Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Search recent news:

9/20/2012 - West Side Leader
     

By Kathleen Folkerth

Ira Cemetery, final resting place for members of the Hale, Hammond and Cranz families, will be the site of a new Ohio Historical Marker.

Photo courtesy of Bath Township

BATH — Bath’s third Ohio Historical Marker will be officially dedicated at a special event Sept. 22 at Ira Cemetery.

The marker will note the Hale, Hammond and Cranz homesteads that were established not far from the final resting place for many of those families’ members, Bath officials said.

Bath Township Trustee Elaina Goodrich said the Saturday event, which starts at 11 a.m., will feature a tour of the cemetery that will highlight the graves of settlers such as Jason Hammond and Jonathan Hale, as well as their descendants.

Goodrich is among several residents who will dress in period costume and portray family members. She will portray Nettie Parker Cranz, who lived from 1867 to 1939.

“I’ll talk about Nettie and [her husband] Eugene, what they did, how many kids they had, what they grew and what the big events were in their lives,” she said.

Also expected to participate are Carl Boltz, Nancy Terjesen, Hannah Krumheuer, Lee Darst, Marc Dusini, Patti Graham, Walt Kaminski, Cindy Eitner, Jim Nelson, Maryellen Burnham and Mary McNeil.

Nelson, also a trustee, will introduce the tour, while township cemetery sexton Karen Beres will give a welcome.

The historical marker will be unveiled following the tour. It will feature a brief account on the history of the families and their property.

According to the marker, Connecticut natives Jonathan Hale and Jason Hammond were the first to purchase land in what later became known as Bath. Hale and his nephew, Theodore Hammond, came to the area in 1810. The Hammonds later moved farther west and sold their property to William and Mary Cranz.

The cemetery property was originally owned by Erwin Hammond and later sold to William Cranz. It was transferred to Bath Township in 1863. Additional property was added over the years, according to Bath officials.

There are 218 recorded burials there. Goodrich said burials continue at the small cemetery, but there are no more lots available.

The marker has been in the works for several months, Goodrich said. Those who donated money toward the marker include the Heritage Corridors of Bath, Bath Township Historical Society, Bath Homeowners Association, Bath Business Association, Haslinger Family Foundation, Hayes and Diane Orender and Robert and Emily Hemphill.

The township’s other historical markers are located at the Woolen Mill on Granger Road and Moore’s Chapel Cemetery on North Hametown Road.

Goodrich said those who can’t attend the dedication are welcome to visit the site at another time. The township website, www.bathtownship.org, will feature a downloadable brochure that can be used when visiting the site.

Ira Cemetery is located at the corner of Ira and Oak Hill roads. The event is free.

For additional information, call 330-666-4007.

     

• Judge favors Fairlawn in Rothrock Road case
• County Council OKs raises for Clerk of Courts staff
• Highland Square issues remain tabled by Akron Council
• Gate Lodge greets crowds for Founders Day
• New Copley police station back in discussion
• Pallotta fills Ward 3 vacancy on Falls Council
• Budget cuts inevitable if Norton charter amendment passes
• Peninsula seeks new part-time road employee
• Richfield Council withdraws pay increase proposal
• Richfield trustees consider options for administration offices
• Demolition program addressed at Granger meeting
• Firestone student achieves Eagle Scout rank
• West Side News & Notes
• Green may go paperless
• Junior ROTC Cadets practice leadership skills
• City buys Sisler Field
• Springfield plants demonstration garden
• County Council OKs raises for Clerk of Courts staff
• South Side News & Notes