Freedom Twp. – Local history buffs won’t want to miss the May meeting of the Freedom Township Historical Society. Historian Judy Thornton will give an informative talk about the historic barns of Freedom Township at 7 pm May 14 at the Freedom Community Center, 8940 S.R. 700. There will be a photo slideshow with 108 pictures of township barns, including a circa 1838 structure on Nichols Road that is the oldest standing barn in Freedom (pictured above).
Mrs. Thornton will share her extensive research on each barn, and anyone with photos, memories, or information about Freedom barns is invited to come and share. Refreshments will be provided. There will also be a raffle and drawing for a $50 gift certificate to S&K Sales in Garrettsville. If you need a ride, call Mrs. Thornton at (330) 527-7669.
FTHS is partnering with the First Congregational Church of Freedom during the annual Garrettsville Community Yard Sale in May. The sale will be on May 18th only (that’s a Saturday) under a white tent that will be set up on the church grounds at the intersection of S.R. 88 and 303. There will be plenty of items for sale from both FTHS and church members.
We are looking for donations of good-quality items (no clothes please) that can be dropped off on the Friday before the sale. The times for the drop-off have not been set, but you can stay posted on our Facebook group, Freedom Township: Then and Now, and at our website, https://www.freedomtwphistoricalsociety-pc.com.
Many thanks to Freedom residents David Wiley, Jane Gibson Wiley, and their grandchildren Kylie, Alex, Eve, and Miranda for their donation of a school bell for our one-room schoolhouse on S.R. 303. The approximately 27-inch bell would have been used by teachers to signal the start of the school day and the end of recess. Also, thanks to Freedom Station resident Kenneth Kristoff for his donation of an one-room schoolhouse painting. You can look at photos and videos of the items on Facebook.
