Garrettsville - On Monday, February 15, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. the James A. Garfield Historical Society will dedicate a state historical marker in Garrettsville to honor the history of the maple industry that was once centered in the Garrettsville/Freedom/Nelson area of Northeast Ohio. The marker dedication will be combined with a dessert reception in the F.F. Mott Drug store at 8107 Main Street Garrettsville, Ohio. Area maple syrup producers and historians will be on hand to answer questions about the production of maple syrup and the upcoming maple season.
This marker honors events and persons involved with the maple industry around the turn of the century, starting in 1881 when Garrettsville, Ohio hosted the first-ever professional conferences of maple sugar/syrup producers and was the center of the maple industry in Ohio. It also honors maple syrup producers such as P.C. Nichols, who won the medal at the Columbian Exhibition/ World’s Fair of 1892/3 for the best maple syrup in the world. Others in the geographic region such as Clarence Crane and the Wilcox family owned and operated businesses in the maple industry such as canneries and evaporator producers. The Lifesavers candy we all know was first produced of maple syrup and invented in the region.
Administered by the Ohio Historical Society, the historical marker program enables Ohioans to commemorate and celebrate local history. Funding for this marker was provided by the Ohio Historical Society, the Northeast Ohio Maple Producers and the James A. Garfield Historical Society. This is one of two markers in Ohio to honor our maple industry heritage. It is the eleventh state historical marker in Portage County. All are invited to the dedication and reception afterwards on Feb 15, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. where there will be maple goodies to sample.
The mission of the James A. Garfield Historical Society is the acquisition, conservation and preservation of objects of historical interest and to promote knowledge and inspire interest and pride in the early history and settlement of the communities of the James A. Garfield School District. For further information please contact Historical Society President, Kit Semplak at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
