Local History Insights

by Ken Lavelle

In our community there are many interesting historical sites that we all walk or drive byeach day. Many go unnoticed in our normal routines of modern living. In the last nineyears several Ohio Historical Markers have been erected to have us pause and reflect onour local past. Each individual marker is a base to move forward with into the future.

Currently there are seven (7) Ohio Historical Markers erected in the Parma-Parma Heightsarea. PARMA'S BIRTHPLACE Ohio historical marker located at Pearl Road alongRidge Road in a tree lawn was dedicated on April 22, 2010 with much celebration. The Fay home was the first business in Parma – an Inn for stagecoach travelers and visitors. Pearl and Ridge Roads. Fay Home along Wooster Pike. Date of Photo unknown.1908? Thislocation with its inn for travelers was known as (mile house) stagecoach stop number 2 along the Southbound Cleveland to Columbus Wooster Pike stagecoach route. House razed 1912.

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Other Ohio Historical Markers are located at the following locations. The Stearns Homestead Farm Marker (2001) along Ridge Road South of Parmatown. The concept of this maker is agriculture and cattle raising was one of many elements of rural life learned here in Parma. The First Rural Brick Road in the U.S. (2003) Marker at Pearl Road along Olde York Road in a tree lawn in Parma Heights. The idea of using modern bricks to replace wooden-planked and dirt roads demonstrated this type of new technology did improve life, travel and commerce in our area for everyone in Parma. This marker mentions that the Wooster Pike (Pearl Road) was the Cleveland to Columbus stagecoach route from 1820 to the 1890s. The Crile General Hospital Marker (2002) at Cuyahoga Community College – Western Campus along York Road entrance at Moore Drive. The concept of this marker is healing and learning is possible with the rule of law and military force. The General Central Farm (2002) Marker in front of the German Central Farm Social Hall off York Road near Sprague Rd. The concept for this maker is agriculture and social activities are an important part of our lives.Parma's First High School (2011) marker is in front of the former Parma City School District Administration Building at6076 Ridge Rd in the tree lawn..In the near future another Ohio Historical Marker is planned to be dedicated for the Electric Car Storage Battery in a tree lawn in front of Gtech (Union Carbide) on Snow Rd. Watch for details in a future issue of The Parma Observer and the Parma Sun Post..

Each of these Ohio Historical Markers are 'historical guideposts' tools to promoteour area's 'Pride of Place' to present and future residents. There is some local interest to erect more Ohio Historical Markers in the years ahead. Four possible site locations discussed for more historical markers are as follows.One, inside the City of Parma Heights Cemetery for Parma'sFirst Rural One-Room School House located there in 1826. Another possible location is the second B&O Railroad Depot built in1909 and closedin 1926 located at the current CSX R.R. Tracks along Brookpark Road North of the Parma Yard. Another possible location is in the treelawn infront of the Parma Heights Water Facility (Parma Reservior) along Deering Drive and Reservoir Drive. Lastly another possible maker maybe erected near the Henninger House along Broadview Road North of Snow Road. No doubt many other locations will considered and discussed in the future for more Ohio Historical Markers. Each will have a concept or theme.

There is one local structure still standing in our area in 2011 that is on the NationalRegister of Historical Places. The Robert W. Henry House at 6077 Pearl Road in Parma

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Heights was placed on the National Register in 1978. It was built between 1850 and1857. Mr. Henry (1811-1900) was a successful local carpenter who moved to Parma Twp. in 1843 along the Wooster Pike stagecoach route. The Robert W. Henry house is aexcellent example of a brick winged-temple Greek Revival home. Distinguished by itspedimented portico, twelve-footed Doric Columns, gable-end brick parapets andtransomed main entrance. It has been occupied as a private homes, a local temporary Parma Heights Village Town Hall in 1955 and later used by various small businesses.

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6607 Pearl Road Photo in 1934 when a member of the Fay family lived there. E-bay photo 2010.

6103 Pearl Rd "The Asa Emerson:" House. Built in 1826 along the Wooster Pike.

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In the 1970s, several early houses were plaqued by the Historical Society of Parma Heights (1972 to 2003) as 'Century Homes'. Each had a wooden plaque nailed on its wood sliding near the front door. Some of these plaqued 'Century Homes' and their wooden plaques can still be seen in 2010. "The Asa Emerson:" House at 6103 Pearl Road is good example of a two-story Western Reserve 'Salt Box' style home built in 1826 and moved back from Pearl Road when it was widened to be four lanes between 1929-1931. The Parma Heights Historical Society (2009-Present) is currently compiling and verifying an inventory list of these special century homes to update their records. If you own one with a wooden plaque still visible consider contacting the Parma Heights Historical Society.

Sources:Parma City Directories. (1946-1963). Published by the Cleveland Directory Company.

Parma's Birthplace Ohio Marker Dedication handout booklet dated April 22, 2010.

Crile General Hospital Post Card 1940s Photo. Purchased on e-bay by Ken Lavelle.Established in 1943. German P.O.W. Camp No. 234 established there 1943 and closed in 1946. Became a V.A. Hospital in 1946 and closed in 1964 moving its operations to the Eastside V.A. Hospital. Nike missile base established there in 1956 and closed 1962.Nike Missile Launch Site was located along West Pleasant Valley Rd East and South of Kennedy Circle. The street address of the Nike Site was 12276 West Pleasant Valley Road listed in The 1958 Parma City Directory on page 143. Nike Missile launch control center (CL 59) was based in Parma Hts. in present day Nathan Hale Park. Nike Site building ‘A’ in 1959 aerial photo located between nike missile underground storage bunker and the missile launch control center later became a Parks and Recreation Department office and equipment site for the City of Parma Nike Site public park section.The street address of building ‘A’ in 1959 was 11828 West Pleasant Valley Road Near Skylark Drive. Cuyahoga Community College – Western Campus established there in 1966 with 183 acres of land that was once part of Crile General Hospital in Parma, Ohio.The local post office for the U.S. Mail delivery for Crile Hospital was located in Parma Heights, Ohio near Pearl Road and W. 130th Street.

The Nike Missile bunker and launch site area where missiles were stored underground was located West of York Road, along Pleasant Valley Road. Several streets for homeswere planned there on the former Edward and Annie Peterjohn Farm established in 1911. Originally street names were laid out for their farm in the 1920s: Traymore, Loder, Akin, Lockwood, Rosedale, Creighton, Fairfax, Sutherland, Attleboro, Norwood, and Homewood. In the 1930s the streets there were renamed to be West 108, West 109, West 111, West 112, West 114, West 115, West 116, West 118, and West 119. None of these streets were ever developed for residential housing. Source of the street names is the Parma Village Plat Book Volume No. 6 1916-1925 on inside Index Page seen at the Cuyahoga County Archives on May 28, 2010. The fomer missile bunker area has been restored to natural green spaced on the college campus.

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http://nikehercules.tripod.com/cl-59.html Parma Heights Histsorical Society website.

Kenneth J. Lavelle. “History of Crile General Hospital and Crile V.A. Hospital 1943-1964”.1995. Map of Crile General Hospital and its streets included with paper.Streets there included England Street, a road leading to the P.O.W. Camp, Finney Place,Fitzsimons Place, Dibble Place, Letterman Drive, Hoff Place, Cushing Place, Thayer Place, Beaumont Place, and Lagarde Street. Kennedy Circle was infront of the hospitaladministration building. CTS Bus route number 79 had a layover point there with servicefrom Public Square in Cleveland to Parma. The 1946 Parma City Directory listed thestreet address for “Crile General Hospital – U.S. Army” as 7030 York Road. The 1963Parma City Directory listed the street address for Crile Hospital - U.S. Gov’t Veterans Administration Hospital at 7300 York Road.

James W. Day. “Parma Day”. 2005. Photo of Crile General Hospital Ohio Marker p. 49.

“Directory of Ohio Historical Places Volume 1: Adams County to Hamilton County”.Published by Somerset Publishers, Inc.: 1999. Post Office Box 160, St. Clair Shores, MI.48080. Page 232 Robert W. Henry House.

6607 Pearl Road the 'Robert W. Henry' House. Photo from National Register of Historic Places file number 78002048 dated 12/08/1978.Internet address:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Robert_W._Henry_House,_Parma_Heights.jpg

E-bay Photo for sale in April 2010 of Henry Home when Fay Home in 1934.Owner was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Photo among other Parma Hts. home photos.'hillcrest-books-paper' possible copyright .Ebay Item No.360233992257.

Early House Photos.The Parma Heights Historical Society. The House Project 2010.

Diana J. Eid. “Images of America: Parma”. Published by Arcadia Publishing: 2010.Fay Home Homestead photos provided by Ruth Fay on page 10. CCPL number F499.P27E332010. Fay House/Inn razed in 1912 per page 10 entry. C. 1915 photo of Pearl Rd with CRY tracks on page 96 thought to be really a copy of 1921 photo Ken Lavelle purchased at train show in 1980s left in file cabinet with Historical Society of Parma Heights on page 96. Diana viewed photo in cabinet. Parma Nike site photos on pages 68,104. Parma-Parma Heights Nike Site listed as 11000 York Road on page 68. At the Parma South library, Ken checked the Parma City Directory published in 1958 to find the address of the Nike Site on Pleasant Valley Road. On page 143 the item listed is "12276 Nike Site" near Parma Park under addresses of Pleasant Valley Road West of homes from York Road. The Parma City Directory published in 1962 listed the Nikemissile launch site at 11400 West Pleasant Valley Road at W. 114st Street and listed the

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road leading to the Nike Site Control Center as 12280 West Pleasant Valley Road on page 161. The 1967 Cleveland West Suburban Directory on page 459 listed the “U. S. Nike Site” as 11400 West Pleasant Valley Road. The CCC-West Campus 1975 address was 11000 West Pleasant Valley Road. The CCC-Western Campus 1966 address was 7300 York Road in Parma. Lynette Filips lived at 11613 W. Pleasant Valley.Loder farm page 117. Kaiser farm page 26. Old German church at Peterjohn farm site along York Road mentioned on page 117. View of Parma Incinerator at W.130th and Brookpark near Parma B&O R.R. yard page 82. GM Plant pages 68-71. Photo of Wooster Pike mentioned as 1884 on page thought to be really 1894 since the brick road was there on left and the drainage ditch was enlarged for the brick road south of York Rd.My criticism of this book is lack of content concerning local people and their contributions.Nike Site information was inaccurate. There was no mention of local organizations, street names origins, wooden toll roads, historical markers, P.O.W. Camp WWII, and no mention of the CL&W (B&O) Parma Train Station Depot in Rockport Township. There was a lack of local detailed research presented in this photo type book.

“Prisoner of War Report”. War Department – Office of The Provost Marshal General. Period Ending 15 February 1946. Crile General Hospital, Cleveland (Parma) 9, Ohio. Camp Nationality: German. Camp Personnel: 1560th SCU Cp Detail #4. Seen at Crile Archives Cuyahoga Community College-Western Campus, September 2010. P.O.W. Camp No. 243.

From: amrs1969@aol.com <Jcreeves6217@aol.com>21874_13438107621874_1343810762189_1438834543_30962763_164946_n.jpgFay Home Photo data unknown. Sent to Ken Lavelle February 22, 2010. Before 1912.

Laura Watson. “Founding of Parma Historical Marker Unveiling Ceremony”.The Parma Observer. April 2010. Page 10.

Daniel P. McCarthy. “Humble Roots”. The Parma Observer. June 2010. Page 8.

Key Persons involved with each Ohio Historical Marker: Reference NumbersStearns Homestead – Annjean Slater (2001) 22-18First Rural Brick Road in U.S. - Kenneth J. Lavelle (2003) 49-18Crile General Hospital – Dr. James W. Banks (2002) 30-18Parma's Birthplace – Sean P. Brennan (2010) 91-18Parma's First High School – Lee Bailey, Tony DeMarco and the Parma Sr. High School Alumni Association members. (2011) 100-18German Central Farm – Members of their association. 69-18Parma Heights Water Facility – Parma Reservoir – Planned for 2033-34 XX-18Parma CLW/B&O Train Station Depot – Planned for after 2023 XX-18Parma Heights Cemetery – Site of First Parma Twp. School Planned after 2015 XXX-18 GrafTech International Ltd –Snow Rd.(2011)Parma-Developed Storage Battery 106-18

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Other Historical Markers in the Berea, North Royalton, Parma, Ohio AreaJohn Shepherd – An American Hero (1729-1847) North Royalton Cemetery 95-18Adams Street Cemetery(1834-1977) – William Boone’s Berea High School AP History Class 2008-2009 93-18 B-W College Campus: Baldwin University 61-18 B-W College Campus: Lyceum Square 23-18Berea District 7 Schoolhouse 18-18 Berea Old District 10 Schoolhouse 6-18 Berea Union Train Depot 43-18 Berea Triangle 20-18Berea Sandstone Quarries Photo of Big Quarry 16-18Lake Shore and Southern Michigan(N.Y.C.)Train Depot (1877)-Olmsted Falls 96-18

ARADCOM

Detroit - Cleveland

Defense Area

Site CL-59 - Parma/Midpark Station

Unit: 7/56 - 9/58, HHB, 351st USA7/56 - 9/58, Battery B, 351st USA9/58 - 8/61, HHB, 1st Battalion, 68th USA9/58 - 8/61, Battery B, 1st Battalion, 68th USA Activation Date: July 1956 De-activation Date: 1961 IFC Area: GPS: +41° 22' 14", -81° 45' 31" Launch Area: GPS: +41° 21' 49", -81° 45' 57" Radar(s): LOPAR Missiles: 30 Ajax Magazine(s): 1 type B, 2 type C Launchers: 12 Ajax Current Status: Comments: CL-59 Aerial Photo of Nike Site as seen in 1959.http://nikehercules.tripod.com/cl-59.html Parma Heights Histsorical Society website.

Written for Parma Observer April 23, 2010 for consideration in June 2010 Issue. Updates done later to original article submitted for proposed idea of 2011 Parma Heights PowerPoint Centennial presentation as that project was assembled for Parma Heights Historical Society. Other area historical markers added to list as more were erected.Information used for Parma Heights Centennial 1911-2011 PowerPoint presentation and

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2011 Walking Tour Handout distributed afterward.

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