This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Ridge Tool Company.  Every workman knows the Ridgid brand for its quality and strength.  Here is the story of a small tool shop- started in North Ridgeville, that now provides tools to tradesmen across the globe.   The year was 1917 and a new tool company had […]

The World War I monument that stands in front of the Old Town Hall has a history of 8,000 to 10,000 years!  It was erected as a reminder of the service of Ridgeville’s men and women in WWI and here is a little more of that story: The man responsible for the boulder was local […]

All throughout the year of 2022 members of the First Congregational Church have been celebrating the rich history of their church’s heritage and congregation.  The North Ridgeville Historical Society would like to recognize this important chapter in the history of our town.  Many of you have already heard the story of the founding of North […]

This article, written by Doris Terrell Mills, is the final chapter of a three part series published in the Chronicle Telegram newspaper in celebration of our city’s 150th anniversary.  Citizens reading this all those years ago wouldn’t believe the many changes our city has undergone in the 62 years since this article was written!   […]

This article, written by Doris Terrell Mills, is part 2 of a three part series published in the Chronicle Telegram newspaper in celebration of our city’s 150th anniversary.  It offers a unique look into the past!  A few locations might be unknown to younger residents, so these will be explained in [bracketed type.]   By […]

In 1960 the Chronicle Telegram ran a series of articles in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of North Ridgeville.  We recently ran across these articles and would like to share them with you.  The author of these articles was Doris Terrell Mills, who was a direct descendant of Oliver Terrell- one of […]

One of the obscure things that can be learned from the Census data has to do with road names.  According to the Washington Post the most popular road name in the U.S. is Park.  The second most popular name is Second.  Oddly enough there are more Second Streets than First Streets, but it’s believed this […]

The following account took place two hundred and ten years ago here in North Ridgeville.  The story of this experience was written down by Wyllis Terrell, Jr. (1809-1882) who wrote a series of articles that were printed in the Elyria Constitution newspaper- a predecessor to the Elyria Chronicle Telegram.  Mr. Terrell wrote these articles as […]

Local businessman, Tom Worcester, has provided this fascinating look into the past for our readers.   The beginning of Worcester’s started with The Hatchery.   Our Grandfather, John A. Worcester, the youngest of 14 children, grew up working on his Dad’s (John F. Worcester) 125 acre turn of the century farm here on the northwest corner […]

A North Ridgeville man, born in 1827, was a topic of conversation at the Ohio General Assembly a few months ago, and the story of this man also includes…..a fish.  Many a fisherman tells tales of his many conquests in the fishing world, but this one is quite different.  Here is the story of this […]

Many of our veterans have experienced  daily life in other countries, and the stories they share help bring to light the fact that we are truly living in the greatest country in the world. The following is one of these stories- shared by one of our local veterans.   *            […]

Father Joseph Martin Trapp was the resident pastor of the St. Peters Catholic Church in North Ridgeville from June of 1906 until November 1920. He was born on November 10, 1880, in Cleveland Ohio. His father was Frank X Trapp, mother, Barbara Weiderman. Both his parents were born in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. They immigrated to the […]

This brick building was built in 1882-1883 on Center Ridge in North Ridgeville.  It was designed by Elah Terrell, who was the grandson of some of North Ridgeville’s original pioneers.  (He also designed the Washington Building of neighboring Elyria High School, which is known as the first chartered high school west of the Alleghenys.)  This […]

The year was 1924 and students in North Ridgeville were about to experience a big change in their education- a big NEW school was being opened to serve all students in the city from grades 1 through 12!  These students had attended small one or two room schoolhouses and these district schoolhouses were to be […]

The year was 1814 and our country was in dire trouble.  Two years earlier Britain attempted to restrict U.S. trade, started forcing U.S. seamen to serve on British ships, and tried to prevent the U.S. from expanding its territory.  War had been declared in June of 1812 and the U.S. Forces started by attacking Canada, […]

Although North Ridgeville was founded after the Revolutionary War took place, there were several veterans of that war that lived here in the following years.  The following is a list of 11 veterans who served in that war (which ran 1775-1781), 10 of whom [ *]  are buried here:   *Capt. John Barnum (1758-1819)  arrived […]

“Two Die in Ridgeville Home Fire”  was the headline in the Chronicle Telegram that evening.  The year was 1955 and this would become one of the worst tragedies in North Ridgeville’s history.  In the early morning hours of a cold February morning fire struck at a local residence.  The five room house was home to […]

The first settlers named their settlement Rootstown in honor of Ephraim Root, the gentleman that they purchased the land from.  The township organized the first Monday in April 1813 at the Terrell Tavern.  The settlement name was changed to Ridgeville due to the numerous ridges.  There were fifteen voters, and they were all at the […]

The Museum at the Old Town Hall is home to many items from North Ridgeville’s past, but none with a story as detailed as the Gilder Anvil.  It is about 127 pounds in weight, is over 100 years old and shows the wear of a well-used item from the past.  Made in England by the […]

Shawville History The Railroad from Cleveland to Toledo was completed in 1853. The railroad station in North Ridgeville was built about 1868 at the Center Road crossing (Rt 83) on land sold to the Cleveland & Toledo Railroad company in 1867 by Samuel Shaw the uncle of Samuel H Shaw. It was originally called Ridgeville […]

Our founding fathers left their homes in Waterbury Connecticut and headed west to find new opportunities in the Western Reserve of Ohio.  Fifteen men left their families behind and hiked 600+ miles to what was to become North Ridgeville- a trip that would take them a month.