HOUSE HISTORIES:

          We have compiled the history of several homes and properties within Erie, Ottawa, and Lorain counties.  Below are the summaries of some of our most recent and most interesting work:

Hoover House, Oxford Township, Erie County, Ohio John Hoover came to Erie County from Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, where he was trained as a stone mason. Hoover was employed in the construction of a large number of houses in Erie County. In 1824, he married Elizabeth Woolverton and together they had three children. In 1849, along with about six friends and neighbors, John Hoover set out on an adventure west to the California coast, leaving his wife and children with her parents. Upon his return in 1851, Mr. Hoover purchased Lot 30 in Oxford Township and there built a stone house. The Hoover family farmed that land and resided there until 1875. Isaac W. Hoover, the eldest son of John and Elizabeth Hoover, was the inventor of the Hoover Potato Digger. In 1885, Isaac Hoover patented his potato digger and later established the Hoover Manufacturing Company. By 1916, Hoover was producing about 5,000 machines per year and shipping them to world wide. The present owners were interested in knowing the history of the land, the date of construction of their home, and information about the previous owners.

The Dudley Farm, Henrietta Township, Lorain County, Ohio This 180-acre farm was in the Dudley family from the mid-1800's until 1943. Not only were crops such as wheat, oats, corn and potatoes grown on this land, sheep and cattle were raised there also. Initially, the land was part of the Connecticut Western Reserve and was owned by Oliver Phelps, one of the original investors and a board member of the Connecticut Land Company. The present owner, who had inherited the farm from an aunt and uncle, was interested in the history of this farm that he had known since his childhood and in locating historic maps of his land.

The Heymann House, Huron, Erie County, Ohio Charles and Cora Heymann built their home on Center Street in 1897. Charles Heymann worked as a fisherman with W. C. Heymann and Sons, a business that his father began in 1860. Not only did Charles Heymann fish in Lake Erie, he also fished Lake Michigan. It was the fishery on Lake Michigan where Heymann saw an opportunity to succeed. He purchased a schooner to transport not only his own catch, but the catch of other fisherman to market in Chicago. Mr. Heymann did quite well in his fishing and shipping businesses, but after the death of his wife in 1919 and the stress of the Great Depression, Mr. Heymann’s life was not the same. After his house had stood vacant for many years, Charles Heymann finally sold it in 1942. The house saw much demise in the late 1990's. The present owners, who purchased the house in 2003, undertook extensive renovations. They were excited to know the year of construction of their home and will use the old photos of their home to guide further restoration efforts.

Five Bells Inn, Catawba Island, Ottawa County, Ohio The Five Bells Inn, originally named Linden Lodge, was built around 1920 by Amanda Bond. Amanda was associated with a charity group, the International Order of the King’s Sons and Daughters, who ran a summer camp for underprivileged children at Rock Ledge Inn on Catawba Island. Amanda, who lived nearby, built Linden Lodge primarily to house the overflow from Rock Ledge Inn. In 1948, Amanda sold this property to her cousins, Louis and Anita Dole. Linden Lodge changed ownership many times from 1954, when the Doles sold the property, until 1994 when it was purchased by the Waleri family. The Waleri's turned their home into a bed and breakfast and named it the Five Bells Inn. They operated this business until selling the home to Jerry and Eileen Jarc in 1998. The Jarc family continue to welcome guests at the Five Bells Inn. Eileen Jarc had been told many stories concerning the history of her home, and some neighbors believed that the house had once been called Linden Lodge, though no one knew why. After years of wondering, the Jarcs now know when their house was built and the history of the first few owners. We were even able to obtain a copy of a 1920 postcard of Linden Lodge. 

The Old Stone House, Quarry Hill Orchards, Berlin Heights, Ohio The old stone house on Mason Road is a small, Greek Revival-style home on land that traces its history to the traitorous acts of Benedict Arnold, the family of American Patriot, Captain Elijah Avery, and the battle at Fort Griswold, Groton, Connecticut. After the Avery family received the land, including where the house is now located, in a grant to the ‘sufferers’ of the ravages of the Revolutionary War, ownership of the property changed hands several times. While under ownership of Joseph Tucker, tax values and the start of the quarry industry in Berlin Heights indicated a likely construction date of 1835. This period also corresponds with the popularity of Greek Revival architecture in America. Throughout its history, the house on Mason Road accommodated many farm hands and quarry workers, some newlyweds, and several art students of Cleveland-based artist Henry G. Keller. Though the stone house on Mason Road is vacant at this point, it remains a visible piece of history of Berlin Heights. The present owner had a goal of one day tracing the history of the stone house. He presented the completed history book to his family as a Christmas present.

Cricket Lodge, Kelleys Island, Ohio In 1905, John Himmelein, owner of several acting companies, and his Vaudeville-actress wife, Beatrice Earle, built their summer home on Kelleys Island. Beatrice claimed that if she ever had a summer home, she would name it after one of her favorite stage portrayals from the play, "Fauchon The Cricket". Hence, Cricket Lodge came into existence. This grand house remained in the Himmelein family until 1984 when Dorothy Sun, daughter of John and Beatrice Himmelein, sold the house to Frank and Christine Yako. In 1985, the Yakos began Cricket Lodge Bed and Breakfast. Though much of the history associated with their home was already known and the house is on the National Register of Historic Places, the owners wanted the history of their home compiled into a concise volume that they could share with their guests. 

Ridgewell Inn, Barnes Nursery, Huron, Ohio  Since approximately 1839, a house has stood on the land today owned by the Barnes family.  Prior to his marriage in 1839, Thomas Hughes built a small farm house on his property.  Following Thomas death, the house was occupied by his widow and his daughter and her family.  In 1881, his widow added to the front of the house a large, Italianate-style addition.  In 1916, the house was inherited by Andrew and Emma Linker.  During the hard times of the Great Depression, the Linkers opened their home to the public as the Ridgewell Inn.  In addition to rooms, the Linkers offered lunch and, eventually, gas.  The Ridgewell Inn remained open for business until Andrew's death in 1941.  The Barnes family purchased the house and land in 1950 and started their family business, then known as Barnes Roses.  Though the house has undergone many renovations over the years, the history associated with this house and the land upon which it sits continue to intrigue the current occupants.