Posted June 13, 200718 yr Wellington (pop. 4511), in southern Lorain County, was first settled in March of 1818. The township name was to be selected using the traditional method of the time: there was a tree chopping contest and whoever cut down the most trees won the right to name the settlement. Charles Sweet was the winner of the contest and named the township Charlemont. This name was unacceptable to many settlers and Charlemont was soon renamed Wellington. This name had a dual purpose: it allowed the honor of one of the original settlers, William T. Welling, and showed the people's admiration of the "Iron Duke," the Duke of Wellington. Wellington remained a small settlement until 1850 when the Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati Railroad (later the Big Four railroad) was routed through the town. It was incorporated as a village in 1855. Wellington played a pivotal part in an event that contributed to the Civil War: September 1858, a runaway slave named John Price was seized by United States Marshall Lowe in nearby Oberlin with plans to return him south by the first train in Wellington. Plans were thwarted however, by a large crowd at the American House Hotel in Wellington. The people involved were indicted by the United States Grand Jury for violation of the "Fugitive Law". Ohio had clearly taken a stand against slavery. Wellington has over 200 structures on the National Register of Historic Places, as part of the Wellington Center Historic District (downtown) and the Wellington Historic District (residential). Welcome to Wellington: "Cheese Empire of the Nation" became Wellington's famous title during the four decades surrounding 1880. Since the dairy farms in the area were producing so much milk, something had to be done with it. During this time period, at least 40 cheese factories and dozens of cheese warehouses popped up in and around Wellington and its population more than doubled. Wellington celebrates its dairy heritage each July during the Cheese Festival. Agriculture remains an important industry in Wellington, by methods both modern... and traditional. Wellington is also the home of the Lorain County Fair each August. Wellington native Archibald Willard painted the famous "Spirit of '76" in 1875, portraying Revolutionary War drummers and a fifer leading the way to battle. The painting was featured at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Wellington has one of Ohio's most unique town halls on its public square. The Town Hall was constructed in 1885 using a unique mix of Byzantine, Greek, Gothic, and Moorish architectural features. The Opera House as well as the offices of Village Government were housed here. The Herrick Memorial Library building was given to the people of the community by Myron T. Herrick. Herrick was chairman of the board of Cleveland's Society for Savings and was instrumental in the planning and construction of its landmark headquarters on Public Square. He later served as governor of Ohio and ambassador to France. The building was erected in 1902 on the site of the historic American House hotel. Monuments on the public square: The United Methodist congregation was established in 1828. Across the street from Town Hall Headed east on Herrick Avenue (Rt. 18) Now north on Main Street (Rt. 58) Ye Olde ATM??? A flatiron type building caused by the angle of Depot Street adjacent to the Big Four tracks West along Herrick Avenue Notice the "CHEESE" building, now the home of Wellington's paper, the Enterprise. Even the no parking signs are ornate Buildings along Depot Street Sometime soon I'll put together a thread of Wellington's historic houses and churches.
June 13, 200718 yr Cute town and a good tour and writeup. I 'bout choked on my coffee when I saw the photo of the ATM! :laugh:
June 16, 200717 yr Hi all, Next Saturday, the 23rd of June, the Highland Games will take place at the fair grounds in Wellington. Get your cabers and bales ready for tossing. Lots of hot looking men in their kilts. Bear hugz to all. Jim S.
June 16, 200717 yr Nice... A lot of small NEO towns are yet to be discovered in the photo threads on UO.
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