The North Ridgeville Historical Society was founded in 1977 by Manhatten and Marcellen Lengel, Harry and Dorothy Painter, Jerry and Branka Malinar, and Frances Smith, among others. Harry painter served as the first President of the society.

In 1978 the Beckett Corporation on Center Ridge Rd. allowed us the use of three rooms for meeting and museum space in the Samuel Cahoon House (circa 1845), adjacent to their factory.  The Historical Society maintained a museum in the Cahoon House from 1978 – 1987, then for the next 2 years the museum collection was displayed temporarily—first in the Lunas Professional Building on Sugar Ridge Rd, and finally placed in storage at the North Ridgeville Water Treatment Plant in Sheffield Village.

In 1989 the City of North Ridgeville generously agreed to allow us the use of the first floor of the Old Town Hall on Center Ridge, for a museum and meeting room space.