The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Century Village’s newest historic building now open to public
Marimon Cook was a Geauga County pioneer.
In 1806, the Revolutionary War soldier from Cheshire, Conn. bought a plot of land just north of Burton Township.
A renaissance man, Cook was a tanner and shoemaker by trade in the early 1800s. He was also a deacon and a local judge.
The Cook House has been staged and on display at Century Village Museum in Burton Township since it was moved there from its original North Cheshire Street foundation in 1971.
But the attached shed had been unfinished until this spring, when the New Connecticut Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution raised money to help finance the project.
After six months of construction, the shed is now ready for public viewing as “The Leather Shop.”
On April 8, a dedication ceremony and open house were held to celebrate Geauga County Historical Society’s newest historic building display.
The Leather Shop has displays of shoe making, harness making and tanning from Cook’s era through the turn of the century.
“There are two wooden shoe lasts used by Marimon Cook on display,” said Louise Jackson, chairperson of the Geauga County Historical Society’s Collections Committee. “The building contains all kinds of artifacts that deal with shoe making and leather tanning. There are a sampling of shoes, boots and
ice skates, and pre-electricity machines that were used to cut and process leather. There are also horse-related items such as bridles, saddles and horse collars. Some exhibits can be touched.”
Seventeen of Cook’s actual descendants attended the dedication, including Willowick resident David Webster —an 8th generation grandson.
“It’s very interesting,” Webster said of the family history. “We first came to Burton to find Marimon Cook’s grave. I knew he became a deacon of the Burton Congregational Church, but I didn’t know
he was a judge until today.”
Ninety percent of the items in The Leather Shop were donated by residents.
“We’re really grateful for the donations and now the public can enjoy it,” said Jackson.
Fred Green, a Chardon attorney who is president of the historical society’s board of directors, said he is excited about the new building.
“We’re really happy we were able to take what used to be a storage shed attached to the original house and make it something spectacular,” Green said.