Preserving Our History

The North Ridgeville Historical Society was founded in 1977, with our first museum (1977-1986) located in the historic Samuel Cahoon mansion owned by the Beckett Corporation.

In 1989 the City of North Ridgeville provided space on the first floor of Old Town Hall for our museum, which we maintained for nearly 35 years until the building was closed recently for emergency repairs and other improvements. Our collection is now temporarily housed in a safe protective storage location.

In 1988 we acquired the 1859 one-room school on Jaycox Rd., and restored the building, opening for public tours in 2001 – now open from May to October.

In 47 years our countless active, valuable members and volunteers have attended and participated in monthly meetings, programs, and other events; served as committee members, chairmen, officers, and board members; contributed many hours staffing our open houses, special tours (school classes, Boy and Girl Scout groups, etc.), Corn Festivals, parade units, fundraisers, and many special events like the 2010 North Ridgeville Bicentennial.

Recent activities have included producing and selling collectible medallions featuring over 15 historic North Ridgeville buildings or landmarks, publishing and selling several books on North Ridgeville history, researching the history and genealogy of local families, creating an archive of photos and scrapbooks of memories of hundreds of North Ridgeville military veterans of all major wars, and producing a video about them, and providing historical photos and information via Facebook and our website to tens of thousands of “viewers” and followers. Find us online at www.northridgevillehistoricalsociety.com.