Knights of Labor Miners Park
Knights of Labor Miners (KOL) Park- Located in the green space, between Tecumseh Theater and Black Diamond Tavern, along East Main St, KOL Park was created as a result of a Preserve America grant in 2003. The park pays homage to the Knights of Labor (KOL) Movement that played an important role in the union organization of Hocking Valley miners throughout the early years of the region's coal boom era of the 1870s. The KOL was the first major labor union organization in the United States. The KOL operated by two fundamental philosophies: "An injury to one is a concern of all" and “Labor is the first capital." Located at the center of the park is Alan Cottrill’s sculpture "Hocking Valley Coal Miner." The miner is depicted in the "miners crouch" with his pick-ax pointed toward the future. If you look closely, you will notice 3 equilateral triangles located at the base of the sculpture, representing the KOL ideas of labor, capital, and everlasting truth. Please pay close attention to the token with the inscription " No.169," as the number is a tribute to Shawnee's local KOL chapter, which was the second-oldest chapter in Ohio at the time. This token is a way to further represent the secretive nature of the KOL because miners that joined the union movement were strongly discouraged to join unions by mine operators and mine owners. Joining a union movement, such as the KOL, put the miner in a perilous situation, as they could be fired for doing so. Continue to make your way East along Main St toward the Black Diamond Tavern, to the right of the park.
Shawnee Bank Building (Black Diamond Tavern)
Shawnee Bank Building (Black Diamond Tavern)- Prior to becoming the Shawnee Bank building, it was constructed in 1877 for Thomas Hughes. Mr. Hughes used the ground floor as a saloon and the upstairs was used for entertainment functions. The original red brick front was removed in 1906. This building was home to the Shawnee Bank and was renovated. As America was in the throes of the Great Depression, the Hocking Valley was hit especially hard. In 1933, the Shawnee Bank closed its doors. However, the bank’s closure in 1933, did not prove to be an end. By the 1940s, the building was home to the Shawnee Grill and has served as the town’s bar in some capacity since. One of those owners included Hazel Hyde Matthews, who moved her Flying Trapeze Bar from East Main St to this location, during Hazel’s management of the bar, it featured glass windows that were removed after a logging truck, coming south from Scotch Hill, rambled through the building. The bar was just sold and hopes to reopen soon under the new name of Black Diamond Tavern, paying homage to the area's rich and important past. Please note, If you look inside the building, you will notice the tin ceiling tiles that provide a link to Shawnee’s boom time. As you continue your tour, you will notice another building with similar tin ceilings. Continue East to the KOL Opera House, located to the right of the Bank Building.
Knights of Labor Opera House
Knights of Labor Opera House- Located on the corner of Main and Second street you are now looking up at the Knights of Labor Opera House (KOL), directly to the east of the Black Diamond Tavern. Constructed in 1881, at a cost of $8,200 by the KOL, the opera house symbolized the growing movement of the KOL throughout the area and the important role the organization played in the early civic life of the village. Notice the building is made of soft, red brick. This red brick came from New York Hill located on the eastern of the edge of town near the Shawnee fire department and baseball diamond. The brick building was made using Scove Kiln style bricks, a handmade method of brickmaking. As a result of the Scove Kiln style of brickmaking, the bricks were softer and less structurally sound. Because of this, the building was then plastered with stucco as a way to ensure the structural integrity of the building. At the time of the building’s construction, the opera house played an important role in the growing KOL movement serving as an entertainment venue and co-op store. William T. Lewis, a labor organizer, used the third floor to teach grammar and literacy night classes to miners. Further, Lewis set up America’s first free unemployment offices, known as the “Ohio Plan” around the state at the request of then-Gov. William McKinley as he would go on to serve as the 25th President of the United States. McKinley sent Lewis to France to study the country's free unemployment bureaus as a model for Ohio’s unemployment offices. Another important KOL leader was William H.Bailey who would go on to serve as head of National District Assembly of Miners, #135. Fellow Shawnee resident, T.L. Lewis served a term as UMWA President from 1908-1911. If you look at the top of the building you will see the inscription of “KOP.” As labor organizational activity grew in the area, during the mid-1880s, the KOL became increasingly idealistic and took more of an interest in social issues as opposed to labor issues. As a result, a number of members left and the KOL would merge with the National Trade Assembly #135 to form the United Mine Workers of America in 1890. As a result, the Knights of Pythias then occupied the Opera House following the fall of the KOL. The KOP was a fraternal organization that operated the building from the 1890s through the 1920s.
Shawnee Jail (Second Village Hall)
Shawnee Jail(Second Village Hall)- From the KOL Opera House, make a left at the corner of Main and Second and head up Second Street, known as Schoolhouse Hill. Continue to the corner of Second and Walnut Streets, you will come across a red-brick building. The red-brick building was built 15 years later after the Town Hall, directly beside it, in December of 1889 at a cost of $1,500 dollars. This red brick building would double as the new Shawnee Village Hall and featured a new all-steel three-cell jail which is still inside today. The tripling of the village jail is further emblematic of the boisterous and ebullient life the village experienced as the community made its way into the 1890s. As a result of the village’s first homicide in 1879, village residents formed their own “Law and Order League” to bring more order to the village. Lastly, If you look closely, you will notice the same red brick used to build the KOL Opera House.
Original Shawnee Village Hall
Shawnee Village Hall- Directly beside the village jail is the original Shawnee Village Hall. The two-story, white-framed, wooden structured building you see to your left was built in August of 1874 and was known as “The Tower.” The wood-framed building was built at a cost of $685.00 dollars and is believed to be the first structure built in the village. When built, it had a slate roof and featured a large meeting room on the second floor and a jail cell on the first floor. This building served as the original village hall of Shawnee until the red-brick structure next to it was built in 1889. The bell in the tower once sounded all fire alarms and in the evening reminded the town children of the evening curfew. Many older residents who recall this refer to as the “kid bell.”
Walnut Street Church of Christ
Walnut Street Church of Christ- Next to the Original Village Hall is the Walnut Street Church of Christ. This is one of but three churches remaining in Shawnee. Once, the Baptists, Catholics, Church of God, Jehovah’s Witness, Primitive Methodists, Welsh Congregationalists, and Welsh Presbyterians all had buildings here. In addition, small groups of Lutherans and Jews met in various places including The Tower. Today the Church of Christ, the United Methodists, and the Shawnee Mission a nondenominational church are the only religious groups to have places of worship in Shawnee.
Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine
Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine- Continuing West along Walnut street through the intersection of 1st Street and the junction of Walnut and Perry Streets you will see the Lady of the Lourdes Shrine. Near the Shrine stood the St. Mary's Catholic Church. The church was easily recognizable during its time, as the word “Mary’s” was emblazoned on its slate roof. St. Mary also ran a catholic school that burnt down in the 1970s. The shrine serves as a strong representation of Shawnee’s catholic community, the shrine is connected to the hardships many residents faced in the 1950s as a result of a shrinking economy. Bishop Issenman of the Catholic Diocese of Columbus came to visit Shawnee in 1958 and was shown a new wall built by the church community in between the rectory and church. Issenmann thought there should be a statue placed at the end of the wall. In previous years, plans were made to revitalize the Old Stone Church as a historic landmark but never came to fruition. Father McEwan, of Shawnee, suggested the shrine be built from the stone hauled from the dilapidated Old Stone Church. The plan was to have 12 truckloads of stone, a stonemason, who also doubled as a parish member, and hire another unemployed and retired man at 10 dollars per day over a month to construct the shrine. In actuality, the project took three months and even more truckloads due to winter conditions and the trucks getting stuck in the mud.
Salt Lick Township Memorial Park
Salt Lick Memorial Park- As you make your way back up to the corner of Walnut and 2nd streets, the site of Village Hall and the jail, continue to make your way back down Schoolhouse Hill, to the corner of Main and 2nd Streets. Here you will come across Salt Lick Memorial Park, directly across from Knights of Labor Opera House. Named after the numerous salt licks in surrounding hills outside of Shawnee. This area was a popular gathering spot for wild game. As a result, the area was a traditional seasonal hunting ground for the Shawnee tribes prior to European settlement. Constructed in 1922 using Iron Clay brick from Rock Run, the village gazebo serves as a natural focal point of the park. Where the gazebo now stands, the Booth Building had once housed Ben Neble’s general store. Neble’s son, Emmanuel, would leave Shawnee and found Commonwealth Oil Co in Cleveland, which would be bought out by Mobil Oil. The park acts as an outdoor entertainment space and has hosted numerous outdoor concerts.
East Main Street
East Main Street- The American sits on E. Main St and marks the divide between East and West Main Streets. If you look down E. Main St, toward Salt Lick Park, you will notice Hannah Brothers furniture. Hannah’s has been a mainstay in downtown Shawnee. Don Hannah had purchased the KOL Opera House in 1943 and the Hannah family has helped to spearhead efforts to rehabilitate Shawnee’s historic downtown, focusing on buildings along E. Main St. Shawnee’s current village hall, fire department, and museum are all located along E. Main St. During the boom era, East Main Street was home to numerous grocery stores, including three right in a row. During a day in the 1960s, it has been said that there was a car rambling down Schoolhouse Hill had lost their breaks. The car then crashed into the buildings directly across the street and the lady perished as a result. A gallon of mustard was also said to have spilled out the vehicle following the crash.
American Hotel and Bar
The American Hotel and Bar-If you look directly across the street from the park, you will see a faded green building on the corner of Main and Second Street, constructed in 1872. This former 3 story building was once visited by William Jennings Bryan in 1897. Bryan spoke from the building’s front porch to a very large crowd in the interest of Henry Chapman of Jackson who was a Democratic candidate for Governor. The structure originally consisted of three stories. As the town grew so did business as the American Hotel grew quickly, becoming the American Hotel and Bar in the early 1900s. Hotels were some of the most vital business throughout the Little Cities region. With the arrival of the railroads, this opened up the area for vast immigration. Immigrants from eastern European countries, such as Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and England coupled with others from Italy, Hungary, and Germany quickly rushed into the Hocking Valley region to fill vast mining shortages. In Shawnee, like many other communities, sports were a popular pastime. In the 1920s and 1930s America was enthralled by the sport of boxing. Naturally, the American Hotel and Bar would play host to numerous boxing matches.
Blaire's Drug Store (Ohio's Winding Road Marketplace)
Blaire’s Drug store (Ohio’s Winding Road Marketplace)-As you make your way from the former American Hotel down East Main Street back toward Miners Memorial Park, you will come across the former Blaire’s Drugstore, located across the street from Tecumseh Theatre. Built in 1902 as Blaire’s Cash Pharmacy Edward and Ed Jr operated it until 1960. Notice how the brick is different from the brick used to construct KOL Opera House and the old village jail. This brick is more orange in color and is known as Iron Clay brick. The brick was glazed and fired in a coal-fired kiln. This makes the brick stronger and structurally sound. Better known locally as Seven Chimneys, Rock Run was a brick-making plant located off of State Route 93 on Rock Run Rd, halfway between Shawnee and New Straitsville. If you look inside, you will notice the tin ceilings and individually-placed tile flooring. The tin ceilings, now in white plaster, are similar to those seen in the Shawnee Bank building across the street. The lavish interior features of the store represent the boom time of Shawnee. From 1988-2013 the building served Shawnee as the Community Exchange Gift Shop. Currently, the building provides office space to Ohio’s Winding Road, a grassroots effort to create a regional network of authentic experiences, entrepreneurs, and producers that create a sense of place in southeast Ohio.
Overhang Porches
Overhang Porches- If you look up at the Blaire’s Drug Store, you will notice Shawnee’s most iconic architectural feature, the overhang porches. The overhang porches line the streets of downtown. As Shawnee bustled and grew into the 20th century, many shopkeepers would live in upstairs apartments directly below their shops. Thus, the overhang porches acted as their front yards. Due to the close proximity of the proches with one another, neighbors would interact with one another by passing pies and flour to each other from their porches. Stories were also swapped from the friendly confines of their “front yards”. The boom-style, overhang porches speak to Shawnee’s national prominence. Shawnee is home to the largest collection of boom-style architecture east of the Mississippi. Despite their significant architectural qualities, the porches are struggling to be preserved and saved and are at risk of being lost to history.
Shawnee Post Office (now Shawnee Mercantile)
Shawnee Post Office (now Shawnee Mercantile)- Located right next to the Blair Building, was the former Shawnee Post Office. The yellowish-glazed brick used to construct the building was made at Craycraft, a brick-making facility east of town, situated where the village ball diamonds are now. This yellow-glazed brick design offered more structural integrity than the Scove Kiln style. Craycraft brick was kiln-fired, heating the clay up to a hotter temperature, made it more structurally sound, and gave it a glazed appearance. Craycraft brick was an innovator in the brick-making industry, as its brick was used in the construction of the Sears Tower in Chicago, in constructing skyscrapers in New York City, and it can be found in buildings in downtown Columbus. The Twin Towers next to Ohio Stadium on the campus of The Ohio State University was constructed with brick from the Shawnee Claycraft plant. Interestingly, the post office has moved around Main Street throughout the years. The post office was moved to this building in 1955. If you look closely, you might have noticed the ramp at the side of the building, postal employees would utilize this ramp to bring mail-in and out each day. Currently, the building is home to Shawnee Mercantile and is owned and operated by Shawnee residents Deb Hutmire and Bev Trovato. Visitors can find a wide array of handcrafted, vintage, and garden items throughout the store.
Harrop Furniture (now Little Cities of Black Diamonds Council)
Harrop Furniture (Little Cities of Black Diamonds office)- As you continue along W. Main Street and make your way further along the street, you will come to an orange wooden framed building. The building originally belonged to the Harrop family. One of Shawnee’s most prominent residents, Walter Harrop lived in the blue house (Buckeye Trail Office), next door. At one point looking at the right side of the building, closest to the Buckeye Trail Office, the room was used as a furniture and casket making space as it served as a funeral home. To the left of the space, where the archive is currently, was the old village restaurant. The building belongs to the Buckeye Trail Association, which operates next door. Currently, the Little Cities of Black Diamonds Council (LCBD) office is based out of the space. LCBD is a historical organization that is dedicated to promoting and sharing labor and cultural history of the LCBD microregion. The LCBD microregion refers to the 60 coal mining towns and camps or so, that sprung up throughout the Hocking Valley Coal Boom throughout the Monday and Sunday Creek watersheds.
Harrop House (Buckeye Trail Office)
Harrop House (Buckeye Trail Office)- The blue house before you, directly to the right, beside the LCBD office, was the Walter Harrop House. The Harrop family is one of Shawnee's most noteworthy families. The Harrops lived upstairs and operated a funeral home below. It has been said that coffins were laid out in front of the house. Walt Sr. enjoyed unprecedented success as he was inducted into the inaugural Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame Class in the 1980s. Harrop had an overall record of 516-242, including coaching the Shawnee High Indians to an appearance in the 1938 Boys "Class B" Ohio High School State Championship game. Prior to leading the boys' program, Harrop coached the Shawnee girls team from 1929-1938 and amassed 80 overall wins. During World War II, Harrop coached three different boys basketball teams in one season. Interestingly, legend has it that Walt was looking to drop out of school during his sophomore year at Shawnee High. One of Harrop's most accomplished players was Alice "Sis" Harbarger. Inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014, Harbarger finished her basketball career with 1,137 career points in 57 games for an average of 19 points per game. However, she only spent two years as an offensive player and averaged 29 points a game her senior year. Walter Harrop Jr. Joined his father in the Hall of Fame in 2012, coaching his Riverview team to 1975 State Championship and amassed 424 victories himself. Harrop Sr’s, other son, Richard, amassed 500 career wins and is a member of the Graceland College HOF, leaving as the school’s all-time leading scorer.
Ellody Building
Ellody Building- As you make your way down the street headed west from the BTA Office, you’ll arrive at the end of the street and come across the Ellody Building. Named for the Ellis and Baroody families, Ellody is a combination of the families two last names that ran the confectionery. Prior to becoming known as the Ellody, the building served as home to Benjamin Threw’s Meat Shop. The building housed many food confectioneries over the years. Serving the community as a food confectionary, this also allowed the village to have a vibrant Lebanese community, as immigrants would make their way to Shawnee to work as food confectionery owners. In the 1950s, the building served the community as the local malt shop. Thus, the Ellody became the unofficial village hangout spot for Shawnee youth. It was a beloved building for Shawnee residents as the building hosted several dances. Residents from the surrounding area including New Lexington and New Straitsville would come for entertainment.
Site of Shawnee Railroad Depot (Village Basketball court)
Baltimore and Ohio Depot/Hoster Brewery (Basketball courts) As you look out to the southwest of the Ellody building, toward State Route 93, you will see the village basketball courts. Where the courts are now, the village railroad depot once stood. The depot served the village as the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad crossed through town where the basketball court and unmarked road is now. Furthermore, adjacent to the basketball courts you will see a large two-story gray house, just behind the Ellody, that was once the Hoster Distributing Company where Peter Krebbs served as the village’s beer distributor. The building was also a hotel and restaurant serving passengers using the B&O.
Upson Company Store (Masonic Building)
Upson Company Store (Masonic Building)- As you cross the street, directly opposite from the Ellody Building, you will see a tan/gray-colored building with a stone facade. Built prior to 1875 as the Upson Company Store. While Shawnee was not a company town, coal companies still housed their company stores in the village. The Upson Company store served the Upson Coal Company. The Upson Company mine was located across present-day State Route 93, on the ridge behind where B n C Carryout is currently located. The Upson Coal Company also created the small hamlet of Upsonville near the mine. Upson General store is a good example of how coal companies dictated the power they wielded over their labor force. Coal companies throughout the Hocking Valley would pay their employees in script, as miners would get paid by the amount of coal mined. This script was only valid at the company store, thus miners wages would go directly back to the company they worked for. The Upson company mines would become victims to the Great Mine Fire of 1884-1885 during the Hocking Valley Coal Strike. Attempts to put the fire out were initially successful, but then the fire reignited later on. On the eastern edge of town, the New York Company store would serve its miners and would work in the mines along New York Hill.
Baltimore and Ohio Office
B and O Office- The white building, located to the left of the Masonic Building, was the office of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad after the depot was demolished on where the basketball court is now located. The track ran just below the hillside heading east toward state Routes 93 and 155 leading to the Claycraft Brick plant. Heading west the railroad line made its way through the Bristol Tunnel to points in northern Perry County and beyond. The train would have to back into Shawnee because there was no turntable. The location of the former office helps provide further evidence that Shawnee was an important regional hub for transportation, commerce, and culture. The structure also housed a church and doctor's office at one point throughout its history.
Bill's Lunch
Bill’s Lunch- As you continue your tour of Main St, just to the right of the old B&O office and to the left of Harigle Garage, is an empty green space. Bill’s Lunch once stood before you. Shawnee resident Bill Ricketts served up Shawnee’s most iconic sandwich, “the cracker burger."It was developed by Chet Thompson, a former owner, who came up with the sandwich during the depression as a way to get the most bang for the buck. By adding crackers to ground beef he could make more patties. Locals were quick to point out that it was more cracker than burger. Financially, the cracker burger reflected its humble beginnings as it cost 20 cents compared to a normal hamburger which cost a nickel extra.
Harigle Garage
Harigle Garage- To the right of where Bills Lunch once stood is the Harigle Garage building. The building dates back to 1912 and was originally owned by Shawnee resident Frank Grimes. Grimes sold the building to another Shawnee resident, Ottie Harigle. Harigle expanded the storefront and now the large building served as Harigle Garage by 1918. It was an Oldsmobile dealership. Harigle Garage was built with Rock Run brick, the same brick featured in a large majority of buildings along E. Main St including Tecumseh Theater and Blairs. Two Gas pumps were located outside of the building. Interestingly, Harigle Garage also doubled as a candy store. Lastly, the garage was turned into an indoor parking garage for the village and through the 1970s, the space could house 8-10 automobiles in the facility.
Elanie's Garden
Elaine’s Garden- To the left of Harigle Garage, you will notice a green space with the outline of a brick framed structure and overhang porch above. Originally part of Ottie Harigle’s garage, the structure was built soon after the Great Fire of 1907 and was constructed by Shawnee resident John Condon in 1908. The building was a restaurant before Ottie Harigle purchased it and expanded it to a garage and candy store. With the help of an Americorps NCCC team, Elaine’s Garden became a reality in 2005. Created in memory of Shawnee Resident Elanie Shiplett, the garden was dedicated in her memory, as Shiplett played an important role at the Southern Perry County Youth Arts Center (SPiCYAM), located atop the Harigle Garage.
Shawnee Odd Fellows Hall
Shawnee Odd Fellows Hall- Located next to Elanie’s Garden, the Shawnee Odd Fellows building was constructed in 1908. Pay close attention to the I.O.O.F inscription centered at the top of the building. The inscription stands for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a non-sectarian and non-political fraternal organization. The inscription is further emblematic of the importance of social, fraternal, and civic organizations played in the construction of village infrastructure. Just in the downtown block of Shawnee alone, you’ve seen buildings built by the KOL, the IOOR, the Masons, and now the IOOF. The first-floor housed a meat market, pool hall, shoe, and carpet store. Lastly, The building’s ornamental brickwork was one of the features included on the application to list the main street on the National Register of Historic Places.
Shawnee Furniture Store
Shawnee Furniture Store- Directly to the right of the Shawnee Odd Fellows Hall, you may have noticed a Frigidaire sign hanging from the overhang balcony-style porch is the A.T. Sharshall building. After the Fire of 1907, the building was built and operated by Frank Sharshal as a hardware store. The building was then home of the Shawnee Furniture Store, owned and operated by Chester Dishon for many years, though the storefront was closed. Much like the Blair Building, you might notice the orange-glazed brick. The brick is also the Iron Clay brick used in constructing the Blair Building, Tecumseh Theatre, and Harigle Garage. Interestingly, the second floor was used as a chiropractor office and funeral parlor at one point. The building is now known as the Dishon Building in memory of Shawnee history and community leader Rob Dishon.
Tecumseh Theater
Tecumseh Theater-The Great Fire of 1907 would result in the Tecumseh Theater being built in 1907 and completed in 1908 by the Improved Order of Redmen. The Tecumseh Theater symbolizes the importance of the cultural arts and iconic architecture that is ubiquitous throughout Shawnee When the structure was built it was the tallest building in all of the Hocking Valley and Perry County. The building represents Shawnee’s architectural lineage, as the building is a very early example of skyscraper and I-Beam architecture. When completed in 1908, the building featured a movie house on the first floor and a theater hosting a wide variety of entertainment on the second. As the 1930s approached and the Hocking Valley Coal boom came to an end, Louie Hatem bought the building in 1931. Louie was quick to bring life back to the theatre. The New Linda Theater on the left side of the first floor was established along with Hatem’s Confectionery on the opposite side of the theater. The second floor would continue to serve as a community center and be utilized as a space for dances, graduations, basketball games, movies, and meetings. The Linda was the first theatre in the Hocking Valley to feature talkies and reel-projection films drawing large crowds and residents throughout the Little Cities region. However, after World War II the area would experience a decline. In 1956, The New Linda would close and the building would sit vacant until 1976. In 1976, Skip Ricketts, working at his father’s restaurant, Bill’s Lunch down the street, heard the building was going to be sold to a salvage company to collect the steel from the historic I-Beams. Taking a loan from his father, Skip bought the building from Louie for 500 dollars and started organizing volunteers to restore the building. The effort still continues today, as the building recently got electrical wiring and lighting put in upstairs.
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Caboose
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Caboose- Traveling from the Tecumseh Theater to the intersection of 2nd and Main streets, make a right toward the intersection of highways 155 and 93. To the left, you will come across an old B&O railroad caboose. The caboose is another time capsule to Shawnee’s vibrant past and represents the importance that the arrival of the railroad on the area. As a result, communities throughout the Hocking Valley were now connected with the rest of the country. The arrival of the B&O brought immigrants into Shawnee during the late 1800s. In the 1990s, Shawnee residents Wes “Foo” Tharp and retired B&O worker Jimmy Bath both played an integral role in bringing the caboose to town. Bath also collected cans to help raise money to get the caboose to Shawnee. Restoration efforts have been ongoing. Currently, Destination Shawnee, a nonprofit community organization focused on preserving and celebrating local history and culture while supporting local businesses, artisans, and outdoor recreation, has spearheaded efforts to revitalize the caboose. Recently, the caboose received a fresh coat of paint from the Miller High School Football Team.
Tecumseh Lake
Tecumseh Lake was created as a way to bring additional drinking water to the village while also bridging the religious divides between Shawnee’s Catholic and Methodist populations. In the early 1950s Father Michael Wellnitz of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Methodist minister and village mayor William Schuster rallied their respective congregations and got together to construct a dam across a stream just south of town. Tecumseh Lake and the park were dedicated in April of 1952 and serves as a recreational hub for the area currently. Before the dam was constructed with all volunteer labor, this was the former site of the XX Mine. The dam followed the railroad bed. The XX Mine, in 1882, employed 70 miners and 7 daymen, it was operated by the Newark Coal & Iron Company. The site best exemplifies the area’s shift from an extractive resource-based economy to a more centralized effort to conserve the land and bring the natural environment back to its original state. Visitors to the lake can enjoy the natural beauty of the Wayne National Forest through hiking the Buckeye Trail and North Country Scenic Trail, as they are accessible from Tecumseh Lake.
