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from mayor don plusquellic welcome to the history of akron s great neighborhoods it s one reason why judges from the national civic league named us an all america city in june 2008 akron s first neighborhood was at middlebury near the intersection of the little cuyahoga river and what is today case avenue in 1811 two settlers traveled for three months to make the journey from the east paul williams raised his family in a farmhouse where broadway and buchtel intersect in downtown akron today and major miner spicer built his farmhouse in what is today s university park neighborhood german immigrants arrived later built a church st.bernard s and a neighborhood later called gooosetown in today s south akron the first african americans ­ either released from slavery by their masters or traveling the underground railroad away from their masters ­ settled in what we call the cascade valley today near martin luther king boulevard along the way we became known as a bastion of abolition women s rights temperance the birthplace of alcoholics anonymous and a 19th century powerhouse that drove movements in business labor and education reform in 2006 akron s first history trails project involved more than 8,000 people as they helped us celebrate the 75th anniversary of some of akron s landmark buildings in 2007 that number increased to almost 15,000 who walked the trails marked by monuments and historic icons of industry and culture participants received stamps in their passports with the challenge of getting a stamp for each historic site they visited those who completed the passport received valuable history-related prizes this year you can obtain stamps in the passport printed on the back cover of this book more important this is a guide to learning how akron s great neighborhoods have developed and grown and how they sustain our residents today in may 2008 akron was named to the list of the 100 best places to raise a family by best life magazine and the only ohio city to rank in the top 50 in december 2007 the author of places rated almanac placed akron as 5th in the country of where to educate your children in a top-20 list published in forbes magazine use this guide to take your children on a tour of akron in ways they may have never seen our city before and if you can bring a grandparent aunt or uncle along ­ so much the better after all we re celebrating the 6th generation of our success table of contents akron s first neighborhoods 2 cultural enclaves 3 famous people 4 neighborhood flavor 5 local architecture 6 bibliography 7 historic neighborhoods area map 8 cascade valley 9 chapel hill rolling acres 10 downtown akron 11 east akron 12 ellet 13 fairlawn heights 14 firestone park 15 goodyear heights 16 highland square 17 kenmore 18 lane-wooster 19 merriman valley 20 middlebury 21 north hill 22 northwest akron 23 south akron 24 summit lake 25 university park 26 wallhaven 27 west akron 28 don plusquellic mayor of akron front cover image hurlburt avenue in highland square ca 1912 opposite top young s hotel in kenmore opposite rotaynah sculpture by peter toth in northwest akron.

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akron history trails akron s first neighborhoods akron history trails cultural enclaves a kron s earliest neighborhoods grew up around the natural resources that provided opportunities for industry such as deposits of coal and clay along with rivers and streams that could provide the power needed for milling when the canals were built through akron they not only provided an important means of transportation but also promised a steady stream of customers for businesses like taverns hotels and general stores residents in these early neighborhoods generally lived within walking distance to work that changed in the late 1800s as trolley lines and bridges spanned hills and valleys allowing for the formation of new neighborhoods further from the industrial centers around wwi as the rubber industry thrived and akron became the fastest growing city in the nation more neighborhoods sprung up some to house the newly arrived workers and others to provide an escape from the noise and dirt of the factories for executives akron s most recent neighborhoods formed in the 1960s and 1970s as shopping malls and other commercial development promised easy access to goods and services outside the downtown area i mmigrants who came to the united states seeking a better life found plenty of economic opportunity in akron early in akron s history the irish came to help build the canals italians settled in the north hill area making their marks in the stone masonry in some of akron s most distinctive buildings as well as in the food served up at some of the most popular restaurants germans came and built empires of oatmeal and beer many of them living in south akron s goosetown area while a relatively small immigrant population the welsh who mined the area s coal formed their own little enclaves within larger neighborhoods such as thomastown in east akron greek immigrants opened confectionaries and other shops at five points and a few of akron s larger potato chip factories were owned by lebanese immigrants akron also drew residents from elsewhere in the united states from the connecticut yankees who opened the area for development to the west virginians and southerners who migrated here seeking work in the rubber industries 2 top howard street looking up north hill ca 1908 bottom kenmore blvd looking east toward manchester rd in kenmore ca 1910 top twin coach headed for the thomastown district in east akron 3

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akron history trails famous people a akron history trails:neighborhood flavor specialties or american fare while those with a taste for barbecue can head over to arnold s rib house on north hill among downtown s many dining options are the house of hunan offering the akron roll and kd s bistro northside which serves up southern classics other hearty meals are available at duffy s restaurant in ellet for dessert one can choose from the frozen custard at strickland s in ellet ice cream at mary coyle s in highland square or the chocolate treats at ken stewart s grille in wallhaven kron s eating establishments are known across northeast ohio and reflect the diverse traditions and tastes of its residents east akron s new era restaurant offers eastern european-style dishes including its signature chicken paprikash homemade italian fare can be found around the city at establishments like kenmore s casa mia north hill s dontino s restaurant or papa joe s in merriman valley customers at gus s chalet in chapel hill can choose from greek a kron neighborhoods have been home to their fair share of famous residents firestone high school alumni include astronaut judith resnick csi:ny star melina kanakaredes and rocker and now restaurateur chrissie hynde who opened the vegiterranean in the northside lofts last year lane-wooster was the birthplace of pulitzerprize winning poet rita dove whose father ray dove became the first african american chemist for goodyear before playing for the cleveland cavaliers lebron james spent part of his childhood in west akron and attended st vincent-st mary high school in cascade valley cascade valley is also the birthplace of retired broadcaster hugh downs of the today show and 20/20 fame middlebury was the birthplace of country singer-songwriter david allan coe best known to some for the memorable lyrics of take this job and shove it olympic gold and silver-medal-winning sprinter harry butch reynolds is a native of south akron and a 1983 graduate of the neighborhood s archbishop hoban high school country music hall of famer louis marshall jones or grandpa jones known to many from the 1970s television variety show hee haw grew up in akron s highland square neighborhood attending west high school top nba star lebron james inset actress melina kanakaredes left rocker chrissie hynde 4 4 inset a treat from mary coyle s in highland square bottom original swensons restaurant in wallhaven 5

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akron history trails local architecture a historic neighborhoods bibliography kron has a rich diversity of architectural styles the summit county historical society s 1982 book rehab akron identifies examples of eight styles of houses popular from 1870 to 1930 some of which are shown here among the few surviving pre-civil war pre 1861 houses are the richard howe house which stood at the corner of east exchange and south high streets for 172 years in june 2008 it was re-located to the corner of west exchange and water streets to become headquarters of the ohio erie canalway coalition the perkins stone mansion at the corner of south portage path and copley road and the john brown house at the corner of copley and diagonal roads which has been considerably altered also predate the civil war t wo individual houses deserve special mention at 60 fir hill university park is the second empire italianate house formerly occupied by the hower family and now owned by the university of akron frank and gertrude seiberling s magnificent residence stan hywet hall at 714 north portage path northwest akron is akron s only residence identified as a national historic landmark one of akron s residential districts appears on the national register of historic places the hall park allotment historic district highland square top illustration of a bungalow from rehab akron left illustration of a queen anne style home from rehab akron below goodyear heights bungalow ca 1921 akron history trails bibliography books collections available at the akron-summit county public library city of akron dept of urban planning and development akron historic landmark survey gardner richard memories of ellet grismer karl h akron and summit county kaplan helga century of adjustment a history of the akron jewish community 1865-1975 lane samuel fifty years and over of akron and summit county lewis clarice finely a history of firestone park love steve wheels of fortune the story of rubber in akron mcclain shirla the contributions of blacks in akron musarra russ walks around akron rediscovering a city in transition regional church planning office the church in akron special collections division akron-summit county public library local music collection special collections division akron-summit county public library neighborhood history project collection summit county historical society rehab akron history of akron summit county www.akronhistory.org highland square website www.highlandsquare.org city of akron history http ci.akron.oh.us/history/index.htm kenmore historical society www.kenmorehistorical.org akron-summit countypublic library local history database www.akronlibrary.org/dbs/speccolldbo/default.aspx north hill akron website www.northhillakron.org summit memory project www.summitmemory.org shirla mcclain s the contributions of blacks in akron www.akronlibrary.org/internetresources/sc/onlinebooks/onlinebks.html websites 6 top perkins stone mansion in west akron 7

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akron history trails area map historic neighborhoods cascade valley cascad e vall ey this neighborhood just north of downtown lies under the all-america bridge in the valley of the little cuyahoga river it developed around the ohio erie canal and the milling industry including oatmeal king ferdinand schumacher s cascade mills in 1940 akron s first major public housing development was built here elizabeth park homes in 2004 amha demolished 124 units and with a hope vi grant from the federal government community builders inc erected 242 new rental units and 27 for-sale homes with a value of over $60 million other neighborhood landmarks include cascade locks historic district the cuyahoga valley scenic railroad elizabeth park which was developed after the city received a donation of land from frank mason in 1912 and is named for mason s daughter and the akron metropolitan housing association s elizabeth park homes built in 1940 top cascade valley inset cascade mills bottom the mustill store as it appears today cascade valley is also home to well-known restaurants luigi s and veggiterranean to the northside lofts cascade village and hickory street residential developments and to several art galleries that are featured in art walks held each month passport stamp location mustill store 248 ferndale street akron ohio 44304 phone 330 374-5625 www.cascadelocks.org hours sat and sun 10:00 a.m ­ 5:00 p.m university park 8 8 9

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historic neighborhoods chapel hill/rolling acres while not officially neighborhoods these residential areas cropped up along the edges of akron when shopping malls were developed there in the 1960s and 1970s chapel hill mall is the result of the vision of the buchholzer family julius johannes jj buchholzer owned hower s department store in east akron anticipating the city s growth the buchholzers felt their farmland in northeast akron would be a great location for another hower s store plans expanded and in 1965 jj s son richard buchholzer and forest city enterprises began construction of the chapel hill mall at the corner of howe avenue and brittain road the mall opened on october 12 1967 renovations in 1994 and 1995 included new floors and lighting and the addition of a full-size carousel and fountain chattanooga tennessee firm cbl associates properties inc purchased the mall in 2004 rolling acres mall in southwest akron on romig road was developed in 1975 also by buchholzer and forest city bordered by greenlawn cemetery on the south a small development of housing on romig road was built in the 1980s without adequate expressway access mall stores began to fail and its uses continue to evolve mud run golf course to the east opened in 2003 by the city of akron is the finest first tee course for youth in the u.s soon new housing will be developed around the golf course the romig road corridor is becoming home to light industrial and warehouse concerns historic neighborhoods downtown passport stamp locations mr bulky s foods 434 howe avenue cuyahoga falls ohio 44221 phone 330 928-5966 hours monday-saturday 10:00 a.m ­ 8:00 p.m sunday 12:00 ­ 5:00 p.m rolling acres ­ mud run golf course clubhouse 2000 south hawkins avenue akron ohio 44314 phone 330 375-2728 hours everyday 7:00 a.m ­ 7:00 p.m season weather permitting call ahead if in doubt inset jj buchholzer in 1934 below the carousel at chapel hill mall the town of akron was founded in 1825 on land owned by general simon perkins and paul williams whose family was the only one living within its boundaries the town was a square plot with 302 numbered parcels and a public square that came to be known as perkins square at the center the square is located in front of children s hospital medical center of akron today and contains historical markers of the original akron the canal was routed through the new town on a north-south axis and through two canal basins in the southeast corner of akron near present-day main street and canal place akron completed the first of its many additions in 1836 joining with the town to the north which was founded as cascade and later known as north akron it became a city in 1865 and continued to expand in all directions particularly in the early decades of the 1900s today a number of akron s historical structures have been adapted for new uses and coexist nicely with more recent additions to the skyline fewer than 500 people reside in downtown ­ at the landings and townhomes at canal park the northside lofts and townhomes and the apartments at canal square in 2008 a development of 435 units for university students will open on main street between exchange and cedar and 77 units are being built adjacent to the civic theatre passport stamp location akron-summit county public library main library special collections div 60 south high street akron ohio 44326 phone 330 643-9030 hours monday-thursday 9:00 a.m ­ 9:00 p.m friday 9:00 a.m ­ 6:00 p.m saturday 9:00 a.m ­ 5:00 p.m sunday 1:00 p.m 5:00 p.m 10 10 above family fun at lock 3 park inset akron savings loan building ca 1919 11

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historic neighborhoods east akron historic neighborhoods ellet in the southeast corner of the akron central interchange lies east akron a neighborhood of nearly 14,000 people welsh immigrants settled here in the thomastown area to work the coal mines following the civil war european immigrants flocked to akron in the early 20th century prompting 600 church women to establish the akron missionary union akron s only settlement house in this neighborhood in 1911 the union later served appalachians arriving in the 1940s and 1950s and became the east akron community house each still the hub of the community each now sits at the corner of south arlington street and mckinley avenue and provides programs that empower the neighborhood to solve its problems the city of akron and groups like the east akron neighborhood development corp have worked to build and rehabilitate houses in the area in 2004 the neighborhood s first fullservice grocery store in over a decade dave s supermarket opened its doors the goodyear akron riverwalk project a plan to create a new corporate headquarters for goodyear will bring additional retail restaurant and lodging facilities to east akron located in akron s southeast corner ellet still has the feel of a small town with neat houses well-paved streets and tree-shaded sidewalks it was originally the northwest corner of springfield township and was known as north springfield or springfield center in 1918 it was named after prominent townsman david ellet whose daughter minnie became known for her saloon-busting antics post-war rubber workers in search of housing moved to ellet transforming its rural farmland into a city neighborhood needing city services residents petitioned for annexation to akron and received it in 1929 ellet is a conservative working-class neighborhood built around home and family that has kept up with the times revitalized by new housing development and new families its population has grown without falling victim to over-commercialization among ellet s landmarks are derby downs the rubber bowl the airdock akron fulton international airport strickland s frozen custard stand and eastgate plaza which opened in the 1950s as one of akron s first strip plazas and remains a hub of neighborhood commerce passport stamp location ellet community center 2449 wedgewood drive akron ohio 44312 phone 330 375-2809 hours monday-friday 9:00 a.m ­ 4:00 p.m passport stamp location east akron cemetery 1135 east market street akron ohio 44305 phone 330 784-7238 hours monday friday 9:00 a.m ­ 5:00 p.m saturdays by appointment 12 top east akron flood ca.1913 inset east akron athletic clubhouse opposite top ellet community center opposite inset minnie ellet opposite bottom a modern soap box derby racer 13

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historic neighborhoods fairlawn heights historic neighborhoods firestone park located in northwest akron fairlawn heights owes its development to frank a seiberling co-founder of the goodyear tire rubber company shortly after developing goodyear heights in east akron and while constructing his estate stan hywet seiberling purchased land in west akron with specific plans in mind in 1915 seiberling established the fairlawn heights company to design the development he selected renowned landscape architect warren h manning of boston the same architect who had worked on goodyear heights and stan hywet although most of the allotment was south of west market street it also included the fairlawn heights golf club now the fairlawn country club which opened in 1919 and lots near the golf club fairlawn heights has not changed much from seiberling s original concept the area was annexed by the city of akron in 1932 but its residents continue to enjoy what has often been described as country living in a city setting in 1915 the firestone tire and rubber company purchased 1,000 acres of farmland just south and southeast of the factory located near the intersection of south main street and cole avenue the purchase was part of a plan by harvey s firestone to provide housing for employees of the rubber factory the same year that section of coventry township was annexed to akron within a year 600 homes of 23 designs had been constructed upon the former farmland with managers and workers alike choosing to build here today the entire neighborhood is considered a historic landmark along with its firestone county club firestone stadium harvey s firestone memorial and research center and bridgestone firestone akron technical center passport stamp location akron-summit county public library firestone park branch library 1486 aster avenue akron ohio 44301 phone 330 724-2126 hours monday-thursday 10:00 a.m ­ 8:30 p.m friday 12:00 ­ 6:00 p.m saturday 10:00 a.m ­ 5:00 p.m sunday closed passport stamp location west side bakery 2303 west market street akron ohio 44313 phone 330 836-4101 www.thewestsidebakery.com hours monday-friday 7:00 a.m ­ 7:00 p.m saturday 8:00 a.m ­ 5:00 p.m firestone hired landscape architect alling deforest from rochester new york who had previously worked on his harbel manor estate on west market street to work on the new neighborhood deforest designed the community around a public park shaped like the original firestone shield emblem included in the plans were a community center churches schools and businesses top spring trees in firestone park inset harvey s firestone bottom historic homes in firestone park 15 14 top home in fairlawn heights right frank a seiberling.

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historic neighborhoods goodyear heights historic neighborhoods highland square goodyear president frank a seiberling developed goodyear heights which lies north and east of the goodyear tire rubber co complex as convenient comfortable and affordable housing for company employees the project began in 1913 and progressed in three phases to meet the increasing housing demand during the world war i period when akron was the fastest growing city in the united states its population jumping from 69,000 in 1910 to 208,000 in 1920 seiberling employed noted boston landscape architect warren h manning who was also working on his west akron estate stan hywet to design goodyear heights seiberling also hired the new york architectural firm of mann and mcneille to design a variety of house plans from which buyers could choose buyers supplying their own plans had to submit them for review goodyear employees could acquire lots and houses at cost with a variety of favorable payment plans the project was so successful that by 1920 the heights had over 4,000 residents passport stamp location akron-summit county public library goodyear heights branch library 60 goodyear boulevard akron ohio 44305-4487 phone 330 784-7522 hours monday-thursday 10:00 a.m ­ 8:30 p.m friday 12:00 ­ 6:00 p.m saturday 10:00 a.m ­ 5:00 p.m sunday closed highland square like northwest akron developed as a residential neighborhood for akron industrial leaders who moved from the fir hill area to escape the noise and pollution of the nearby rubber factories as akron s population began to soar in the early 1900s the fine homes of the neighborhood were joined by upscale apartment buildings when wealthy industrialists later moved further west some of the homes they left behind were torn down to make way for businesses or were converted into apartments the 1950s and 1960s marked a decline for the neighborhood but by the mid­1970s a historic preservation movement brought renewed interest and energy to the area today the efforts are continued by the highland square neighborhood association an active coalition of residents and business owners working to revitalize the area and help build a strong community through events such as art in the square and holidays in the square among the neighborhood s many wellknown sites are the tangier restaurant cabaret mary coyle ice cream parlor and restaurant the highland theater temple israel and dr bob s house former home of the co-founder of alcoholics anonymous passport stamp location akron-summit county public library highland square branch library 807 west market street akron ohio 44303-1010 phone 330 376-2927 hours monday-thursday 10:00 a.m ­ 8:30 p.m friday 12:00 ­ 6:00 p.m saturday 10:00 a.m ­ 5:00 p.m sunday closed 16 top goodyear heights metro park bottom goodyear heights bungalow top west hill hardware ca 1947 inset home on west market street ca 1900 17

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historic neighborhoods university park kenmore historic neighborhoods lane-wooster historic neighborhoods wallhaven kenmore s first white settlers arrived in the early 1800s building sawmills gristmills and a glass factory near nesmith lake the ohio erie canal and the southern terminus of the portage path homebuilding skyrocketed in the neighborhood in the late 1800s after the northern ohio traction light co n.o.t l interurban railway came through town providing easy transportation between the neighborhood and downtown akron the akron realty co bought land along kenmore boulevard the right of way for a new trolley line between akron and barberton and began building homes for akron s rubber workers in 1901 kenmore incorporated as a village in 1908 and was originally part of coventry township like akron as a whole the area experienced a large growth in population between 1910 and 1920 and became a city in 1922 it was annexed to the city of akron in 1928 kenmore is celebrating its centennial anniversary this year for more information on the history of the neighborhood historic photographs and centennial events visit the website of the kenmore historical society at www.kenmorehistorical.org 18 many urban neighborhoods witnessed the closing of schools and businesses the neighborhood has seen a renaissance over the last decade including the following projects the new lane field athletic complex miller south school for the performing arts the odom branch of the akron-summit county public library the akron-canton regional foodbank the helen arnold community learning center and the new offices of the akron urban league the akron zoo has invested $19 million in new attractions and amha is building 172 modern public housing units as part of the $80 million edgewood homes development this neighborhood gets its name from samuel a lane who was mayor of akron from 18811882 and wooster avenue now called odom boulevard which forms part of its northern boundary passport stamp location akron-summit county public library kenmore branch library 2200 14th street southwest akron ohio 44314-2302 phone 330 745-6126 hours monday-thursday 10:00 a.m ­ 8:30 p.m friday 12:00 ­ 6:00 p.m saturday 10:00 a.m ­ 5:00 p.m sunday closed in the early 19th century wooster avenue was rural jewish families began arriving to the neighborhood by the 1890s by 1920 it had the largest concentration of jews in akron with at least three synagogues and many jewish-owned businesses many jews moved west in the 1930s and 1940s as the copley road area developed around the same time african americans who had moved from the south to work in the rubber industry purchased homes and established businesses here for several days in july 1968 racial disturbances rocked the city for some this marked the beginning of the area s decline as it like so top lane field playground inset akron mayor and historian samuel a lane passport stamp location akron-summit county public library odom boulevard branch library 600 vernon odom boulevard akron ohio 44307-1828 phone 330 434-8726 hours monday-thursday 10:00 a.m ­ 8:30 p.m friday 12:00 ­ 6:00 p.m saturday 10:00 a.m ­ 5:00 p.m sunday closed top gazebo in kenmore s shadyside park inset young s hotel opened in 1850 on the southeast shore of nesmith lake near manchester road 19

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historic neighborhoods merriman valley historic neighborhoods middlebury middlebury developed around a mill built by joseph hart on land that he purchased in 1807 when akron was being platted in 1825 middlebury was already a thriving commercial center after the ohio erie canal came through akron entrepreneur dr eliakim crosby developed a millrace or channel connecting middlebury to lock 5 the pennsylvania ohio canal promised more opportunity but in 1835 the decision was made to route through akron rather than middlebury middlebury was annexed to akron in 1872 becoming the sixth ward streets,which is home to both the akron fire department museum and a small fountain showing two children frolicking in a spray of water current developments include middlebury market with a full service grocery and additional service and retail establishments and the new mason community learning center which combines the elementary school with a city of akron community center akron fire history exhibit akron fire station #2 952 east exchange street akron ohio 44302 phone 330 375-2345 mayor s office hours daily 1:00 p.m ­ 5:00 p.m passport stamp location the merriman valley neighborhood also called simply the valley was originally known as old portage because it marked the beginning of the eight-mile portage path between the cuyahoga and tuscarawas rivers on which native americans would portage or carry their canoes three present-day markers of the portage path are clearly visible at the intersection of merriman and akron-peninsula roads a bronze statute of a native american carrying a canoe a bronze plaque attached to a large granite boulder and one of the 50 cast bronze broadblade trail markers that mark the path along its eight miles through akron a much older sign of the area s native american heritage stands at the southern tip of the neighborhood in the chuckery area of cascade valley park the 300-year-old signal tree a burr oak with branches bent to resemble two arms bent upward at the elbow that served as a trail marker commercial development of the area began around 1959 and young professionals quickly filled the apartment buildings and condominiums built here in the early 1970s the valley is now filled with specialty shops restaurants and other businesses and is home to the weathervane community playhouse neighborhood landmarks include goodyear tire rubber co remembrance sculpture gazebo and park and fire station #2 at the intersection of east exchange and market passport stamp location freshway market 1496 north portage path akron ohio 44313 phone 330 836-3328 hours monday-saturday 8:00 a.m ­ 8:00 p.m sunday 9:00 a.m ­ 8:00 p.m 20 top along the towpath trail inset one of the 50 bronze markers for the portage path inset dr eliakim crosby bottom the fountain at fire station #2 21

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historic neighborhoods north hill historic neighborhoods northwest akron the development of the north hill neighborhood began soon after the akron traction co extended its trolley line up north howard street in 1891 finally making the steep hill on the north side of the little cuyahoga river navigable the neighborhood got an even bigger boost on october 12 1922 when the north hill viaduct opened providing a more convenient connection to downtown akron north hill became home to many of akron s immigrants at the time especially those from italy and poland their influence can still be felt today at neighborhood sites such as devitis italian market deli emidio sons italian restaurant the italian center the polishamerican club and the international institute which continues to provide services and courses for immigrants who call akron home other neighborhood landmarks include the masonic temple building st thomas hospital swenson s #2 and waters park when the viaduct was closed due to deterioration in 1977 some businesses in the neighborhood s temple square district closed but the opening of the y-shaped all-america bridge in 1981 has sparked a business revival northwest akron became home to a number of rubber executives seeking to escape the noise smell and dirt of central akron s rubber factories harvey firestone goodyear cofounder charles w seiberling and m o neil co department store founder and general tire president michael o neil all chose to build along west market street passport stamp location devitis italian market 560 east tallmadge avenue akron ohio 44310 phone 330 535-2626 www.devitis.com hours monday saturday 8:30 a.m.6:00 p.m ­ sunday 9:00 a.m ­ 1:00 p.m perhaps the most famous of these houses of rubber is f.a seiberling s stan hywet hall built in 1915 with grounds designed by boston landscape architect warren h manning who also worked on seiberling s goodyear heights and fairlawn heights developments other homes in the area have been adapted for other uses or razed such as harvey har and idabelle bel firestone s harbel manor but stan hywet has been preserved as a historic home museum other neighborhood landmarks include the portage county club and the rotaynah indian sculpture created by hungarian-born artist and former akron resident peter toth in 1985 sculpted out of a huge red oak rotaynah weighs 17 tons and measures 36 feet tall stands it stands in front of akron s fairlawn elementary school and is the 51st in toth s trail of the whispering giants series of american indian figures throughout the united states and canada passport stamp location akron-summit county public library northwest akron branch library 1720 shatto avenue akron ohio 44313 phone 330 836-1081 hours monday-thursday 10:00 a.m ­ 8:30 p.m friday 12:00 ­ 6:00 p.m saturday 10:00 a.m ­ 5:00 p.m sunday closed 22 top postcard image of the north hill viaduct inset the viaduct opposite top stan hywet hall gardens former home of the seiberlings opposite bottom firestone s harbel manor 23

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historic neighborhoods south akron historic neighborhoods summitlake located south of downtown and university park the neighborhood of south akron is bordered by i-76 on the north and i-77on the east south akron developed in the 1880s with the arrival of immigrants from germany and europe s slavic countries the area s business district was centered around present-day south and grant streets this neighborhood to the dismay of many of its residents became known as goosetown most of the area within this neighborhood joined the city of akron as part of the 1900 annexation in the early decades of the 1900s its boardinghouses were home to many of those who flocked to the area to find work in the rubber factories including a young clark gable the neighborhood s landmarks include the shiloh baptist church and the jenota club and it has an asian influence around brown street and lovers lane thanks to the arrival of immigrants from vietnam cambodia and laos during the last 30 years a natural lake summit lake predates the glacial age it has served the akron community in a variety of ways over the years when the ohio erie canal was constructed the lake held a floating towpath along the eastern shore to provide footing for the mules towing the boats in the late 19th century it was a source for akron s water supply and became home to two amusement parks lakeside park on the east and summit lake park also known as beerside because it served alcohol on the west in 1917 summit beach park was established complete with a dance hall swimming pool and rides until it closed in 1959 it welcomed many company picnics family outings and couples who danced to the sounds of the big bands after the closing of summit beach akron metropolitan housing constructed public housing on the site today s residents are served by the summit lake community center and the city s george sisler baseball field at summit lake park passport stamp location summit lake community center 380 west crosier street akron ohio 44311 phone 330 375-2826 hours monday tuesday 9:00 a.m ­ 9:00 p.m wednesday thursday 9:00 a.m ­ 8:00 p.m friday 9:00 a.m ­ 6:30 p.m passport stamp location fire station #4 25 east thornton street akron oh 44311 phone 330 375-2345 mayor s office hours daily 1 p.m ­ 5 p.m 24 top burkhardt brewery ca 1880 inset south akron awning co in 1927 top sunrise on summit lake bottom lakeside park 25

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historic neighborhoods university park historic neighborhoods wallhaven located between downtown and middlebury university park encompasses the university of akron and adjoining areas to the north east and south the neighborhood was called spicertown after being settled by the miner spicer family in 1811 and was annexed by the city of akron in 1865 during the late 19th and early 20th centuries it was home to businessmen like harvey s firestone frank a seiberling and john h hower the firestones and seiberlings moved to the west side in the 1910s the howers remained and their victorian mansion is now a museum the institution known as the university of akron began in 1870 when the ohio universalist convention founded buchtel college naming it after akron industrialist and benefactor john r buchtel buchtel college was converted into the municipal university of akron in 1913 and then into a state university in 1967 since 2000 the new landscape for learning renovation campaign has transformed the university campus meanwhile a 50block area surrounding the campus is being revitalized through the university park alliance find out more at www.upakron.com 26 until the 1930s the area now known as wallhaven was considered the western edge of the city beyond this the streets were dirt and beyond that were mostly farms around 1919 a young real estate developer named e c wall acquired property in this area and built a service station as the area developed wall saw the opportunity for new businesses and built the hotel wallhaven a 19-room inn that featured a restaurant pharmacy barbershop and gas station by 1934 the hotel was joined by swenson s drive-in during the years following world war ii this neighborhood witnessed rapid development including the construction of westgate plaza and new developments of modest cape and ranch style homes this thriving and diverse residential community is served by numerous retail businesses including west point market which was established at that location in 1941 central to the neighborhood is hardesty park a meeting place for neighborhood families as well as the site of the akron arts expo each summer passport stamp location hower house 60 fir hill the university of akron akron ohio 44325-2401 phone 330 972-6909 www3.uakron.edu/howerhse hours wednesday-saturday 12:00 ­ 3:30 p.m sunday 1:00 ­ 4:00 p.m closed during the month of january admission $6.00 adults $5.00 senior citizens 65 and older $2.00 student and children with anyone under six free free parking opposite top arts expo at hardesty park opposite inset west point market opposite bottom the wall hotel passport stamp location west point market 1711 west market street akron ohio 44313 phone 330 864-2151 www.westpointmarket.com hours monday-saturday 8:00 a.m ­ 7:00 p.m sunday 10:00 a.m ­ 5:00 p.m top buchtel college observatory inset hower house ca 1871 27

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historic neighborhoods west akron historic neighborhoods west akron in 1832 col simon perkins son of akron co-founder gen simon perkins purchased land west of akron three years later he and his wife grace ingersoll todd moved into a farm house at the present-day intersection of diagonal and copley roads and set about building a stone mansion on a hill overlooking akron their farm house was later inhabited by abolitionist john brown and their mansion is the perkins stone mansion both sites are presently owned and operated by the summit county historical society perkins hill the area around the mansion became home to some of the akron s top executives around the turn of the 20th century in addition to building homes here they also established the city s first golf club using the john brown house as a clubhouse one of the mansions built during this time was this of b.f goodrich president bertram g that time was that of b.f goodrich president bertram g work the work the structure is now home to the akron structure city club and the akwoman sis now home toits coach house ron woman s city club and its coach house theatre other west akron landmarks include theatre other west akron landmarks include the akron metropolitan housing authority s the akron metropolitan housing authority s saferstein towers opposite the perkins stone saferstein perkins park and the akron stone mansion towers opposite the perkins zoo mansion perkins park forest lodge park good park golf club and the akron zoo how to use the history trails passport you are about to experience life in the past lane as you take your journey on akron s history trails on the back cover is your akron history trails passport with a block for each of the akron neighborhoods that we re celebrating this summer this digest provides you with a guide to akron s neighborhoods as well as information on the passport stamp locations each neighborhood has its own inked stamp that the attendant will place on your passport since some locations may be closed when you visit you may go to the headquarters for the history trails project the akron history exhibit at lock 3 to receive your stamp for each site that you have visited admission to the akron history exhibit at lock 3 is free and the exhibit is open every friday from 6:30 p.m to close saturday from 10:00 a.m to 1:00 p.m and other times by appointment or by chance call 330-375-2500 for more details be aware that admission of $5 is charged at lock 3 during special festival events and on saturday nights children under 48 inches tall are always free visit www.lock3live.com for the complete event schedule stamp location passport stamp location akron-summit county public library akron-summit county maple valley branch public library 1187 copley road library maple valley branch akron ohio 44320-2766 1187 copley road phone ohio 44320-2766 akron 330-643-9030 phone 330 864-5721 hours hours monday-thursday 10:00 a.m ­ 8:30 p.m monday-thursday 6:00 a.m friday 12:00 a.m ­10:00p.m ­ 8:30 p.m friday 12:00 ­ a.m ­ 5:00 saturday 10:006:00 p.m p.m saturday 10:00 sunday closed a.m ­ 5:00 p.m sunday closed akron a.a archives and akron history trails participating organizations hower house akron history exhibit at lock 3 american toy marble museum akron fire department akron police department akron-summit county public library cascade locks park association cuyahoga valley national park downtown akron partnership dr shirla r mcclain gallery of akron s black history metro rta metro parks serving summit county ohio erie canalway coalition stan hywet hall gardens tv dinner club museum the university of akron archival services designed published by akron publishingcom pa n y 28 28 inset maple valley field day bottom the akron zoo www.summithistory.org © 2008 summit county historical society and the city of akron all rights reserved

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