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Claridon History
This Claridon Township History Page will evolve. It's important to know our history. We gleen from history and it satisfies our curiosity. If you have information on aspects of Claridon's history in the form of pictures, documents, letters, photos or by any other means, please contact Trustee Jonathan Tiber. If you know someone from the past we can include in our "They Made A Difference" section, let us know!
Our History
Township 8 – Range 9 Asa Cowles, the Father of Claridon, purchased Lots 12, 14, 16, 17, and 20 in the Holmes Tract, about 1000 acres varying in price from $2.75 to $3.00 per acre. This was a large increase from just under $1.00 an acre in 1795. The Cowles family arrived in August 1811 and stayed in an unoccupied school house in Burton Township until a double log cabin was erected on Aquilla Road, a short distance south of Rt. 322. Other families arrived--Horace Taylor, Nathaniel Spencer, Allyn Humphrey, and Benjamin Andrews. All of these families were from Connecticut. The inhabitants during the winter of 1811 numbered 39.
Religion and education were foremost, and the double log cabin was the scene of Sunday services. By November 1811, a Sunday School was established. The First Congregational Church of Claridon was established in 1827. The building was dedicated in 1832 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Most townships were settled from east to west; Claridon (then called Canton) was the exception. In 1817, the township was incorporated as Burlington and included Munson. After 1817, families that included Mastick, Hathaway, Armstrong, Ames, Ford, Ensign, and Chace began moving into what is now known as East Claridon.
In the winter of 1819-1820, the name of the township was changed to Claridon (the origin of the name is not known) because there was another Burlington in the state of Ohio.
"This township (Claridon) was formerly incorporated with Burton, but has gained the local name of Canton, In 1817 it was incorporated as Burlington township, and included No.8, eighth range, now known as Munson. On the first Monday of April, the same year, the election for township officers was held at the house of Deacon A. Kellogg, and resulted in the election of Ralph Cowles, as township clerk; Asa Cowles, Allen Humphrey, and Reuben Hall, trustees: Horace Taylor an Timothy Wells, overseers of the poor; Benjamin Andrews and Aranda Kellogg, fence viewers; Truman Pitkin, lister and appraiser; Isaac Hoff, John Ransom, Martin Bushnell, Ozi Blakeslee, Ebenezer Wells, Simon Root, and Samuel Hopson, supervisors; Ozi Blakeslee, justice of the peace.
In the sprint of 1819 a post-office was established in this township under the name of Claridon, to avoid the difficulty of miscarriage of mail matter, as there was another Burlington post-office in the State. In the winter of 1819-20 the name of the township was change to Claridon." History of Geauga County, Ohio
Religion and education were foremost, and the double log cabin was the scene of Sunday services. By November 1811, a Sunday School was established. The First Congregational Church of Claridon was established in 1827. The building was dedicated in 1832 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Most townships were settled from east to west; Claridon (then called Canton) was the exception. In 1817, the township was incorporated as Burlington and included Munson. After 1817, families that included Mastick, Hathaway, Armstrong, Ames, Ford, Ensign, and Chace began moving into what is now known as East Claridon.
In the winter of 1819-1820, the name of the township was changed to Claridon (the origin of the name is not known) because there was another Burlington in the state of Ohio.
"This township (Claridon) was formerly incorporated with Burton, but has gained the local name of Canton, In 1817 it was incorporated as Burlington township, and included No.8, eighth range, now known as Munson. On the first Monday of April, the same year, the election for township officers was held at the house of Deacon A. Kellogg, and resulted in the election of Ralph Cowles, as township clerk; Asa Cowles, Allen Humphrey, and Reuben Hall, trustees: Horace Taylor an Timothy Wells, overseers of the poor; Benjamin Andrews and Aranda Kellogg, fence viewers; Truman Pitkin, lister and appraiser; Isaac Hoff, John Ransom, Martin Bushnell, Ozi Blakeslee, Ebenezer Wells, Simon Root, and Samuel Hopson, supervisors; Ozi Blakeslee, justice of the peace.
In the sprint of 1819 a post-office was established in this township under the name of Claridon, to avoid the difficulty of miscarriage of mail matter, as there was another Burlington post-office in the State. In the winter of 1819-20 the name of the township was change to Claridon." History of Geauga County, Ohio
They Made A Difference
We remember...
(Click on the picture)
Jeannette "Teeter" Grosvenor
The Claridon Town Hall
During a meeting on April 17, 1885, the trustees of Claridon Township, realizing the need of a place for holding elections, public meetings, and other functions, agreed to place a levy of 2 mills on the taxable property of Claridon for the purpose of building a town hall. On June 1, the contract was given to Barnes and Derrett, with the understanding that it be an exact duplicate of the town hall which they had built in Hambden at a cost of $1,375.00. The hall was to be located on the corner of the park where the Methodist church had stood before it was moved to East Claridon in 1867. Two hundred chairs were bought to be used in the hall. Trustees awarding the contract were S.M. Chase, L.T. Wilmot, and H.T. Douglas.
On June 13, 1941, citizens delegated from the Claridon Civic Club met with the trustees, requesting that they excavate and construct a basement under the hall for a kitchen and dining room. There were funds in the treasury to pay the cost of such a program, and contracts were awarded to Lewis McClintock, Robert Sidley, and Ralph Scovill. Trustees awarding these contracts were A.C. Stillwell, H.E. Krum, and J.J Baptie. The dining room was large enough to seat 110. As an extra precaution and to insure a supply of water in case of fire, eave spouts were placed on the hall to drain into a large nearby cistern.
On June 13, 1941, citizens delegated from the Claridon Civic Club met with the trustees, requesting that they excavate and construct a basement under the hall for a kitchen and dining room. There were funds in the treasury to pay the cost of such a program, and contracts were awarded to Lewis McClintock, Robert Sidley, and Ralph Scovill. Trustees awarding these contracts were A.C. Stillwell, H.E. Krum, and J.J Baptie. The dining room was large enough to seat 110. As an extra precaution and to insure a supply of water in case of fire, eave spouts were placed on the hall to drain into a large nearby cistern.