Posted December 20, 201014 yr A Sunday drive through winery and nursery country out east in Lake/Ashtabula counties, after leaving Geneva-on-the-Lake, passing through 4 different town centers. A lot of this follows State Rt. 84 (part of the old Cleveland-Buffalo Rd).
December 20, 201014 yr Napa it ain't but there are some cute towns in there. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
December 20, 201014 yr Napa it ain't but there are some cute towns in there. Yeah, but when you're sitting on the patio of South River Winery, or Chalet Debonne Vineyards, you would think you are there. Absolutely beautiful views. This stretch of Ohio is my favorite in the state. Harpersfield itself along the river to me is stunning. Great Photos!
December 20, 201014 yr Napa it ain't but there are some cute towns in there. Yeah, but when you're sitting on the patio of South River Winery, or Chalet Debonne Vineyards, you would think you are there. ^Until you taste the wine, I'm guessing... The towns look great! Is the countryside succumbing to large lot housing out there or is it keeping a healthy rural character?
December 20, 201014 yr ^ It still has a lot of character. Great photo thread again, Clueless! These small satellite urban centers just outside of Cleveland are worthy of re-discovery as well. Great pedestrian designed town centers. I often notice how many of these we have and also take note to the fact at how currently, they are so underutilized in that respect, because cars outnumber pedestrians so much.
December 20, 201014 yr Nice photos! I grew up in Ashtabula County so this is all very familiar territory for me. The towns look great! Is the countryside succumbing to large lot housing out there or is it keeping a healthy rural character? No, it's all pretty much rural. Calling it exurban is misleading since Cleveland's sprawl has not really encroached on this area. Although parts of Ashtabula County are not exactly what I would call "healthy." This area could benefit by promoting its wine industry and lakefront areas better.
December 20, 201014 yr What is with the little towers on the older homes? Lake views? Good spot to perch up and shoot rabbits in your garden?
December 20, 201014 yr thanks, interesting. I recall driving through this area many times with my family. We knew some people who had a small farm in the Conneaut area. (Back in the old days before the sprawl even Mentor, with only a few thousand residents, was full of nurseries, even along Mentor Ave. all the way to Painesville). I also remember going to a party at one of those beautiful historic homes in Madison (can't tell if it's one pictured) owned by a doctor and his wife (a librarian at the public lib. I worked while in high school, who also drove a replica of a 1930's Cord--a little highfalutin for Lake County circa 1971, to say the least! lol). http://www.mainstreetpainesville.org/
December 20, 201014 yr What is with the little towers on the older homes? Lake views? Good spot to perch up and shoot rabbits in your garden? I think that was just the style of the period for upper class homes in the area. I never really thought about it but it's pretty common to see around there. It certainly has nothing to do with lake views, as there are many houses with that feature built away from the lake.
December 20, 201014 yr warm weather? remember that? very pleasant. Napa it ain't but there are some cute towns in there. if you have to go 2500 miles for a comparison that aint too shabby!
December 20, 201014 yr Beautiful set! An elegant Italianate Victorian with a belvedere and many other neat and tidy historic gems. And a direction sign with an apostrophe error; "Grand River Cellar's."
December 21, 201014 yr Nice photos! I've traveled through this area many times to visit a great aunt born in 1892 (died 1987) and lived the first half of her life in Ripley, NY and the other half in Northeast, PA. We would drive I-90 in one direction and often come back US20/SR84 the other. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 21, 201014 yr Very cool. I ate many times at the Old Tavern in Unionville. Sad to see it closed. It was a one of a kind place.
December 21, 201014 yr WTF? Is this on the site of the winery? No, it's not. The abandoned house and the Spring Hill Winery are both away from the town center of Geneva but not near each other. The house is close to the side of a busy main thoroughfare, easy to see. Nice photos! I grew up in Ashtabula County so this is all very familiar territory for me. The towns look great! Is the countryside succumbing to large lot housing out there or is it keeping a healthy rural character? No, it's all pretty much rural... You grew up there so you know more than me, but I would say that Perry, briefly shown in the few pictures at the end of the thread and the westernmost municipality on this tour, is almost certainly suburban (certainly exurban). The area now has many housing developments and the small historic "town center" and the surrounding homes are now the exception, not the rule. Madison, which is the next town east, has a good number of ex-Euclid residents (Euclidians?) and an emerging suburban feel. Madison is the "east side" location for Berea's Cornerstone Brewery (patio is pictured in the thread). And I know several people who work at UH and CCF that commute from these 2 places -- Perry, Madison. Harpersfield, Geneva are definitely rural. Given how sprawl works in this state, it's possible that in a couple decades these areas may look very different and have increased populations.
December 21, 201014 yr You grew up there so you know more than me, but I would say that Perry, briefly shown in the few pictures at the end of the thread and the westernmost municipality on this tour, is almost certainly suburban (certainly exurban). The area now has many housing developments and the small historic "town center" and the surrounding homes are now the exception, not the rule. Madison, which is the next town east, has a good number of ex-Euclid residents (Euclidians?) and an emerging suburban feel. Madison is the "east side" location for Berea's Cornerstone Brewery (patio is pictured in the thread). And I know several people who work at UH and CCF that commute from these 2 places -- Perry, Madison. Harpersfield, Geneva are definitely rural. Given how sprawl works in this state, it's possible that in a couple decades these areas may look very different and have increased populations. OK, I'll give you Perry. A lot of those people also work at the nuclear plant or have moved out of Painsville (the perceived ghetto of Lake County) into more suburban style housing to the east. Madison however I would not consider exurban, although I agree that it certainly could turn out that way in the not so distant future. You may find some very limited suburban style development around Madison, or even parts of Ashtabula County, but I think these are more likely long time locals than people who moved out from Cleveland. Even in small town American people view living in a mcmansion development as the American dream and have upgraded to that type of house from their older "in-town" house. Ashtabula City for example definitely has its own localized sprawl that has occurred while the older neighborhoods have degenerated.
December 21, 201014 yr A lot of those people also work at the nuclear plant or have moved out of Painsville (the perceived ghetto of Lake County) good riddance! :mrgreen: :shoot: http://www.mainstreetpainesville.org/
December 22, 201014 yr No matter how it's referred to now or in the future, one thing is certain...it sits squarely in the state of "Erie", lol.
December 22, 201014 yr Stunning! I almost fell out of my chair. Many of those houses are swoonworthy. Gorgeous day, as well.
January 17, 201114 yr It's nice to see my city not get picked on. I live in Geneva, and grew up in Madison. My mom has told me they moved to Madison from Mentor when I was 3. That was a little over 30 years ago. She said when she would drive up one of the main roads (Hubbard) that she could drive from the lakeshore to rt. 20 and never pass a car! NOT NOW! Lol!
January 21, 201114 yr Another great path to take when out there is a covered bridge tour through Ashtabula County. There are something like 16 out there. https://www.instagram.com/cle_and_beyond/https://www.instagram.com/jbkaufer/
January 17, 201411 yr Unionville Tavern owner fights foreclosure in Madison Township By Simon Husted, The News-Herald Posted: 01/15/14, 1:27 AM EST http://www.news-herald.com/general-news/20140115/unionville-tavern-owner-fights-foreclosure-in-madison-township http://www.mainstreetpainesville.org/
January 17, 201411 yr I had no idea that tavern was so old -- in fact I'm surprised any structures from the 18th century were still standing in Ohio. I didn't bother to read the historical marker the first time around. BTW, this one looks like it's from right around the turn of the 18th century. At first, the foundation looked newer than that, but it appears there's stonework popping out through the cracks in the concrete casing that was added later.... "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
January 17, 201411 yr ^yeah, that is surprising. The earliest structure I know of still standing in Painesville is Rider's Inn from 1812, but nothing left from the 18th Century (I could be wrong). I don't think I was ever in the Unionville Tavern, although I recall passing it many times on family trips. What I do remember thinking was where the heck is this town, Unionville?? It barely exists on the map. http://www.mainstreetpainesville.org/
March 29, 201411 yr Unionville Tavern owner fights foreclosure in Madison Township By Simon Husted, The News-Herald Posted: 01/15/14, 1:27 AM EST http://www.news-herald.com/general-news/20140115/unionville-tavern-owner-fights-foreclosure-in-madison-township some hopeful news-- Preservation Ohio plans visit to Unionville Tavern in Madison Township http://www.news-herald.com/general-news/20140328/preservation-ohio-plans-visit-to-unionville-tavern-in-madison-township http://www.mainstreetpainesville.org/
August 8, 201410 yr I guess the pictures have been removed from this thread :-(. Oh well, hopefully some some good news anyway-- Preservation Society buys Unionville Tavern for $90,621 http://www.news-herald.com/general-news/20140807/preservation-society-buys-unionville-tavern-for-90621 By Simon Husted, The News-Herald POSTED: 08/06/14, 11:44 AM EDT | A national historic site that statewide preservation experts consider in danger of falling apart has been purchased by a preservation society that has advocated for the structure’s upkeep since forming three years ago. Businessman Larry Rickard, owner of the Great Lakes Medieval Faire in Trumbull Township, sold the four parcels making up the Unionville Tavern Aug. 5 to the Unionville Tavern Preservation Society for $90,621.88, according to the Lake County Auditor’s office. The negotiated purchase comes a day before the property was headed to a Lake County sheriff auction because of $81,000 in unpaid property taxes. http://www.mainstreetpainesville.org/
July 16, 20159 yr I guess the pictures have been removed from this thread :-(. Oh well, hopefully some some good news anyway-- Preservation Society buys Unionville Tavern for $90,621 http://www.news-herald.com/general-news/20140807/preservation-society-buys-unionville-tavern-for-90621 By Simon Husted, The News-Herald POSTED: 08/06/14, 11:44 AM EDT | A national historic site that statewide preservation experts consider in danger of falling apart has been purchased by a preservation society that has advocated for the structure’s upkeep since forming three years ago. Businessman Larry Rickard, owner of the Great Lakes Medieval Faire in Trumbull Township, sold the four parcels making up the Unionville Tavern Aug. 5 to the Unionville Tavern Preservation Society for $90,621.88, according to the Lake County Auditor’s office. The negotiated purchase comes a day before the property was headed to a Lake County sheriff auction because of $81,000 in unpaid property taxes. another positive sign-- Unionville tavern announces grants for restoration http://www.news-herald.com/general-news/20150713/unionville-tavern-announces-grants-for-restoration?source=most_viewed By Simon Husted, The News-Herald POSTED: 07/13/15, 11:25 PM EDT | UPDATED: 1 DAY AGO 1 "A more than 200-year-old historical icon on the border of Ashtabula and Lake counties received its first two grants to fuel a preservation group’s quest of restoring and reusing the long vacant structure. The Unionville Tavern Preservation Society announced July 10 that it was awarded $9,695 by The Robert S. Morrison Foundation, based in the city of Ashtabula, and over the weekend the group learned it won a $8,225 matching grant from the National Trust and Preservation Society. Both the local and national grants are being dedicated to complete an extensive report that will shed details on the cost and work needed to restore the three-story Unionville Tavern in Madison Township. The completed Historic Structures Report and Master Plan is also a “critical component” to acquiring more sources of funding for the physical project itself, the preservation group said." http://www.mainstreetpainesville.org/
July 22, 20159 yr Glad to see the pics are back. Not just a great subject, but the quality of the photography is very good. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 4, 20169 yr Underground Railroad tour of Lake County-- Saturday, June 18 at 12:00 PM in EDT https://www.facebook.com/events/1743068339249524/?active_tab=highlights Presented by Ohio Humanities Council Join us for a drive-it-yourself tour focusing on the underground railroad in Lake County and Ohio. Cathy Nelson from the Ohio Humanities Council will talk on the Ohio Underground Railroad at the Lake County History Center, Unionville Tavern will re-create a modern reenactment for visitors to step into the famous Milton Clarke slave escape that inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” and St. John Baptist’s will tell their 175 year history as the first African American mission in Painesville. As you drive past Underground Railroad stations and abolitionist homes (maps provided online or at the museum), participants will come back to the History Center for a BBQ meal in the LCHS event barn and listen to a dramatic reading of the Milton Clarke story. This is the first time a dramatic reading will have been done, and the first time residents will be able to physically step into the shoes of the Kentucky slave catchers, runaway slaves, and abolitionists of Unionville Tavern’s most famous incident. Program starts at 12pm noon at the Lake County History Center. Program at St. John’s Baptist is at 1:30pm. Program at Unionville Tavern is at 3pm. Map costs for self-driving tour are $2/map. Tickets for the dinner and dramatic reading are $30/ea or $55/couple. Proceeds benefit Lake County History Center and the Unionville Tavern Preservation Society. http://www.mainstreetpainesville.org/
August 4, 20168 yr News on the Unionville Tavern.... Unionville Tavern restoration project gets help from state, other donors to begin its first phase http://www.news-herald.com/general-news/20160802/unionville-tavern-restoration-project-gets-help-from-state-other-donors-to-begin-its-first-phase "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 3, 20178 yr slowly but surley i see there has been a discussion about the Western reserve on UrbanOhio.com and cleveland.com. while talk of secession from the rest of ohio is silly and lunacy, the western reserve is a real thing and longstanding identity up here (talking to southern ohioans here) this area subjuect of this thread northeast of Cleveland is a hotbed of WR/ New england history.
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