Freedom Twp. – The Freedom Township Historical Society was privileged to host Ohio Rep. Diane Grendell and her husband, Judge Tim Grendell, at our one-room schoolhouse on Aug. 21. The Grendells came to learn about our project to restore the former school and church on S.R. 303 for use as a community meeting place and museum, and they were very impressed by the work of our volunteers. They particularly praised the beautiful drywall finish done by Rich Knerem, Charles Duffield, and other volunteers.
If you would like to see the schoolhouse for yourself, you can take a tour during the Freedom Fall Festival from 10 am to 4 pm Sept. 28. The festival will take place at Freedom Center. The schoolhouse is just down the road at 7276 S.R. 303.
In addition to the schoolhouse tours, this year’s event will include a Civil War camp, a craft show and fall decorations for sale, Oscar’s Country store, and a halo making station. We’re adding several new attractions this year including cloggers, singers from The First Congregational Church of Freedom, a K-9 demonstration, free health screenings from UH Portage, and an Elvis impersonator. Also, you can buy a square for our first-ever cow-chip bingo contest with a Freedom born-and-bred Holstein named Daisy. The contest will take place from 1 pm to 3 pm on the green right next to the town hall (for more information about the contest and the complete rules, visit http://www.freedomtwphistoricalsociety-pc.com/). The grand prize will be up to $500 and the proceeds will benefit FTHS and the Freedom Community and Park Boosters.
The Freedom Township Historical Society will host local historian Scott Lawless at 7 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Freedom Community Center, 8940 S.R. 700. Mr. Lawless will share photos and information from his extensive research on the former home dairies in the Garrettsville, Freedom, and Hiram area from 1910 through 1966. Mr. Lawless’ passion for local history began when he found a milk bottle as a child, and he wrote a book about the subject titled “Where’s My Milkman?,” which he donated to local historical societies, including FTHS. The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided. If you need a ride, call Judy Thornton at (330) 527-7669.
On Sept. 10, we will be selling copies of Deral White’s book on Freedom Township history. Mr. White graciously allowed the society to re-publish the book, which is a treasure trove of historical information, drawings, and photos. The proceeds will benefit our one-room schoolhouse renovation.
Around 130 people attended our August program featuring river history expert Dan Back, who gave a fascinating presentation on Ohio’s historic canals. Thanks to FTHS Treasurer and Historian Judy Thornton and FTHS member Claudia Kennedy for organizing the event. Also, thank you to the Shalersville trustees for allowing us to use their town hall as a venue, and thanks to the Shalersville Historical Society for co-hosting the event and to Museum Curator Judy Richardson for all her assistance.
