Garrettsville – The March 18, 2019 meeting of the James A. Garfield Historical Society began early, with a presentation by Mike Fath on the history and impact of the South Newbury Union Chapel, a little-known historical site to our north. He spoke of the numerous significant speakers and activists who had spoken there on topics of national as well as local interest. These included, but were not limited to, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucy Stone, as well as James R. Garfield (note : this was the son of James A.Garfield).; abolition and temperance were their principal topics, as well as women’s suffrage (Good Order of the Templars, Cold Water Army, Northern Ohio Health & Dress Reform Ass’n.). The Chapel received recognition of an Ohio Historical marker in 2010 and was placed on the National Register of Historical Places in 2012. It housed the first kindergarten in Ohio.
The regular meeting saw the announcement of Emma Chinn as the new intern for the summer. She is a student at Hiram College and will be doing general assisting in programs, preservation and materials organizing. Additional information was offered on programs for the year, schedules and topics, the first of which will be at 7:00 p.m. on April 24 at the Cellar Door in town on tombstone restoration; Find A Grave will be on May 29 in Freedom (Bring laptop). Maintenance and upkeep items rounded out the evening.
Dues are due.
