MEDINA COUNTY OHIO - Brunswick: Our Hometown (Part 1) *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by (This is a compilation of information and newspaper articles submitted by Sam Boyer and transcribed by Gerri Gornik gerrigornik@yahoo.com) http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/medina/history/ July 2002 *********************************************************************** Brunswick: Our Hometown A history of the community And its families As published in the Brunswick Times and Brunswick Sun Times With the permission of "Sam" Boyer, author. Preface Brunswick: Our Hometown is a compilation of historical stories which first started to appear in the Brunswick Times in the fall of 1975 and continued through the summer of 1976 and beyond in the Brunswick Sun Times. Interviews with dozens of local residents helped in the compilation of these stories, as did information gleaned from such publications as An Outline History of Brunswick, 1815-1965. Some slight discrepancies from story to story may be attributed to those persons trying to rely on memory for their information. The first edition of Brunswick: Our Hometown was published during the bicentennial of our nation's independence in July, 1976. Revisions in the text were made in 1987 for this second edition, and new information was added. The author of these stories, "Sam" Boyer, would like to extend her appreciation to allof those who have helped in the gathering of this history; to Sun Newspapers for permission to print a new and more permanent edition of this book; and to the Brunswick Chamber of Commerce for undertaking the project. Brunswick is 172 years old this year, looking toward a big celebration at 175 years old. We hope you find this book a fitting tribute to this historic time and a basis for pride in a wonderful community which we are proud to serve. "Sam" Boyer Brunswick July, 1987 Contents Our Hometown Early History 4 Business and Commerce 7 Festive Days 10 Speed Trap 12 Firefighting Was Hot Issue 15 Churches in Brunswick 18 The Music Makers of Brunswick 24 The Organizations of Brunswick 26 Early Families The Benjamin Story 30 The Chidsey Story 34 And the Chidsey Story Continues 39 The Gibbs Family 43 The Other Gibbs Branch 46 The Waite Story 48 The Freese and Keller Families 53 The Brant Family 56 The Mortons and Clements 58 Ralph Strong's Stories 60 A Story From Myrtle Ruff 69 The Wards 70 The Miller Story 75 The Sherman Family 78 They Eyssen Family 80 Early History The early history of Brunswick begins in the year 1796 when it was first surveyed. It was then that Abraham and John Freese explored the territory now known as Brunswick. There we would see a typical Indian family such as frequented the forests in the years before the white man had set foot in this part of the Western Reserve. Hinckley was an ideal hunting ground for bear and deer, and many an Indian family spent some time in Brunswick while hunting in Hinckley, to lay up their stores of meat for the season. Relics of their life have been picked up from time to time in the form of arrowheads, spearheads, tomahawks and flintstones. And some of the folks who did pioneer made some splendid collections of these articles. Many of those collections remain in the families or have been donated to museums. Avid Indian lorists can still find an arrowhead lying in the fields of Brunswick to this day, though most of the larger objects are no longer available. It was in the years 1796 and 1797 when the Connecticut Land Company had laid out the territory in townships of five miles square. Purchased from the government on the 5th of September, 1795, the Connecticut Land Company received title to well over three million acres for $1,200,000 and proceeded at once to survey and lay out the townships. Before the Connecticut Land Company had made the purchase, the government had made grants of 500,000 acres in 1792 to those who had lost some property in Connecticut through the devastation of the Revolutionary War. These 500,000 were commonly called the Firelands, but strangely, all of the Western Reserve except the Firelands was disposed of by lottery with the exception of Cleveland and five other townships reserved for private sale. The first lottery was in February, 1798. Moses Cleaveland was the agent for the Connecticut Land Company, hence the naming of the principal township in the Reserve in his honor. From the year 1798, the land in the township of Brunswick was sold mostly in quarter sections of 160 acres at $1.25 to $3 per acre, but the purchasers did not arrive until 1814, as the war of 1812 interrupted the fulfillment of the plans. Although the war did not start until 1812, tribal disturbances were taking place from 1800 on, caused by the dissatisfaction of one tribe over another in the final claim on the lands. The Iroquois Indians had held sway on the land east of the Cuyahoga, but the other tribes of Wyandot, Delaware, Chippewa, Ottawa, Miami and Shawanee Indians had control over land west of the Cuyahoga, so the government had been hard put to settle all claims satisfactorily. However, in the end, barrels of whisky, merchandise, money and sometimes even military pressure eventually quieted all concerned and with certain lands reserve for the very own, the Indians gradually grew accustomed to the intrusion of the white man and learned to live more peaceably. Among the first settlers were the brothers Solomon and Frederick Deming who arrived in Brunswick March 4, 1815, to be followed in the summer by John Hulet, Seymour Chapin, John Stearns, Andrew Deming and Henry Bogue with their families. Before the year 1815 ended, they were joined by James Stearns, Solomon Harvey, Henry Parker, Samuel Tillotson, Ephraim Lindley and W. P. Stevens. Of course, the first surveyor, Abraham Freese, was among the first settlers as well. These hardy fold proceeded at once to clear the land and build log cabins. They planted crops with potatoes really the biggest crop in the beginning. Moses and Cornelius Sherman turned down the chance to buy Cleaveland land to come to fertile Brunswick to raise potatoes, potatoes, potatoes. Clearing the land took all the manpower that could be mustered. The log rolling events sometimes lasted for days, while chopping bees lasted for weeks. But everybody in the township would gather while the men manipulated the axe and saw and the women kept the cook fires going with venison and wild turkey. Whiskey was the chief beverage. It was believed at one time that no barn could be raised without a good supply of whiskey being on hand. But it so happened that Captain John Stearns overlooked this detail when he was ready to raise his barn…and as none could be procured nearer than Talmadge, a two-day journey, he apologized profusely to his neighbors who, after some hesitation and reprimanding, finally raised the barn. The name Brunswick is derived from a principality in Germany, so that our pioneers must have been influenced by German descent to have liked that name the best of those submitted for consideration. It was said that it was chosen over the other contenders because "it sounded best." A journey to Cleveland in those pioneer days took two and one half to three days so it was seldom the women went shopping. When Sarah Partridge and Samuel Tillotson, with their ten children started from Lee Massachusetts, it took them six weeks to come to Brunswick. The journey was made with two yoke of oxen and a span of horses. A cop was also brought along, at first tied to the wagon but later freed. She was milked night and day and any milk left over was put into a churn and made into butter by the motion of the wagon. The trip from the east for some folks was not without benefits. Melinda Harvey and Henry Parker first met on the journey west and were the first couple to be married in Brunswick Township, this taking place March 16, 1816. It was the custom of all married ladies at the time to wear caps. But Melinda Parker would not wear a cap until they had their farm paid for, as caps in those days cost plenty, as we are told, and were quite the thing. The first child born in Brunswick was George, son of Solomon and Polly Stearns Harvey. The social side of life in these early pioneer days consisted of sleigh rides, house parties and the real old fashioned dancing with just a fiddler providing music. Most of these events were in conjunction with a house raising, a chopping bee or log rolling event as the distances between neighbors was made even greater by the fact that roads were simply a trail of blazed trees. The felling and chopping of trees was not without mishap as Isaac Hulet's little Johnny and Cornelius Sherman's son Emory were both killed by falling trees. A tale of heroic women is found in the annals of Brunswick history and tells of Rhoda Wells, wife of Morris Squire, who came from Shelby, New York, to Brunswick with her four children, the youngest 9 months old. They arrived in Cleveland by boat after a stormy voyage. They stayed overnight in a log tavern in Cleveland. She was very uneasy regarding the tavern keeper, especially since she had $2,000 in a belt she wore around her waist. She was unable to sleep for fear she would be robbed and murdered. She asked to be called in time to catch the stage next morning early for Brunswick. But the stage was full and she was not called. This unnerved her all the more and she set out with her four children on foot, determined to stay no longer. She walked as far as Brighton before she found someone to drive her to Brunswick, and then it cost her $2, a very large fare in those days. More about women with the story of Mrs. Maria Hulet who had to carry water quite some distance from her cabin. So she decided to dig a well close by. When she had dug down too deep to be able to throw the dirt out, she pressed her children into helping her by pulling up a tin pail on a rope and emptying the dirt for her. With crude implements and slow tedious methods, she finally reached a depth of 30 feet and found good water. This well was still in operation in the 1930's. Needing stones, she gave a neighbor a small Inn Furnace to haul a couple of loads. But she didn't know how to stone up the well. When a stranger passing offered to show her how, she took up the offer and exchanged a hearty meal for the work. The same Maria Hulet was looking out of her cabin window one day and saw a dog panting as if he had been chasing an animal. Sure enough, she saw a large buck deer foaming close by. She took her axe in hand and ordered the dog to throw the deer. With one blow, the deer succumbed. Mrs. Hulet proceeded at once to skin the carcass and was in the midst of this task when an Indian approached and claimed the deer as his, as he had tracked it down. After bargaining with the Indian, she was left with half the kill while the Indian walked off with skin and hindquarters. In the year 1819 the first semblance of a store was opened by Thomas Stearns. Just one room of his log cabin represented the store at first. But the demand of the travelers on the Cleveland-Columbus turnpike compelled him to expand this to include a tavern, as traveling in those days was quite a dusty and thirst-provoking experience. Five years later, the first real store was built by Archibald Mills and he did a grand business. Brunswick also boasted a distillery founded in 1828 with a capacity of 12 gallons daily. But Mr. Woodbridge, who started it, finally closed it up after a few years' operation as the demand did not justify the manufacture. Despite the hardships of life in those early days (little wonder the cemeteries are lined with stones telling the tale of short lives) the settlers were determined to make Brunswick a real home. On April 6, 1818, the first election was held with 19 voters. They were Captain John Sterns, Solomon Deming, John Hulet, Harvey Stebbins, Reverend Jacob Ward, Thomas Stearns, Major Andrew Deming, Joel Curtis, Elijah Hull, Henry Bogue, Ephraim Lindley, James Stearns, George Baldwin, Solomon Harvey, Horace Root, Darius Francis, Henry Parker, Daniel Stearns, and John Hulet, Jr. John Stearns and Jacob Hulet were elected Justices of the Peace; Darius Francis was named treasurer; John Stearns, assessor; Henry Parker, constable' John Hulet, John Stearns and Solomon Deming, trustees; Samuel Tillotson and W.P. Stevens, overseers of the poor; H. Root and H. Bogue, fence viewers. From then on the township began to become more and more like the hometowns left behind in New England. Land, in the 1800's, sold for $2.50 and acre but didn't bring many buyers at the "exorbitant" price. Captain Stearns owned 1,300 acres of land in the western portion of the township and it was he who donated the land for Brunswick's Westview Cemetery. The land now known as the Wolff Development and Eagle Oakes is on the land owned by Stearns. The Eastern half of the township was unsurveyed until after 1817 when it was owned by three men. James Brooks arrived in 1825 and bought 135 acres at the Bennett's Corners area; the Shermans settled south of that near the present intersection of Route 303 and West 130th Street. The northwest corner was settled in about 1830 and most of the homes there were frame, with the lumber purchased from the saw mills in Liverpool Township. The northwest corner was called Beebetown. Even in the "booms" of the 1950's and 1960's, the development followed the same pattern of not pattern, with houses springing up in all directions making the extension of utilities and transportation difficult. But, by no means as difficult as settling the wilderness of Brunswick Township. Business and Commerce Business enterprise in the township began along traditionally humble pioneer lines, with barter the first form of business. One history book tells us, "John Hulet and his multitude of boys were excellent mechanics, able to turn their hands to one process or another so their skills were in great demand." It was the order of the day for ladies to trade goods for cotton dress material – the local ladies weaved linen or linsey-woolsey. Millie Tillotson, daughter of the family which settled at what is now Mapleside Farms, shocked the area when she appeared in a pink cotton calico dress because most of the days' apparel was of drab, dark colors. She had traded her drab woven stuff for the material and then paid the local milliner, Nancy Stevens, to make the dress and matching hat. When Archibald Mills opened his store in 1824, it was with $1,500 worth of goods of general assortment. And saw mills began to flourish because of the influx of families. Nathan Clark operated a saw mill. One built by a man named Entiton was built on Plum Creek and was water-powered. Isaac and Fletcher Hulet had a saw mill on a dam near the area which is not Brunswick Lake. Bennett and Stow had the first steam- operated mill about two miles north of the center. The best one, according to historians, was build by Hiram Brooks in Bennett's Corners and operated for many years. In 1838, Willis Peck built a tannery about two miles north of the center with five vats in which he dressed skins of all kinds. Solomon Deming built a large treadmill a mile west of the center, but the product was inferior flour or meal. Most farmers waited for dry weather to travel to a better mill in Millersburg. Nathan Clark opened a sort of cabinet shop in the village and made coffins and other useful items, while an unnamed businessman manufactured Windsor and other chairs for several years. With the horse predominant, blacksmith shops sprang up all over. One was operated by Gene Miner at the site of what has been Ray's American Station, Bennett Tire and now, Midas Muffler. South of there, Earnest Wilkey owned a shop and Jack Smith was Beebetown's blacksmith. Perry Loomis operated a shop at Bennett's Corners and Dwight Smith handled business down near Substation Road. And in 1901, the Cleveland Southwestern Interurban cam through Brunswick and was operated for 30 years, bringing many goods and services to the community. John Randall, with horse and wagon, transported goods from the interurban to the post office and "new fangled" baker's bread came in the station each morning in wicker cases and was sold at the local stores. The first telephone office started in 1899 with the first toll line between Cleveland and Brunswick. Local lines were installed two years later. The line went from Brunswick to Valley City B&O depot so residents could find out if the goods had been delivered by freight. By 1918, telephone manager (installer, repairman, etc.) Dennis M. Johnson had over 100 customers. For many years, the Aylard Brothers had a store in a wooden building at the center. In about 1909 they bought the bricks from the Congregationalists when their church was torn down and built the brick building which stands in the southwest corner of Routes 303 and 42. Finally, Usher and Waite bought the store and through the years there have been various owners. In 1911, the old wooden building on the opposite corner which was the IOOF hall, was torn down and replaced by the two story brick building many remember near the Methodist Church. Perkins and Ridiker sold their general store at Bennett's Corners and moved into the first floor of the building while the IOOF lodge kept the upstairs rooms. Many Brunswick people remember Carl Zimmerman as the owner of the store before it was sold to a realty company and then, torn down with the widening of Route 303. In about 1915, Farnum Gibbs built a business and apartment building near the substation with feed and implements on the first floor and living quarters upstairs. In 1924, Corte Carlton bought the Arthur Mellert Garage at 1420 Pearl Road and with brother Blake, opened a Ford agency and garage. (In 1930, a Model ! two-door sedan sold for $535). In 1956, the showroom was built at 1191 Pearl Road and is now occupied by the Harley Davidson Motorcycle dealership. Later, the Ford agency, then Frank White Ford, moved to 1633 Pearl Road. In 1976, the new Ford agency, now Midwest Ford, was constructed on Route 303 near I-71. The old dealership was then occupied by a Nissan dealership. In 1987 Karg Brunswick Auto World built its spacious new facility on Route 303 east of I-71. A black, horse-drawn hearse was the symbol of George Pitkin, the local funeral director. Services were held in church or home as there was no funeral parlor until the Carlson family began its business here in the early 1960's. Barber shops (there were no beauty parlors) were strictly for men and Bernie Hunt had a shop at the Aylard block while George Sharvat had one at Bennett's Corners. Frank Case had an ice cream parlor in the front room of his home in the site now occupied by Walt's Pizza at Pearl Road and Manhattan Circle. The first "real" restaurant was started in the 1930s by Tom and Irene Hogue. "The Village Inn" was just south of the center. In 1931, the Chamber of Commerce was organized. Charter members were Ralph Strong, Elmer Eyssen, Earnest Waite, Morris Perkins, John Kilgore, Corte Carlton, Dennis Johnson and Martin Lutz. Strong, a lifetime resident of Brunswick, began processing eggs for wholesale and retail purposes at Longview Farms in 1934 and his expanded business has prospered since. Today there are literally hundreds of businesses in Brunswick. Some are located in commercial buildings along Routes 42 and 303, some nestled in homes. The Chamber of Commerce has stuck it out through good times and bad and has come into its own as strong voices in the community. In 1975 the Chamber hired its first manager and membership numbered over 50 businesses. By 1986, the membership was close to 100, and growing. Festive Days If you were a resident of Brunswick around 1858, you might have looked forward to October when Brunswick held its agricultural fair. It was held for two days in the town hall and on the grounds. There was a large variety of events and exhibits with more than 200 classes of entries. Livestock, fruits, grains and garden products were displayed. Quilts, blankets, counterpanes, embroidery, etc., were in competition. And there was a complete flower show as well. Prizes were in the 25 to 50 cent range. A big celebration was held on July 4, 1919, to honor the town's returning World War I soldiers. Leading the parade on a white horse was Sergeant Meril Morton who had fought overseas. He wore his uniform and carried a large flag. A uniformed band followed with floats and marchers behind. A picnic dinner was served at noon. In the afternoon there was band music, vocal selections and the entire event was topped off by a fireworks display. As families grew, annual reunions became more and more familiar – outgrowing homes and spilling over into the schools, churches and the community. Often, a community reunion would be held. Sometimes they were called Old Settler's Days, sometimes, called homecomings. For years the Chamber of Commerce held homecomings on the grounds of what is now Edwards Middle School and they would feature games and rides with all funds going toward purchase of the Youth Center on Route 303, which was purchased from Alwin Wolff. The event continued into the 1960s. In 1965, the community celebrated its 15th year with a gigantic sesquicentennial celebration. Much of the history carried here was gleaned from the book written for that occasion, An Outline History of Brunswick, 1815-1965. That year, the largest parade in Brunswick history, totaling more than two hours, was held. It was followed by a two-day carnival homecoming. Events honoring the sesqui covered the entire year of 1965 which was a banner year here, with the advent of city water and the opening of I-71 to the south. Residents held a bear-growing contest; ladies couldn't wear makeup without a permit; men couldn't shave without a permit; plates were designed and sold; and a kangaroo court would patrol the streets on weekends. All in all, it was a time of great fun. Ironically, during the big weekend, the town was visited by two large groups. At the north end, the North-South Civil War skirmishers enacted a battle. It was a most exciting time. At the south end, the Ku Klux Klan held a rally causing a real furor, and forcing police and sheriff's departments to stop all cars coming into town to search for weapons. In the early 1970s, Brunswick was looking for a way to improve its self-image and began a series of Nationality Days in which residents of varied ethnic backgrounds would set up food booths. It was held for three years at Laurel Square Shopping Center and the last one was held in conjunction with the nation's Bicentennial in 1976. It was another year-long activity to honor the 200th birthday of America. Then in 1980, the Chamber of Commerce put together the first of its Old Fashioned Days, which is an ongoing event each summer. Speed Trap It was the early 1930s and the Great Depression had hit everywhere. Yet, the automobile had already made great inroads into the American way of life and Brunswick would soon be well known to motorists. Because of the popularity of the auto, the State of Ohio was attempting to straighten out the road situation here. And without any organized opposition to the proposal, the state eliminated the circle at the center of Brunswick. In its place, a traffic light was installed, triggered from Route 303, so the Route 42 traffic flow could be maintained. Perhaps it was the effect of the depression when everyone had to look out for himself and earn money any way he could, or the fact that many motorists seemed to abuse the speed limit and the traffic light. But Brunswick became known as one of the most notorious towns in the United States as a speed trap. Myron Chidsey, who as a trustee at the time along with V. E. Morton and Bert Keller, relates what was happening back then. "Most people were used to coming upon a traffic circle," he said. "So I think when they didn't encounter one, they felt they hadn't reached town yet and just kept speeding through – many times crashing the light. It was a problem." But then, so was the solution. An enterprising constable, elected by the voters of Brunswick, and a justice of the peace, also elected, decided to team up and do something about it. And because of them the town became the scandal of the area. Constable Walter Petschler would regularly pick up speeders and light crashers. He would immediately take them to J. P. Martin Lutz who owned a greenhouse just west of the center on Route 303 where immediate fines would be levied. The "court" would most often suspend the fine but would collect "$10.60 in costs, according to Chidsey. Then $4.40 went to Petschler and Lutz got $6.20 – an amount Chidsey thought had been set by law. Motorists began to complain and the AAA did something about it. They came out and posted warning signs at the entrances of town to tell motorists the speed limit was strictly enforced. They also warned in their literature. Merchants were hurt by the reputation and began to object to the practice. But the men were elected officials. The trustees, Chidsey said, went to the county prosecutor who gave them permission to take down the signs – but it was the only action they were allowed to take. And it seems that no one was inclined to vote them out of office. According to Elmer Benjamin, another lifelong resident, the men never bothered Brunswick residents. "Back then, everyone knew everyone else, so it was easy to tell who were the strangers through town. You could do almost anything if you were a resident." The AAA didn't think it was funny and they instituted an investigation and continued the warning. Motorists reported that Petschler was taking advantage of them. "It's not inconceivable," said Chidsey. "It was a trip light triggered from Route 303 going west. So perhaps one could park on Route 303 and wait for a car to come along. He could drive over the triggering mechanism and, with some practice, could trip the light right before a car went through – and the car would most likely crash the light." It never go to be an election issue, Chidsey says, because most elected officials were "drafted," they didn't usually seek to run. He said he imagined even Petschler and Lutz didn't really campaign. In the late 1930s or early 1940s, the state began an investigation of the men and the alleged speed trap but everything came to a halt when the Lutz greenhouse burned down, taking all the records of past offenders and offenses with it. After that, Lutz moved away and Petschler chose not to run again. Their successors apparently chose not to continue the scandalous practice and all was well again. But to this day some people still remember Brunswick as a speed trap. Firefighting Was Hot Issue Brunswick has had firefighting services provided by local volunteers only since 1941. But the service itself was not without its fiery moments. Until the 1940s neighbors helped each other or turned to services in Medina or Hinckley for help. In the 1940s Brunswick was one, five-mile square township. Fire service was created when, in 1940, the legislature allowed communities to buy fire equipment. But it placed a four-year limit on financing and limited expenses to $20,000. The board of directors of the newly-formed Brunswick Volunteer Fire Department, a private organization which contracts its services to the community (the same system now in force in both the city and township), included C. L. Benjamin, Harvey Meyers, Blake Carlton, Tom Hogue, Harry Vaughn, Harold Clement, Myron Chidsey, Ray Ferriman, Ed Scheiman, Ray Widdifield, Ray Marble and Fred Gerspacher. At the third meeting of the organization, the men decided to enroll in a six-week first aid training course. The trustees also decided to build a firehouse and agreed to bid the work. Fire chiefs from neighboring communities were asked to speak to the fledgling organization to provide some help to them. A fire engine was ordered. In September, the men held a practice at Hinckley and learned how to use various kinds of equipment. In December, Carl Zimmerman, long-time chief of the Brunswick Hills Department (a resident of the community since 1920) was named director for the southeast quadrant of town. Equipment was purchased; the men provided radios and uniforms. On March 9, 1942, the warning siren arrived and for years was the only method of summoning the men when an emergency arose. Ralph Anderson at the center of town would answer the emergency phone in his home. At the same time, the department okayed the purchase of a fire blanket, stretcher and first aid kit. Badges for the men didn't arrive until 1942. In December, 1942, the fire truck arrived, a 1942 Ford and that same year fund- raising activities began: a tradition which continues. Department members collected scrap iron. It was worth $380 in that wartime era. Homer "Chub" Johnson was elected chief and Gordon Morton was treasurer in 1943. Active and reserve members (because of the war) numbered 41. The building was constructed behind the town hall on Route 42 (south of the Methodist Church) and included enough room for public meetings. Water for fire fighting depended on cisterns and wells and there were severe limitations on that. The first fire, Zimmerman remembered, was on Laurel Road near Huntington Circle, where a drunk fell asleep and his lighted cigarette started a fire. Other fires in the first year included one in May 1943 when the Village Tavern exploded because of high water filled with oil backing up from the adjoining gas station. Also, a cottage at Sleepy Hollow Lake burned down and a home on Cider Mill Road had a kitchen fire. Harry Ruf that year had two calls – one to his home and one for his milk truck. Tom Hogue had the first fire phone installed at this home and later, three extensions were added. It wasn't until many years later that the sophisticated calling systems now in use were installed. In 1948 and 1949, Ken Halblaub became acting chief. In 1950, Zimmerman was appointed chief by the trustees. He served for some 30 years. Zimmerman had just finished serving 12 years on the school board when he became chief. "I had served during the entire time my son Hugh had been in school. He warned me if I was board president when he graduated he wouldn't accept his diploma from me because it wasn't right." Hugh is now an insurance underwriter. Son Elbridge is a teacher at Wooster College and daughter Molly Govern is a teacher, having traveled extensively with her husband who is in the armed forces. In 1986, Carl and his wife, Josephine, moved to a retirement community in Wooster and on May 20, 1987, he died there. The rescue squad was begun when Bud Fish, who owned a used car lot, got an ambulance to sell and donated it to the association instead. Then came 1960. Brunswick was a new village, later to become a city. That meant political proponents and opponents and the fire department seemed to be caught in the middle of the new city politicians and those who seceded from the incorporated area to form the township. The fire association made a statement that year clearly expressing its independence and willingness to provide continued service to the entire community and to operate the rescue calls answering all the citizens of the are and "to free ourselves of any governmental jurisdiction unless contracted and agreed, to allow the association to remain to provide more efficiently trained and qualified men." But politics gained steam. Mayor John Dinda accused members of the fire department of actively campaigning for secession – in uniform. Those charges were flatly denied by the men including Dave Goodyear who sat at one council meeting waiting for recognition for an hour, and was denied. A deadline was set to terminate fire service to areas outside the village on July 31. Councilmen Joe Cain and Jake Miller presented strong objections to the move. It seems, according to local news reports of the time, that the city and hills officials could never get together to meet to discuss contracts. The Brunswick Hills Township trustees inferred they would come to the city with a contract proposal but never did so. At the time, 15 members of the fire department resided in the township. The moral issue of providing service to all residents lost to the legal authority of the village to extend its fire service beyond its borders without an agreement. And an agreement was never reached. Meanwhile firefighters continued to offer services. A new ambulance was purchased by the fire department and a fund-raising drive was conducted to furnish it for rescue runs which, by September, 1960, totaled 168. On September 30, 1960, Brunswick Village Council met to hear Dinda's appointments to the city fire department. Those were Bill Applegate, Stan Stiffler, Dick Gordon, Bud Fish, Jack Engleking, George Loeber, Don Goodwin, Bill Riddel, Ray Kunsman, Clyde Spangler, John Sesti, Jim Waugaman, Robert Taylor, Mary Rooy, Bud Newburger, Howard Bierman, Bob Ward, Fred Hoffman, Pete Gulish and Al Scheiman. Council wanted Fish to be appointed assistant fire chief, but Dinda wanted him to be a captain – so neither happened then. Scheiman was later withdrawn from the list. Council held a special meeting on October 1 to approve the fire appointments as the law director noted that the village would not become a city until 12:01 a.m., October 2, 1960, and that appointments could not be made as a village until then. The came the news that five of the appointed firemen had removed equipment from the city trucks. Applegate, Riddle, Fish, Gordon and Stiffler were suspended from the department and charged with the removal. The men contended the equipment was purchase with their own funds and they had a right to it. On October 17, Dinda recommended and council approved 24 appointments to the fire department, the purchase of new radio equipment and the controversial suspensions. Harry Mulcahy, a former Cleveland fire captain, was placed in charge of the newly created fire department. Those named to fill the emergency need were Gene Taylor, William Adkins, James Kovach, Berlin Barker, William Mahon, Jerry Albert, John Brabson, Glen Neighbor, John Norman, Clarence Brown, Emil Rucky, John Sheehan, Charles Brown, Edward Scott, Harvey Wenzel, Raymond Carman, James Jarrell, Thomas Ashie, William Bogzevitz, Roy Hupp, John Madden, Bill Mullins, George Whitehead and Charles Rednour. Of the originals, Bierman, Newberger, Taylor, Waugaman, and Rooy remained. The Brunswick Fireman's Association then offered its services to Brunswick Hills. Trustees Glenn Fuller, Bill Cooper and Bob Greisheimer noted they had been negotiating with the city, but had never ruled out a township department. The offer of service, by the way, included the controversial radio equipment and a fire truck. After things quieted down and both departments were established with Zimmerman as the township chief and Carlton Erdman the city chief, each group continued to provide its members with hours of specialized training in both fire fighting and rescue work. Both joined the Medina County Fire Chiefs Association and the county firefighters group. The two departments now provide mutual aid covering for each other when the need arises. Fish, ironically, was named the city's first safety-services director in 1961, supervising the 30-man fire department, four-man police force and the street crew. To take the part time $3,000 post, he resigned as chief of the Brunswick Rescue Squad and from Brunswick Hills Firemen's Association. Gerry Vanderzyden is now chief in Brunswick Hills and Rooy in Brunswick City. Churches in Brunswick The growth of Brunswick can be accurately reflected in the growth of its first church, Brunswick United Methodist Church. The church is the oldest in the county and second oldest in the Western Reserve, founded in 1817. It began as part of a circuit – sharing one pastor with several churches. The number was narrowed to two in 1916 when the church at the center and Bennett's Corners Methodist Church shared the Reverend C. M. Gay. That arrangement lasted until 1954 when the Reverend Frank Crofoot was replaced by the Reverend Leonard Solt and the Reverend George Hickson was assigned to Bennett's Corners. That was, of course, at the beginning of Brunswick's population boom and a well- timed move. In the mid-1970's, the town's first co-pastorate was established. Almost as soon as Brunswick had a few settlers, they began holding ecumenical services in their cabins in order to continue the worship of God in this new land. In 1817, the Reverend Jacob Ward, a Methodist minister "of considerable influence and power," moved to the community. He cam from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, with his widowed sister, Rhoda Stowe, and her two sons John and Daniel. As soon as he arrived, he organized the first class of the Methodist Episcopal Church with 13 members. Reverend Ward worked in a large northeastern Ohio are for his church. He did the work of a home missionary going so far as making it necessary to sleep in the woods because of the distance between homes. "The roads were blazed paths and the streams without bridges. This was when the wolves, bears and rattlesnakes were dangerous," according to a booklet, "A Memoir of Jacob Ward." The country grew so fast and many converts made. The classes got to be so numerous they required pastoral care and in 1817 the Ohio Conference set up the Cuyahoga Circuit with a preacher assigned to it. Ward's home was the home of itinerants and headquarters of Methodism in the entire area for 22 years where ministers of other churches found a heart-felt welcome. "Here such Methodist men as Finley, Waddle, Swayze, Bieglow, Christy and McMahon, and one, if not more, bishops were enabled to rest their weary bodies and find comfort to their souls in conversation and wise counsel of these pious and gifted friends in the great work in which they were engaged," says author Edith Lurena Ward Hunt, daughter of Zelotes Ward, oldest son of Jacob. Reverend Ward conducted the earliest services of the church in the old log school house about one quarter of a mile west of the center. War Hall at Baldwin-Wallace College was built in memory of Jacob Ward. In November 1830, John and Lucy Stearns donated a piece of land to Brunswick trustees for a burying ground, just west of the center. It was two acres of land except for a 66x88 foot plot given to the Methodist Church for a meeting house. The Reverend John Hazzard, preacher in charge of the Brunswick circuit, met November 19 with members for the purpose of appointing trustees in trust of the Methodist Church. The trustees were Fletcher Hulet, Horace Root, Darius Francis, Correll Deming, Daniel B. Stowe, Oliver Bennett, Wesley Hulet, Isaac and Jacob Ward. Donations were taken for the new wooden frame church of white clapboards with a cupola on the sloped roof, housing a church bell topped by a spire and weathervane. In courthouse records of July 9, 1834, Thomas and Phoebe Stearns sold six acres of land to the Methodist Church for $300 for a "house of abode" for ministers and preachers, about a half mile north of Brunswick. The Methodist parsonage was first built in 1859 on Lot 5 of the Stearns' land. In 1858, 4.82 acres of the property purchased from the Stearns had been sold to Erastus Morton. The parsonage, which had been sold to William Collier in 1872, burned down in about 1916. As early as 1867 the members of the church met at a meeting house for the purpose of talking about a new house of worship. Those members on the committee for a new site were J.C. Preston, C.G. Strong, L.H. Strong, R. Pitkin and the Reverend L.G. Gard. On March 31, 1871, Isaac and Almeda Ward sold to the Methodist Church one and one half acres of land on the southeast corner of the circle for $1,000. The trustees were G.B. Strong, William McCauley, L. Allen, E.G. Freese, S.H. Strong, H. Crum and William Stebbins. Pastor was S. T. Dunbar. A contract with J.W. Morton for making of the bricks at $6 per thousand was entered into. The bricks to be suitable to build a house of worship were made from a clay pit at Sherman's Corners and houses made of them were much admired. The original brick structure is made with those local bricks. Contracts for mason work and woodwork and getting of material on the grounds were also made. The foundations were complete about September 1, 1871, and before winter, the house was enclosed. A new parsonage was built adjoining the church in 1873 for Pastor A.T. Jones. In 1877, the Methodist Church sold the white church at the cemetery to the Disciple Church for $350. Thirty sheds were built near the church for horses. They were individually owned and maintained by the members. Twenty-five years later they were torn down because horses were hardly in use. The early 1900s seemed to be a delightful time as church records showed many activities, including the Sunday School classes and their various activities and the annual Brunswick Homecoming which had as many as 500 persons in attendance. In June 1916, the members were canvassed to raise $2,500 to remodel, repair and redecorate the church to modernize it for another generation. A new brick addition was put on the northwest corner and called the tower. The cupola which housed the bell was torn down and the bell placed in this tower. A Sunday School room was made above the vestibule and four more fashioned from the west wing of the building and the upper floor opened onto a balcony. All of the church windows were replaced with colored artglass. A week-long dedication service was held with Reverend H. Shook preaching along with the Reverends Whitehurst, Bryenton, Moss, J. Mattershead and Dr. Keyes. In 1917 the church basement was renovated. In 1952 the outside was sandblasted and repointed and in 1955 the church redecorated. A one-acre plot of land was purchased from Corte and Pearl Carlton for future expansions for $15,000. In 1956 the educational wing plans were made and in 1958 the cornerstone was laid after all pledges were made. A new parsonage was build at 4709 Center Road in 1959. Another expansion was made in 1976. In the early days, members of many sects met together to worship. When meetings were held in Liverpool, the Episcopalians took the lead at the meeting. When in Brunswick, it was a Methodist of Congregationalist who led. Meetings were often held in private homes with much singing and the reading of a sermon as well as prayer. In 1819, a Congregational Church was instituted in the township by William Hanford and Simeon Woodruff, two missionaries. In about 1872 the Congregationalists built an elaborate structure, said to be the finest structure in the county at the time, at a cost of $25,000. However, when membership fell away, the beautiful building was dismantled. The bricks were used to build the building at the southwest corner of Brunswick Center and the windows were purchased by the Methodist Church and remain there to this day. A Society of Free Will Baptists was organized in Bennett's Corners as early as 1828 with Hiram Brooks acting as lay minister. The Disciples of Christ (now called the First Christian Church) is the oldest organization of Disciples in Median County. A group of settlers from Pompey, New York, settled on Pompey Street in Brunswick. Dr. John Clark, Brunswick physician and businessman was lay minister. In 1876, Farnum Gibbs became the pastor. The Mount Pleasant United Brethern Church at West 130th Street at Laurel was formed in the 1870s. Norman Chidsey furnished the lumber for the church building from his farm. Reverend Baldwin and Reverend Sprinkle were two of the ministers. Over on the other side of town, at Beebetown, a Baptist Church was organized by Elder Russell Gilmore in 1826. For eight years the members held services at their own homes. At a meeting held February 22, 1834, a committee was appointed to prepare a meeting house. The men of the neighborhood build a two-story log building in 48 days and the first service was held there on April 12, 1834. In 1852, a frame building was erected and stood constant use for 54 years. In 1905, the church authorized John Wynn to raise a fund for repairs, but through his efforts, the community rallied and the present brick structure was erected. In the era of 1840-45, the Bennett's Corners Community Methodist Church was established. In March 1845, the congregation purchased a plot of land on the south side of Boston Road just east of West 130th Street from George Hurd for $100. During the early years, this church shared its minister with other Methodist congregations. In 1892, the congregation decided on a larger sanctuary building and it was dedicated October 1. The church has been remodeled and enlarged several times since then, including an educational wing. In the late 1950s, several churches were added to the growing number in Brunswick including St. Mark Lutheran Church, St. Ambrose Catholic Church, Brunswick Church of the Nazarene, Brunswick Reformed Church and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Even more congregations were formed since that time including Emmanuel Baptist Temple, First Baptist Church of Brunswick, Hadcock Road Baptist Church, People's Baptist Church, Brunswick Church of God, Jehovah's Witness, Brunswick Hills Alliance Church, Covenant Community United Church of Christ, Grace Baptist Church, Free Will Missionary Church, St. Emilian Byzantine Catholic Church and St. Collette's Catholic Church. The Music Makers of Brunswick As early as 1893 there was a Brunswick High School and Zeno L. Griner was the principal. There were only 34 students, however. Principal Jim Hayas now supervises a student population of 2,457. The first class to graduate, have commencement exercises and receive diplomas was the class of 1900 with five members. Things went downhill the next year, however – only one student graduated! In the late 1900s and early 1900s, the bands in Brunswick were community brass bands. They consisted of local talent and were rated by the number of local musicians and the elegance of their uniforms. In those days, the brass band marching down the street in the 4th of July parade and bursting forth with "Yankee Doodle" was positively the grandest sight on earth. Not even firecrackers popping at their feet could stop them on their march. And on summer evenings the band would play concerts in the bandstand located in the circle that once graced the town center. There were both a men's and women's band. It was 1921 when the first part of the high school – which is now the south house of Edwards Middle School – was built. That same year, the teaching of instrumental music began in Medina County. The Brunswick orchestra was organized in 1922. In 1935, the first band was started in the schools and on April 20, county supervisor of musical instruction, Delmar Graff, conducted the band in a contest at Berea. The fledgling instrumentalists came home with a superior rating, so winning has been a 50-year tradition. The music that the band played that day was the "Pantheon Overture" by Holmes. Members of the band – we hope some of you still remember – were Howard Dunn, Harold Chidsey, Glenn Fuller, Dorothy Cadnum, Lewis Damon, Earl Bowman, Vesta Vaughn, Lois Cadnum, Julius Miklos and Keith Cadnum. At the Brunswick Sesquicentennial Concert on February 21, 1965, director Albert Sego re-enacted that concert with the high school band. By 1947, the band had grown to 32 members. And along came the first semblance of a booster's organization. Interested parents put on a variety show to outfit the band with their first uniforms and the American Legion raffled off a steer to add to the fund. Don Parfitt was the leader of the band at that time. In 1948, Al Sego took over the leadership of the band – starting his career here which lasted some 30 years. The band is no stranger to playing for important events. In 1952, it was invited to Columbus to help celebrate the State's Sesquicentennial. Among the numbers played by the group was "Beautiful Ohio." And it was at that time a new addition was made to the marching troupe – the majorette, Shirley Capotosto was Brunswick's first. In 1958, the band played for the State Fire Convention in Akron and in 1960, it played for the opening of the new post office dedication ceremonies. Twenty five years later in 1985 history repeated itself when the band performed at the dedication of the spacious new post office on Center Road. In 1963 the Brunswick High School Band received a certificate of award in recognition of personal effort in behalf of the community from Mayor Carl Miller. That same year the band participated in two large parades in Cleveland – The Shriners and the Order of Alhambra. For many years, it regularly played at the VA Hospital in Brecksville for the recreational therapy division. The band's first of several opportunities to play for the President of the United States was during Richard Nixon's 1972 re- election campaign when the band performed along the winding parade route through Northeastern Ohio. Over the years the band performed for Ohio's governors – Michael V. DiSalle, James A. Rhodes and John Gilligan – both for campaign appearances and for official events such as the opening of Interstate 71. In 1985 the band, now under the direction of Robert Neidlinger, was invited to play in the Inaugural events in Washington for President Ronald Reagan. Though the parade was cancelled due to inclement weather, Brunswick's band played in a pre- inaugural festival and marched down Pennsylvania Avenue on its own. In 1987 the band was invited to play in the Orange Bowl Parade at Miami, Florida. For both events, community fund raisers were launched including live televised auctions. The Organizations of Brunswick The social and civic life of a community is one of its more important factors. When Brunswick was first settled there were very few opportunities for social contact – the life of a pioneer was too demanding. But as the community became established, interaction among its residents was more prevalent. Churches began to play an important role in that interaction as residents first met in homes and later in buildings which they constructed for worship. The fist mention found in local histories about other kinds of groups wasn't of a roaringly successful nature. The Sons of Temperance organized a lodge in Brunswick in 1854. But after a few years, it was disbanded. Of course, there were always the stories about drinking – it seems there were no public saloons in Brunswick, but the road to Valley City, where there were several taverns, was well worn by those who wished to imbibe. Once this farming community began to thrive, an agricultural fair was held each October. The first was held in 1858 and there were more than 200 kinds of exhibits which local folk entered. A little later, the Farmers Institute met on a regular basis each winter. It lasted for two days and was in the town hall. There were speakers on agricultural subjects and local entertainment. In the 1830's, the brothers Cornelius and Moses Sherman built a stately brick home at West 130th Street and Rout 303. It was on a farm known as "Oliver's Landing," and served as a popular meeting place of the "select" people of the era during the middle of the 19th century. In fact, a few rumors have been heard that seances were regularly held at the home. Before 1875, Home Lodge 214 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows was formed. In 1912, meeting rooms for the organization were moved to the upstairs of the new building at Routes 303 and 42 on the southeast corner. In the 1970's a building was built on Pearl Road near Grafton but the organization became dormant and members now meet with the Medina Lodge. The women's organization, the Rebekah Lodge, was formed in 1919. The Brunswick Grange was organized in 1890. About that same time, entertainment including dances, spinning bees, corn huskings, and community plays were very popular. The ladies of the town starred in such stellar productions as "13 Old Maids." The Brunswick town bands – both a men's and women's group – were favorites. The bands played in a shell at the circle in the center of town and in parades. Yearly "old settler reunions: would see hundreds of people in attendance. The town grew slowly from then until the 1950s. In those years the first 4-H club was founded with Margie Ridiker as the leader; the Chamber of Commerce was begun in 1931; the fire department organization formed in 1940; the Richard Devenport Post 234 of the American Legion was chartered in 1944 as well as its ladies' auxiliary. Also, in 1943, when all school grades were in one building, a PTA was formed. The Brunswick Garden Club activated on October 18, 1944, and the first Boy Scout Troop, 517, was chartered on February 5, 1945. During the same period, a Fellowcraft Club was active but no date was found on its founding or demise. Then came the big influx of people and with it more opportunities for all age groups to participate. The Junior League of the IOOF was founded in 1951 and members were later treated to tours of Washington, D.C. and New York. The Republican Women's Club was activated in 1954 and sports got a big boost when Little Leagues was formed in the summer of 1955. Babe Ruth followed in 1958 as did Girl Scouting here. Teens of the community found haven with the Brunswick Youth Club formed by Howard Goodyear in June 1957. It first met for dances upstairs at the town hall and later at Goodyear's Big Barn. The Jaycees were chartered on April 17, 1957. The Brunswick Lions Club, Business and Professional Women's Club and Democrat Club were all formed in 1958. That year, the Theta Rho Chapter of Rebekahs was founded for high school girls and that same year the Northern Medina County Republican Club came into existence. In 1959 the Brunswick Hills Fire Sirens were formed and the Knights of Columbus Chapter was founded here. Friends of the Brunswick Library was incorporated in January, 1960. Both the VFW Post 9520 and its auxiliary were founded in 1961 and the ladies' auxiliary of the city fire department was formed as well. The Colony Park Homeowners Association began that summer and the United Appeal of Northern Medina County got its go-ahead in May, 1961. The Brunswick Kiwanis Club was founded in December 1963. Among the favorite pastimes of girls were a number of baton twirling units. In 1960, the USTA championships were held at the high school and Judy Thiel of Brunswick took two top titles. Becky Graff of Brunswick won a twirling and flag baton award. The Brunswick Hornettes were official sponsors of the contest. Also in the 1960s the Brunswick Minstrel Show, predecessor of the Brunswick Entertainment Company, was begun. In 1960, William Eyssen was director. Interlocutor was Lou Visintainer with end men Edward Skinner, Chuck Dennison, Joe Cain and John Kokensparger. Among the singers and actors were Harold White (superintendent of the county schools), Jane Berlo, B.J. Fuller, Frank Gibson, George Vehlber, Marge Crossen, Robert Vokes, Myron Chidsey, Carol and Jack Lizotte, Don Lehman, Ann Skinner, Marjorie Raymer and Lee Marra. The event was sponsored by the PTAs. In 1961 there was just one 4-H club for girls meeting for the first time, founded by Virginia Hamm. Now there are dozens of them for all kinds of interests. In the past few years, a Rotary Club and Optimists Club have also been chartered in Brunswick. The schools have also provided a wide variety of club activities for young people in the community, all helping to make Brunswick a fine place to live.