The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Pair records township history for new book
Pair documents township story in ‘Images of America’
During the early 1800s, groups of New Englanders traveled by foot and oxcart to a largely uninhabited area in Northeast Ohio now known as Concord Township.
Now, boasting a population of more than 20,000, the semi-rural community is set to celebrate its 200th anniversary and a book has been written to document its interesting history.
Authors Debra Esker and Dan Maxson, both township residents, first took on the task in 2017 when plans for the bicentennial started taking shape.
Esker, who serves as the township’s recreation director, along with Maxson, curator and docent at the township’s historical Old Stone Schoolhouse, noted that there was enough archived information to put together the manuscript.
Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series was chosen as the vehicle offering the book to the public in part because of the company’s commitment to community and local histories, along with a proven track record, Esker said.
Cleveland and Willoughby are among nearby cities that have used the series to record and relate their histories.
The authors sought out several sources in order to collect as much information as possible and to cross-check for accuracy.
“We already had a substantial amount of photos from township archives, but also sought information from county-wide resources including libraries, history societies and other history-oriented local groups,” Esker said. “We interviewed many local family members who were very willing and gracious to share their beloved stories and memories.
“Our effort to build up our photo archive over the last few years really paid off.”
While digging deep for information, many noteworthy facts were discovered.
It was learned that a drive-in movie theater named “The Belvedere” was located on Ravenna Road near Cornpopper Farm from 1948 to 1954. A humorous story associated with the drive-in is that the original movie screen was set on a slope and frequently fell. Ultimately the shaky structure caused the entire enterprise to shut down.
Early on youngsters living in the township attended one of nine one-room schoolhouses.
Among them is Old Stone School built in 1840 at a cost of $200. The educational structure on Ravenna Road operated from 1841 until 1923 and today serves as the township museum. It is one of the township’s oldest structures and one of the few vintage stone buildings remaining in Lake County.
Elga (Radcliff) Pomeroy was a student at the Old Stone School in 1910. In 1921 she became a teacher there and later used it as her residence until 1987. She died at the age of 105.
The township plays a significant part in national history as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Eber Howe and Hawley Drake who lived on Fay Road were abolitionists assisting numerous slaves seeking freedom on the “Liberty Line.”
The process of writing the book presented some challenges, Esker said.
While in the midst of the authors’ work the pandemic occurred, making collection of information and fact-checking a lengthy procedure. For a time interviews and photo gathering ceased completely.
Ultimately the book was completed and is now available to the public.
It was written at no cost to the township and all proceeds from its sale will be used to fund programs, events and celebrations taking place during the bicentennial year.
A book signing with Esker and Maxson is set for noon to 2 p.m. Sept. 8, at the Concord Community Center, 7671 Auburn Road.
“Images of America: Concord Township” can be purchased for $23.99 at the community center, Concord Town Hall, 7229 Ravenna Road, and at local bookstores. Copies are also available to borrow at local libraries.
Photos from the book along with additional archived photos will be on display at the community center and Old Stone School throughout 2022.
“The book was a collective labor of love, as so many Concord residents shared beloved photos and beautiful memories with us,” Esker said.