Old Town Hall Museum
The Old Town Hall Museum houses artifacts from North Ridgeville’s past including maps, school photos and memorabilia, farming implements, military items and various other items of interest.
The township’s first permanent Town Hall was a frame structure erected in about 1859 near the present site of the Old Town Hall, on land leased from Levi W. Terrell, who lived in the the house just west of the site.
In 1882, the citizens of the township voted in the April election upon building a new larger town hall. The measure passed by a 3-1 margin and bids were received, with Elah Terrell (a Ridgeville native) and a Mr. Morris receiving the contract. By November 1882 the foundation was completed, with the brick interior work being finished in 1883. The total cost of the structure, furnishings and other incidentals was estimated at $12,000. Dedication ceremonies were held on Thursday, December 20, 1883. This featured band music, speeches, and a large dinner.
The new building was a two-story, 42′ by 64′ brick structure. The foundation, trim and curved window arches were cut from Amherst sandstone. The eaves, braces and wood trim were painted white. The roof was of slate, the bell tower was covered with sheets of copper and there were two large brick chimneys toward the back of the building. The lower story was designed for holding elections and general township business. The second story was for public meetings, lectures, and concerts, and was furnished with a stage on the south end, five chandeliers and “298 fine opera chairs” on a sloping floor rising back from the stage.
During the 1960s the first floor of the Town Hall (then called City Hall) was remodeled twice as expanding city offices and increased heating costs required such change. Small offices were partitioned off, ceilings were lowered, doors were replaced, etc. In January of 1975 the Town Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places and later that same year all the city government offices were moved to the current City Hall location on Avon-Belden Rd.
The Olde Towne Hall Players group was formed and began restoration of the second floor theater in about 1976. The North Ridgeville Public Library moved into the first floor around 1977 and remained there until September of 1989. In the fall of 1989 North Ridgeville City Council authorized the North Ridgeville Historical Society to have use of the first floor for its museum and permanent meeting place. The first floor is currently shared with the theater group and the building is once again a thriving part of the community.
