During my busy season, I spend a good share of my time traveling across the southern edge of Geauga County. The pace on Route 422 is a brisk one, and with the blinders of my daily routine on, I must admit that I frequently breeze by our next township without a thought. And yet, its beautiful views of rolling countryside rival, in the author’s opinion, any other town in the county, and give definite reason to hop off the highway and take a closer, slower look.
Range 8, Township 6, was first settled by a man named Bildad Bradley in 1815. It is said that in 1814, Mr. Bradley came from Massachusetts and settled in Newbury. After beginning construction on his new residence, he apparently decided he had built in the wrong area, moving the entire house into Auburn, near the current bend in Messenger Road. As is the common tale with the small settlements of the Western Reserve the Bradleys’ solitude was short-lived as others from the east made their way in. Names including Jackson, Reuwee, Crafts, Smith, Orton, Richards, Woods, and Wilbur left the lives they knew to make new beginnings in the fledgling settlement. Within the first few years, a school, church and postal service were established.
Auburn’s early story echoes that of every other Geauga township – more settlers making way to needed industries like saw mills, blacksmiths, and basket and cheese factories. But it was not long before the area developed a unique characteristic that would define it for over a century. Most Western Reserve towns developed a strong center, either at their geographic center or at the major crossroads nearest to that point. While Auburn developed its traditional central village at the current intersection of Auburn Rd. and State Route 422, an earlier and stronger village formed a mile to the east.
Auburn Corners, as this area was known, sprang up at the intersection of two early stagecoach trails – now State Routes 44 and 422. With the need for a stop on the lines, a hotel and many stores were erected. As tends to happen in small towns, bitterness (fueled by jealousy) arose between the two entities. The rivalry reached a fever pitch in 1873 when the time came to erect a town meeting hall. Residents of both villages insisted the hall be located in their respective areas. An election was held that year, and the new Board of Trustees chose the Center as the best site. As can be imagined, the folks at the Corners were furious, and formed an association to raise money for their own meeting hall.
A former cheese-curing house was purchased and renovated, under the supervision of the newly appointed association trustees, and called Union Hall. For decades, the hall housed entertainment of all sorts, with portions of the monies raised going toward upkeep. Animosity once again reared its head in 1903 when, after much debate, Auburn Center was once again selected, this time for the location of a new, centralized school.
For a small town, Auburn has had its share of successful residents. Rufus Dutton moved to the area with his parents in 1829. After teaching, attending schools, and traveling much of the Americas, Rufus eventually found his way to New York. There, he unveiled an invention to a manufacturer called The Clipper, a type of lawn mower. Several thousand of Rufus’ Clippers were manufactured before the process was transferred to another company that made 18,000 more.
Martin Dodge was born in Auburn in 1851. After studying law and being elected to ten consecutive terms of the General Assembly of Ohio, in both the legislature and the Senate, Dodge was appointed President of the Ohio Roads Commission by William McKinley (then Governor). Dodge work to improve the country roads in Ohio, and then the United States when McKinley, elected President, appointed him chief of the Office of Public Road Inquiry. He is responsible for writing the first bill asking that the government support the construction of decent roads throughout the country.
Dr. Clarence Balke came to life in Auburn in 1880. After teaching chemistry as a professor at several schools, he began research in rare metals. His work with tungsten caught the eye of General Electric, who hired him as their research director in 1916. He developed tantalum in 1922, which became a key metal for the army in World War II.
Just like other small Geauga townships, Auburn was fundamentally changed with the invention of the automobile and the passing of time. Early industries gave way to farm fields, and fields gave way to housing developments. In 1963, the city of Akron constructed a large dam to impound Bridge Creek and Black Brook. The resulting body of water, located just east of Auburn Corners, was named LaDue Reservoir. While adding to the beautiful scenery, Ladue provides many recreational opportunities for residents of the surrounding areas and beyond.
The year 1991 saw the construction of the new, four-lane section of State Route 422. While providing faster traveling through the southern end of the county, the move also re-routed traffic around Auburn’s centers, and made it a town most people simply drive by daily, including the author. Next time you get the chance, take the Route 44 exit and explore this beautiful example of a Geauga township.
Author: Ty Pilarczyk
Ty is the president of the Huntsburg Historical Society, and has lived in Huntsburg most of his life. When he is not designing, installing, and maintaining landscapes for the family construction business, Ty enjoys vegetable gardening, restoring and collecting old pressure lanterns, and spending time with his family.