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Chronology of Significant Events: 1655-1970 1787 - After achieving statehood, Connecticut signed over most of its land holdings to the United States Government. That area was reserved and later sold to the Connecticut Land Company for $1.2 million. 1797 - This area of the Connecticut Western Reserve was surveyed and townships of five square miles were established arranged in 160 acre tracts. 1806 - Issac Bacon of Massachusetts purchased 160 acres in Town 5, Range 11; it was the first land sold in the town. The area was inhabited by Indians and wild animals. 1807 - Bacon and his family arrived by covered wagon and settled on Lot. No. 63. 1810 - The second family, that of Jerimiah Cranmer, settled in the town; Cranmer was a brother-in-law of Issac Bacon. Cranmer's grave is the oldest in the Northfield-Macedonia Cemetery. 1813 - First wedding in the town. 1814 - Saw mill built on the north side of Brandywine Creek by George Wallace. 1815 - George Wallace moved to Brandywine, built a grist mill on the south side of the creek and opened a store on the second floor of the mill. 1816 - A distillery was built on the south side of Brandywine Creek. 1817 - The first school (a log schoolhouse) was built at Brandywine, or Brandywine Mills as it was then called. A journalist of the time wrote "a more lively town than Cleveland, and with better prospects." 1819 - Northfield Township officially established on May 24th with the election of township officers. - Part of the area around Brandywine Falls annexed from Boston Township. - Log schoolhouse built near Bacon and Crannmer lots in the area called "Snatch-penny" (Valley View Road). - The area of the township later known as MMacedonia established by Henry Wood along Indian Run. 1821 - Woolen mill built at Brandywine; a total of 20 people were employed by the various industries around the falls. 1825 - First building erected in what now is known as Northfield Center; it was a log schoolhouse. A pump and watering trough were also erected in the center and can be seen in the same place today. - A post office was established at Brandywiine; it was the first in the township with George Wallace as Postmaster. - Henry Post built a saw mill at Little Yorrk along Brandywine Creek. 1826 - Stone schoolhouse built on Rte. 82 at Carter Road. 1830-- Manufacturing at Brandywine reached its peak and would soon begin to decline. - About 50 householders lived in the townshhip at this time. - A frame school was built at Brandywine too replace the log school. The frame structure later became the studio for artist William Sommer. 1832 - Hezekiah Palmer built the first frame house in the center. 1833 - Log school built in Macedonia. - First real store opened (except for the oone at the mill) by Colonel Milton Arthur; few customers, little money. 1835 - Frame school built on Olde 8 near Northfield Center (District No. 1) replacing the log school built in 1825. 1836 - First doctor moved into the township. 1837 - A post office was established at Northfield Center; George Lillie was the postmaster. 1840 - Summit County created being named for its distinction of having the highest elevation on the Ohio Canal. - Town park created in Northfield Center wiith 1/2 acre being given by the four adjacent land owners (Lillie, Palmer, Bliss and Arthur). 1843 - Great flood at Brandywine Creek devastated Little York and the businesses at Brandywine Mills. 1844 - Wallace House built at Brandywine Falls. - Palmer House built at Northfield Center. 1847 - Cemetery created in the township and called "Chestnut Hill." 1848 - Town Hall "on the square" was built; southeast corner of Rts. 8 and 82. 1851 - Pennsylvania Railroad built through Macedonia. 1852 - Post office established at Macedonia Depot. 1853 - Frame school built at Ledge and Shepherd Roads (District No. 8) and was used until 1903. 1854 - Five new schools built in the township: Northfield brick school (District No. 2) replaced Brandywine School; frame school built on Dunham Road (District No. 4) replaced Snatchpenny School and was used until 1918; frame school built in Macedonia (District No. 5) to replace log school and was used until 1880; frame school in Little York (District No. 6) and used until 1908; frame school built at Rte. 8 and Ledge Road (District No. 7) and used until 1916. 1864 - Northfield Cornet Band formed and later was called the Bliss Band. 1871 - Twin brick schools of Northfield (Olde 8) and Macedonia (Valley View Road) erected. 1881 - Frame school known as West School built on Rte. 82 and Carter Road (District No. 3) replacing the stone school. 1893 - Work started to elevate the railroad tracks on Rte. 82 at Macedonia Depot. 1895 - ABC (Akron - Bedford - Cleveland) interurban car line built station in Northfield Center as service began between those points. 1900 - Rural postal delivery began in Olde Northfield Township. 1905 - Village of Macedonia established. 1912 - Macedonia became a township. - Olde Northfield changed from a township tto a village. 1926 - First motorized fire vehicle purchased by Olde Northfield, a converted oil wagon modified to carry water for firefighting purposes. 1932 - Sagamore Hills Township created upon separation from Northfield Village. ABC interurban service discontinued. 1933 - New high bridge between Sagamore Hills and Brecksville opened. 1935 - Northfield Center Township separated from Northfield Village. Northfield Village as it is known today remained. 1953 - Electric Blvd. area of Sagamore Hills annexed by Northfield Village; a fire station erected. 1970 - Old Brandywine Cemetery located near the falls moved to Northfield-Macedonia Cemetery to make way for 1-271 construction. |