Olmsted Villages
From Farming to Shopping Destination
North Olmsted - it's where Great Northern Mall is, right? That would be right, but the Mall along with the chain restaurants and multitude of strip shopping centers, wasn't built until about 30 years ago. In the mid-1970's, finding one's way to North Olmsted, a small town whose high school was known for its musicals and whose citizens still kept horses, meant driving out Lorain Road rather than Route 480. Look more closely, and you'll find a place rich in history and community spirit. Springvale Ballroom, the oldest operating ballroom in northeast Ohio, was built by the Biddulph family on farmland they settled on in 1860, and Springvale Golf Course was built five years later, in 1928. Today, one can play eighteen rounds of golf and have lunch and drinks in the clubhouse, and the Ballroom is available for rent.
North Olmsted Park (on Lorain Road east of Stearns) comes alive with carnival rides, community organization tents, a craft show, and food at the end of August. The Historical Society at Frostville Museum (open 9-1 on Saturdays), located in the Rocky River Reservation at the bottom of Cedar Point Hill where Cedar Point and Lewis Roads intersect, hosts pancake breakfasts, square dances, art shows, historical events, and festivals. Long home to Danny Boy's Farmer's Market, the building at Lorain and Columbia Roads is now home to Fat Heads Brewery and Saloon. Hockey games, skating competitions, and swim meets dominate the Recreation Center, which has tennis courts and gymnastics space in addition to the skating rink and indoor swimming pool, most of the year.
In 1806, Aaron Olmstead, a wealthy sea captain, purchased the vast tract of land that comprises North Olmsted, Olmsted Falls, and Olmsted Villages from the Connecticut Western Reserve or $30,000. Farming communities in the Western Reserve stretched out miles beyond the borders of today's municipalities. Today, North Olmsted is known for the breadth of its shopping area with Great Northern Mall at its heart. To the south, towards Berea and following the winding path of the Rocky River Valley, is Olmsted Falls, a railroad town best known today for its quaint shopping area called Grand Pacific Junction. In between, Olmsted Falls connects the two towns, one much larger than the other.
North Olmsted's Old Town Hall [pictured above] was erected in 1913. It is listed as a historic point of interest and is symbolic of the City's roots. The steepled Western Reserve building is nestled between the modern Police Station and City Hall on Dover Center Road. North Olmsted is a different town than it was fifty years ago. Until 1950, the population was mostly farmers and tradesmen with small family-owned businesses. Following World War II, returning war veterans spread into North Olmsted, making it one of the fastest-growing cities in Ohio. With the advent of housing developments and shopping centers, North Olmsted became a suburb of Cleveland in the 1960s.
In 1820, Charles Olmstead offered his father's library of 500 books to the community of Lenox, and it changed its name to Olmstead in his honor. North Olmsted was the first circulating library in the Western Reserve and the remaining 153 books from the original Olmstead collection are on display at the North Olmsted Branch of the Cuyahoga County Library System on Lorain Road near City Hall. Centuries-old cemeteries and historic homes dot the area. Butternut Historic District, which stretches from where the stage coaches traveled on Route 10 to the Rocky River Valley, boasts many homes that bear century-home plaques. Butternut Ridge Cemetery has grave sites dating back to when the area was settled. The old High School, now used as the city's Middle School, resides in the middle of the historic district, as does Canterbury Golf Club and Springvale Ballroom.
For years, North Olmsted could brag about having the oldest bus system in Ohio, until it was recently gobbled up by RTA in 2005. It was the first and oldest continuous operating municipal transit system in the United States.
Down the hill from Butternut Ridge and approached from Cedar Point Hill off of Columbia Road, lies Frostville Museum. The Olmsted Historical Society has preserved the buildings of the village of Lenox, including Frostville Village Church with its original 1847 stained-glass windows.
The Rocky River runs through Olmsted in the Cleveland Metropark's Rocky River Reservation. The Rocky River Nature Center [pictured], not far from Frostville Museum, is surrounded by massive shale cliffs that rise above the cottonwoods and willows. Even in the fall, wildflowers grow along the trails. The entrance to the Nature Center is enhanced by gardens of well-marked native plants and herbs and a wild flower garden where one can sit and listen and feel at peace within the shade of tall trees lies down a winding path. Grand Pacific Junction is the heart of Olmsted Falls, south of North Olmsted and Olmsted Township. It can be found by driving south on Columbia Road or Lewis Road to Columbia, where the railroad tracks divide the town. Grand Pacific Junction's quaint shopping is not complete without tea at Clementine's or picture taking at the Gazebo. Don't miss the gazebo at Village Green Park, the covered bridge [pictured above] that crosses the winding paths along Plum Creek of Fortier Park, or the library housed in former residential property.
So while North Olmsted may appear to be a heartless commercial hub, there's more than appears to the eye in the area known as Olmsted. To know it better, consider a visit to the Rocky River Nature Center and Olmsted Historical Society, a drive down Columbia Road to Grand Pacific Junction and the historical center of Olmsted Falls, or spend an evening at North Olmsted Park for its homecoming this coming weekend--the last weekend in August. If you go to Fat Heads, look for the Danny Boy's Farmers Market pictures along the wall right inside the door--because farming was where it all started.
The North Olmsted Homecoming celebration takes place Thu 8/27 through Sun 8/30 at North Olmsted Community Park.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Claudi Taller, whose passion for words has led to creation of the Lakeside Word Lover’s Retreats, an outgrowth of her work with Skyline Writers. Her favorite foods are red wine, salmon, ice cream, and chocolate. She loves to read, write, tour wineries, ride her bike, ease into yoga, and cook gourmet meals for friends. Find her at http://www.claudiatallermusings.blogspot.com.(:divend:)