following were the Universalises in 1866; the
Roman Catholics in 1867; and the Evangelical
Lutherans in 1884.
Nonprofit Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Kent, OH
Permit #150
Or Current Resident
KRUEGER, from page 3
learned about its history.
The long-gone Kent Block became a fascinating
subject of study for me. I wondered why
this huge brick construction was built here almost
two centuries ago when Kem was nothing
more than a few small houses.
Asking questions often is how a new project
begins. When I started asking questions, I had
no idea what would become of it.
I am leaving Kent on September 5. I will not
be able to see what the Kem Historical Society
makes of the Kent Block project. I am sure,
however, it will be great and I hope lots of people
will come and experience the multi-faceted
history of the Kent Block. Even if it burned
down in 1972, I feel it is still part of Kent.
I wane to thank everyone at KHS for all their
help and support. I had a great time in Kent.
Upcoming Events:
• War of 1812 commemoration,
2 p.m. Sept. 22, Portage County
Historical Society, Ravenna.
• All About Kent, 7 p.m. Sept. 24,
Davey school, 90th anniversary.
Fall 201
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 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 Kent Historian, Newsletter of the Kent Historical Society, Volume 63, Fall 2008
No full textTHE KENT HISTORIAN
Newsletter of the Kent Historical Society
Fall 2008
Number 63
HISTORY FEATURE
Stately Stow Street House Prominent Landmark for 152 Years
A stately house on Stow Street in
Kent has figured prominently in
the developing history of the community
for at least 152 years. The home,
owned for the past 35 years by L.A.
Bachman, is one of the few surviving
landmarks of what once was known
as Kent's "lower village." Each day
thousands of motorists on Haymaker
Parkway, plus many more on Stow
Street, pass this old homestead. Probably
most of them are unmindful of
the prominent role this house has
played in Kent's history.
The exact year in which this
house was erected with bricks made,
o doubt, at the site, is ha zy. The la te
--.,/
The house is only a s tone's throw
from the site of the town' s first gri s t
mill, a crude affair built by the founding
Haymaker family in 1806 That
mill, plus other buildings which followed-
John Brown's tannery built in
1835 for Zenas Kent just west of the
Stow Street bridge and many other
historic businesses and homes-was
the central concern in the lower village'
s early beginnings.
As with other historic Portage
County sites, deeds to the property
date back to the Connecticut Land
Company. It is known that in 1817
George B. DePeyster and William H .
Price purchased 500 acres in that a rea,
The house at 326 Stow Street has been a prominent
landmark in Kent for more than 150 years.
including the Bachman house
site, from Jacob Reed. At that
time, the two entrepreneurs
improved the old Haymaker
mill and built a sawmill and
forge where they made
scythes, pitchforks, and axes.
Then in 1832, Zenas Kent and
David Ladd bought all of the
Price and DePeyster holding s
along the river for 65,000. That was in anticip ation
of Franklin Mills ' s ill-
Dudley Weaver, one of Portage
County' s most knowledgeable historians,
placed its construction year in
1834 in writings some years ago. He
said the house was built in that year
by Chauncey Beach, chief miller for
the Kent flouring mill that was built
by Zenas Kent in the 1830s along the
1.1yahoga River just north of the Riv-
Stow Street intersection. However,
Bachman says he was told m a ny
years ago that his house probably was
built about 1825.
fated silk business and the
coming in 1840 of the Pennsylvania
and Ohio Canal.
Probably Price's untimely death
influenced the sale of the land to Kent
and Ladd. In 1831 Price went to New
Lisbon, Ohio, to return a huge millstone
by horse and wagon. On the
way back, the millstone shifted and
fell on him. He died of his injurie s .
De Peyster was Kent's first postmaster,
receiving the appointment
from President James Monroe in 1820.
He operated the post office in his
Stow Street home, keeping the mail in
a cigar box. He also operated a store
in the basement of his home, and he
built the Lincoln Tavern, a stagecoach
hostlery which stood on the northwest
corner of Stow and South Mantua
Streets.
Apparently, Joseph and Elizabeth
Dyson were the next owners of the
old Stow Street property. Deeds in
Bachman' s possession indicate that
they sold to John H. and Henry A. Davis
of Palmyra in 1903. Frank H. Johnson,
who sold to Robert and Hannah
Dyson, also was an early owner, as
were J. H. and Rose Evans. Deeds indicate
that the property' s title passed
to Harry A. Davis a nd then to his sister,
Cora Bascom, in 1834, and eventually
to Philip and Reynolds Bascom.
For more than 30 years, the Davis
brothers, who were Palmyra sawmill
operators, maintained an antique
business in the old Stow Street house.
Bachman' s association with the
house goes hack to 1933. He lived
there, helping to care for Mrs. Bascom
in her declining years, and in 1951 he
and his wife, Irene, bought the property
from the Davis brothers .
Sec STOW, p. 6.
Inside ...
From the President's Desk ... . ... .... 2
KHS Programs . . .... . .. . . . . .. . . .. . 3
Family Information Sought .. .... .. . .. 3
World War I Artifacts Needed . . . .. . . 3
KHS Volunteer Spotlight ... . . ... . . . . 3
Thomas the Tank Train Donated . .... . 4
In Memoriam: Larry Hugenberg . . .... 4
From the President's Desk
Franklin Mills Artifact
T his newsletter features an article directly
from the book Portage Pathways
by Loris Troyer. Loris was a founding
member of the Kent Historical Society
as well as editor emeritus of the Ravenna-
Kent Record Courier. His popular
column of the sam e name formed the
basis of this wonderful book, which was
published by Kent State University Press
in 1998. We are happy to feature it in our
gift s hop, and we have a few already autographed
by Loris on sale now.
We decided to concentrate on the history
of the house on Summit Street that
serves as the centerpiece of the article because
it was once home to George DePeyster.
George was an important figure
in the early history of our community and
the history of our community, we
have never actually had any artifact in
the Museum that said "Franklin
Mills."
All of that recently changed when
we purchased a l etter (reproduced below)
that was postmarked Franklin Mills
and was signed by Geo B. DePeyster,
P.M. This letter, which is being archivally
restored and framed will soon be on display.
Its contents revolve around a piece
of land to be sold at what appears to be a
sheriff's sale. The letter is marked Franklin
Mills, March 8, 1831. It will become
our oldest artifact directly related to our
community's history. I can' t wait to see
the faces of the students next spring
when they visit the museum. Then we
served as the first postmaster
of Franklin Mills. To quote
from a section of Portage Pathways:
"Those acquainted with
Kent history are aware that
what is now Kent was known
as Franklin Mills almost from
the time of its settlement in
1805 until 1867 when residents
renamed the village
Kent as a tribute to the Kent
family. The name change was
executed in a ppreciation to the
family, particularly Marvin
This letter, postmarked Franklin Mills , was signed by Gov. B
Kent, for the community pros- DePeyster, P.M . The letter is dated March 8, 1831 , making
perity that resulted form the it the oldest artifact related to the community's history.
success in bringing the Atlan-tic
and Great Western Railroad and its
railroad s hops into the town.
"And for several years the upper village
(that area north of Cuyahoga Street)
was called Carthage. In 1825, that area
was platted and it was officially entered in
Portage County records as Carthage. The
name had only a brief existence, residents
apparently preferring the name Franklin
Mills for the entire community. Even
during the Carthage years, people in the
lower village in the Stow Street area still
dung to the Franklin Mills name. But in
one instance the name stuck; Carthage
Avenue still exists." (Note: I live o n Carthage
Avenue.)
Every yeai~ our s tude nt tours with
Kent third graders increasingly become
a more important part of our mission as
a his torical society. While we relate
2
can tell them that our town was once
called Franklin Mills and show them
the rare and valuable letter directly related
to local history. The letter will be
framed in such a way that its contents
will be visible and sealed. Most of the
artifacts in our collection have been
generously donated by interested families
who want to share a piece of their
local history with with the community.
This letter was purchased through a
donation from the Spindler family. We
thank them for their generosity.
If you would like to assist us as we
collect and archive our pieces of history,
please note that your donation to the
Kent Historical Society is welcome and
appreciated.
-S~evff.ale,m;
Kent Historical Society
THE KENT HISTORIAN is a quarterly
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 exhibitions,
educational programs and activities.
The society brings educational
programs to schools , businesses and
civic organizations and collaborates with
the Main Street Kent and other historic
preservation projects in the community.
Board of Trustees
Sandra Halem, President
Dawn Carpenter, Vice President
Jack Amrhein, Treasurer
John Benedik
Howard Boyle
Scott Flynn
Audrey Cielinski Kessler
Pat Morton
Jim Myers
Carol Stroble
John Wunderle
Staff
Mary Ann Green , Administrator
Newsletter Staff
Audrey Cielinski Kessler, Editor
Museum Hours
Thursday: 11 a .m.-3 p.m.
Friday: 11 a .m.-3 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a .m.-2 p.m.
Groups and special tours
by appointment
Direct inquiries to
Kent Historical Society
P.O. Box 663
Kent , OH 44240
330/678-2712
[email protected]
www.kentohiohistory.org
Fall 2008
Tiffany Lamps, Politics, Campaign Buttons
Topics of Upcoming KHS Programs
~ As part of its series of forums on historical subjects about Kent and Portage
County, the Kent Historical Society will be hosting a talk by Linda D. Alexander
of Stow about her fourth cousin, Clara Wolcott Driscoll. Driscol was the
chief designer of the famous Tiffany lamps from 1888 to 1907. Alexander will
speak at 7 p.m. on September 17 at the Kent Free Library. The Wolcott family
founded Brimfield and Tallmadge and were prominent in Kent politics in the
late 1800s.
Alexander has spoken throughout the area at other historical societies. Alexander
will bring enthusiasm along with lamp replicas, pictures and genealogical
information. Light refreshments will be served. A short tour of the historic
Kent Free Library will be available.
On October 9, Alice McVetty-Vars will speak about politics and presidential
campaign buttons from a historical perspective at Kent Ridge at Golden Pond,
5241 Sunnybrook Road. The program begins at 7:30 p.m. McVetty-Vars is a nationally
recognized educator in public schools, a consultant to museums in the
eastern United States and Canada, and a curriculum and process writer for
schools and churches.
McVetty-Vars, a Kent resident since 1975 (formerly from Lexington, Kentucky,
Buffalo, New York, and Findlay, Ohio, where she grew up), will u se her
mounted collection of campaign badges from 1880 through 1996 as a backdrop
for asking the following questions: Why do we wear presidential badges? Why
do we collect presidential badges? Why and how can museums effectively enable
these badges to speak to us with historical significance? She will speak
about her family's memories of badge collecting, show examples of resource
naterials about presidential campaigns and give practical process-diagrams for
~ useum or personal use.
For more information about either event, call Mary Ann Green at
330 / 678-2712 or John Benedik at 330 / 677-0929.
Letter Writer Seeks Family Information
I n an e-mail to the Kent Histoical
Society, Marsha Braun writes:
"I am hoping you can help me. I
am looking for information on my
family. I had a great aunt who lived in
Kent. Her husband ran a restaurant in
Kent, and his name was Joe (Joseph)
Roberts. Her name was Lillie May ( or
May). I remember going to Kent but
do not remember the year. I think the
restaurant would have been operating
between the late '30s and early '50s.
Do you have any information of such
a place and, if so, would there be a
picture? Sincere thanks, Marsha Phallen
Braun, Vero Beach, Florida."
If you can help, contact the Kent
Historical Society.
Artifacts Needed for World War I Exhibit under Construction
Construction of the Kent Historical Society's World War I exhibit is
nearing completion, but additional artifacts and memorabilia are
needed . If you have any artifacts, photographs, family letters or
any other items from World War I in Kent during 1918, inclduing
the flu epidemic that year, please contact the Kent Historical Society
today . The artifacts are needed to help Derrick Ranostaj complete
his exhibit, which is set to open in November on the 90th anniversary
of the end of World War I on Armistice Day in 1918.
Fall 2008
Museum Gift Shop
Featured Item:
Vintage Aprons
H and-sewn vintage aprons are the
featured item from the Kent Historical
Society gift shop. Volunteer
April Bleakney wears one here, at left.
Historical Society volunteers make
each one with fine craft-smanship.
The aprons
come in a variety of
shapes and sizes,
from kids to grandmas.
If you would
like to share your
talents, call Mary
Ann at the society
office and become
part of our "sewin'
circle." We are think-ing
of having an evening
devoted to making
some vintage skirts
and shirts to wear during
the Kent Heritage
Festival and for other
important occasions.
KHS Volunteers
in the Spotlight
V olunteers in the spotlight for the
summer are Anita Foote (top)
and Marilyn Cox (bottom) .
" I enjoy coming
here to share
Kent's history with
the kids. I love going
through the
[family archive]
boxes and discovering
new facts or
reading about
people from the
community."
"I like knowing
I'm helping keep
the history of
Kent so others
will enjoy it in the
years to come.
There is a lot of
good history from
the Cuyahoga
and Native Americans
to the canal
and railroads ."
3
STOW
Continued from p. 1
Originally an Akron resident, Bachman worked for
General Tire, Davey Tree, arborist Sam Parmenter, the
Twin Coach Company, and Fageol Products, before retiring
from Kent State University.
Bachman's wife died in 1968. Today [1998] he occupies
an apartment on the west side of the house and his
daughter, Margaret Humbert, and her three children reside
in the east side. All together, the house has ten rooms.
For Bachman, the house is a treasure trove of memories.
His affection for the house and its one-acre, well-wooded
lot runs deep. And for Kent, the property stands as a stately
reminder of its early days. [The current owner of the
house, the Weigels, purchased the house in 1992.]
Source: This article is a verbatim excerpt f rom Portage Pathways by
Loris Troy er (Kent State University Press, 1998 ). Th e book is available
at the Historical Society 's g ift shop. Th e co st is $20.
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. : extend6 U6 deep~t l}tpnpat/ik✓., to. S .fwvuf' /} ~, 91Wt&vta, and fzi., family,.
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'
Kent Historical Society
P.O. Box 663
Kent, OH 44240
Thomas the Tank Train
Donated to Historical Society
T hanks to Connor Gynn, the Kent Historical Society
has a new addition to its Children's Activity Room.
Thomas the Tank train made a permanent stop there recently
when Connor ' s parents, Bob and Carrie Gynn, donated
the train set. Connor helped to assemble the train at
its new home.
This gift comes complete with table, train and track
as well as lots of things that kids can play with when they
A smiling Connor Gynn stands
beside the Thomas the Tank
train set, which he helped assemble.
The set was donated
by his parents, Bob and Carrie
Gynn.
visit the museum. Families
can view the HO-scale model
of Kent in the Wunderle Train
Room and move next door for
activities that include reading
books about trains and canals,
coloring, completing projects
in activity books and, now a
train set.
Thanks to the G ynn' s for
their generosity and to for
Connor for his help in supervising
its move to the Kent
Historical Society. Now children
of all ages can have fun
with trains, a mode of transportation
that helped the area
grow.
Nonprofit Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Kent, OH
Permit #150
Kent Historical Society-Where History Comes Alive!
4 Fall 200
The Kent Historian, Kent Historical Society Newsletter, Number 78, Winter 2013
No full textTHE KENT HISTORIAN
The Newsletter of the Kent Historical Society Winter 2013
Number 78
Trains set
the track for
Kent history
KHS events mark 150 years
since arrival of railroad
The following is by Bruce Dzeda, author of
''Railroad Town: Kent and the Erie Railroad. "
The book, published by Kent Historical Society
Press, is available for purchase at the museum.
One hundred and fifty years ago, an event
took place in Kent that set the course of our
history.
And the Kent Historical Society intends to
mark that anniversary, or sesquicentennial,
with a series of interesting and fun events this
year.
The event was the 1863 opening of Marvin
Kent's Atlantic & Great Western Railroad. The
coming of the A&GW, and the two subsequent
railroads that continue to serve our city,
changed everything about our town, starting
with its very name. It also set off a series of
events with consequent results which we still
see and benefit from today.
But why celebrate Kent's railroads at all?
Why should the historical society and its
friends mark this 150th anniversary? Well, I
can think of many reasons, but let's start with
these:
First, the railroads gave our town its colorful
and important past and historical legacy.
Franklin Mills, Ohio, today might be just
another semi-rural bedroom community
known as a place where John Brown once lived
for a few short years. Instead it's renowned as
the vibrant city of Kent where any number of
important people have lived, worked and made
their contributions over the years.
Second, the railroads influenced the layour of
Kent's streets and the way the city looks. The
south end, with its smaller, older houses on
small lots, were the affordable starter homes
built primarily by the Erie Railroad's car shop
workers. Even today, we can see there the
evidence of the mom and pop stores rhat were
once characteristic of such neighborhoods.
Here, diverse populations lived and worked
side by side, as the men walked to and from
their nearby jobs. The Kent Free Library that
today dominates and graces the West Main
Street hill began as a collection of books
Thought to have been photographed in Kent in the 1870s, A&GW No. 95, above, is a fine
example of the locomotives of the broad-gauge, wood-burning era of American railroading.
A proud engineer sits atop "his" locomotive between the brass bell and the large
steam whistle, while his fireman looks out the window.
assembled by Erie agent George Hinds for
railroad crews to read during their time off
between train assignments. The location of the
Erie Depot downtown, instead of being on the
edge of the village, confirmed the area as the
rerail center, with all of the positive effects and
businesses that it brings. Then, in the 1960s
the Haymaker Parkway and the Redmond
Greer Memorial Bridge were built, in large
part, to solve the problem of stopped trains
blocking the city's three street crossings, with
the ever-present threat of potentially disastrous
results for emergency vehicles and public safety.
Next, the railroads' yards, depots and the car
shops all drew people to Kent by offering
employment and opportunity to thousands of
men over the years. A great variety of jobs
existed here, ranging from unskilled to highly
skilled, from laborers, carpenters, painters,
joiners and steam-fitters to brakemen,
trainmen, conductors, firemen and engineers,
See RAILROAD, page 4
Inside ...
Holiday open house a hit 2
Davey school program 3
Kent schools on exhibit 3
KHS board: 2013 is ... ,.,
Year of the Railroad t: I I
fi
The Board of
Trustees of the
2
Kent Historical Society
The Kent Historian is a quarterly
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 of Trustees
Sandra Halem, President
Scott Flynn, Vice President
Jack Amrhein, Vice President
Matt Metcalf, Treasurer
Audrey Cielinski Kessler, Secretary
Jean Booth
Howard Boyle
Rebecca Dunlap
Kasha Legeza-Burton
Jim Myers
Carol Stroble
Sta.ff
Thomas Hatch, Director
Lorie Bednar, Administrator
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 St.
Kent, Ohio 44240
(330) 678-2712
Email
[email protected]
Website
www.kentohiohistory.org
Facebook
www.facebook.com/
KentHistoricalSociety
KHS open house a holiday hit
Children and adults enjoy activities, Victorian decorations
A modern-day version of
feather trees, above,
popular during the
Victorian era, were
on display at KHS. Jack,
4, and Molly, 2, right,
children of KHS board
trustee Scott Flynn and
wife Anna, made holiday
memories at KHS.
There were plenty of
holiday-related craft
projects for young visitors
to work on during
the KHS Holiday Open
House. Kent residents,
Molly, 9, and Jack
Tillett, 6, left, decorated
gingerbread cookies.
Their brother, Sam, 10,
also joined the fun.
Velma Strimple and
KHS board president
Sandra Halem, below,
admired the beautiful
tree Strimple donated to
KHS in memory of her
husband,Reed,who
was a KHS founder and
board member from
1971-2006.
Correction:
The photo at left
shows a city
landmark, The Kent
Block, which was
built in 1837. The
structure, built by
Zenas Kent, was
destroyed by a fire
in 1972. An
incorrect photo
appeared in the Fall
2012 edition of The
Kent Historian.
Winter 2013
Kent schools featured in new exhibit at KHS
Guest curator Jon Ridinger shows
history, highlights of district
An "All About Kern" program held in the fall
has led co an in-depth exhibit highlighting che
Kern schools' history.
The new exhibit at che Kern Historical
Society is the culmination of an idea Kern
resident Jon Ridinger first had co mark the
90th birthday of the Davey Elementary School
building.
Ridinger, who always has had an interest in
Kent history and in the history of the schools
in particular, jumped at the chance to organize
rhe program held in September 2012 at Davey.
"I had already begun to do research of my
own into the building's past, so now I had even
more reasons to dig a little deeper," he said.
"The program ended up being a wonderful
evening of sharing both written and oral
histories of the building through its eras as a
high school, junior high, middle school, and
elemernary school."
And as he researched the building's history,
Ridinger discovered considerably more about
che district's other buildings through newspaper
articles and yearbooks.
Ridinger said he noticed at che Davey
program char some attendees hadn't been in
Kent for awhile and rhus were not familiar with
the locations of many current schools in
addition to wondering where some of the older
schools had gone. Conversely, many were
curious where these older buildings, which
have since been demolished, were located, he
said.
To help people make sense of where
everything was, Ridinger said a Kent map was
included that highlights the locations of the
current schools and photos of each. In
addition, several photos of previous school
buildings are included. Along with chem,
documents and class photos are on display
from the various schools.
Above the display is the original sign for
Roosevelt High School chat once hung over the
front doors of today's Davey Elementary
School from 1933-1959. le was rediscovered in
2010 by local antiques dealer Don Barreu at an
antique store in Medina, Ohio, and purchased
Jack Amrhein, left, and
Roger Sidoti admire the
newly restored sign that
was posted in 1933
outside Kent's original
Theodore Roosevelt
High School (now Davey
Elementary). Amrhein,
who teaches at
Roosevelt High School
and is a KHS board
trustee, serves as a
Kent city councilman
with Sidoti. Sidoti purchased
the sign from
local antiques dealer
Don Barrett. The sign is
on permanent loan to
KHS.
by former RHS principal Roger Sidoti. le is on
permanern loan to the Kem Historical Society
and has been restored co its original
appearance.
On a smaller separate display, an area is
devoted co Roosevelt High School , with several
photos and artifacts from the school's history,
including dedication programs, oucflcs, and
yearbooks.
KHS Director Tom Harch said Ridinger was
the perfect choice for the job.
"He brought rhe same passion for history
and excellence (to creating the exhibit) chat was
evidem in his work for che 'All About Kem'
program," Hatch said.
Past, present students celebrate 90 years of building history at Davey
Winter 2013
An "All About Kent" program held in September
at Davey school marked the 90th anniversary of
the building, which opened as Roosevelt High
School in 1922. Attending, above, are three generations,
from left, Abby Dean, who attended
Davey elementary; her mother, Sally Hurd Dean,
who attended Davey Jr. High; and Sally's father,
Jack Hurd, a music teacher and assistant principal
at the school from 1962-78. At right are Jim
and Sally Myers. Jim, wearing his school sweater,
is a KHS trustee and 1949 Roosevelt graduate.
Joan and Robert
Wingard, above,
Kent residents who
graduated from
Roosevelt in 1947,
had a chance to
talk with Theo
Bednar, 5, a kindergarten
student at
Davey Elementary,
which was used as
the high school
until 1959.
3
Kent Historical Society
237 E. Main Street
Kent, OH 44240
RAILROAD, from page 1
to depot agents, telegraphers, freight handlers,
to say nothing of the managers required to
oversee and coordinate it all. The railroads in
Kem were diverse in their employment from
the beginning. The Americans, Irish and
Germans who built the railroads gradually
absorbed the newcomers over the years, such as
the Italians, Poles and African Americans, all of
whose names and children then became part of
the town's institutions and schools.
In addition, the railroads took us where we
wanted to go, whether to Akron, Cleveland,
Warren, Pittsburgh or some ocher large city
nearby, or to farther away places such as New
York, Chicago, Washington and Baltimore.
Many Kent residents fondly recall caking the
train co do Christmas shopping, to attend a
sporting event, to go on vacation or even to
commute to work. Others recall the heartrending
scenes of soldiers saying goodbye to
their loved ones at the depot during war time.
Importantly, the railroads in Kent served city
businesses reliably and economically. The
iconic grain mills downtown were located
along the railroad tracks for shipping
convenience, as well as, for example, Mason
Tire and Rubber and also the Twin Coach
Company. At least two Kent business were
founded by railroad workers. All of these
4
businesses and others employed further legions
of workers . You could even order an entire
house from the Sears, Roebuck catalog, have it
shipped by railroad to Kent and then have it
delivered and assembled on your lot. The
railroads made the efficiencies of the modern
industrial age economically available to a much
wider population.
Railroad money played an indirect, yet
important, role in the decision of the state of
Ohio in 1910 to locate its new college in Kent.
The Erie Railroad was a main source of the
Kent family's wealth. le was William S. Kent's
generous gift of land on the ease side of Kent
that tipped the scales in the town's favor. To us
today, a Kent without Kent Scace University is
simply unthinkable!
Lastly, although CSX Transportation, the
Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway and the Akron
Barberton Cluster Railway continue to operate
trains in Kem, even the abandoned parts of the
Erie Railroad live on in a most useful way as
first-class recreational hike and bike trails,
which themselves continue to bring more
people to Kent.
I often see pedestrians and motorists stop
just to watch a train rush through Kent,
enjoying its special power to compel attention
with its noisy horn, hurrying thousands of tons
Nonprofit Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Kent, OH
Permit #150
Or Current Resident
of freight onward to its destination. Little kids
especially thrill co the sight of Kent's trains,
including on that magical evening each year
when Sama Claus arrives in Kent, as he ought
to, by train! After all, the railroads of Kern have
been bringing their gifts co our town for some
150 years. I hope it goes on forever.
YEAR, from page 1
moment when they hear that whistle - maybe
even snap a photo co display on our Facebook
page, crayon a picture, write an essay and pay
tribute to the thousands of Kent residents who
discovered, worked and lived here because of
the railroad. We also will be asking for help in
our continuing preservation of the Erie Depot,
owned by the Historical Society and in need of
some important work since it re-opened in
1981 as part of the first wave of renovation,
which is now blossoming throughout Kern's
downtown. As one of Kent's most celebrated
buildings, our mission continues to keep the
depot a shining example of history, architecture
and commerce.
Join us. Send us your photos and your memories
and make this special year one that excites
and unites our community.
Sandy Halem, KHS board president
Winter 201
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