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The first settlers in Stow Township worshipped in their homes, with the first church services taking place in the home of Deacon Stephen Butler in 1809. After Deacon Butler died in 1822, the group of worshippers continued to meet in their homes, and in 1831 they built a house for public worship near the northwest corner of The Old Burial Ground (now the Stow Cemetery). The building was first used by Presbyterians, then by Congregationalists.The Disciples of Christ formed a congregation in Stow in 1831 and moved into the building at the Burial Grounds in 1844. They continued to use the building until 1876.

The first house for public worship in Stow was built in 1831 near the northwest corner of the Older Burial Ground (now the Stow Cemetery).The building was used by different Christian denominations until 1876. Then, a new house of worship was built and used, along with a hall in 1914, used by the community.The Stow First Christian Church and Chapel was built in 122 for $87,000. In 1998, a new addition was dedicated.

Stow First Christian Church and Chapel

Prior to the city's founding, the Seneca Native American tribe had a small settlement in this area around what is now Silver Lake. Joshua Stow, the city's founder, was a member of a surveying party led by Moses Cleaveland to survey the lands of the Connecticut Western Reserve and the mouth of the Cuyahoga River at Lake Erie in 1796. Although he never lived here, Joshua Stow is quoted as saying that the land was "one of the prettiest and most romantic spots in the Western Reserve." Stow purchased the land for $14,154; although he purchased this land, he never actually lived in Stow.The first settler to Stow was William Walker in 1802. Other early settlers include the Wetmores, Darrows, Grahams, and Gaylords. Stow Township was incorporated as a village in 1957 and officially became a city after the 1960 United States census.

Stow Corners consists of the area around the intersection of Darrow and Kent Roads in Stow, Ohio. The first European settlement in Stow Township was formed in 1804, and this intersection was the center of town activity. This tour will show where the most important and influential buildings were, including a library, church, tavern, gas station, police department, schoolhouse, restaurant, and more. Our tour will begin at the Stow Public Library.

This house was originally on the northeast corner of Darrow and Kent Roads. Built by Ezra Wyatt in about 1810, it served as a tavern for many years, offering food, drink, and board to travelers. In 1874, the building was converted for us as a parsonage for the Disciples of Christ Church. It was moved to this location about 1920. The tavern was built in the Greek Revival Style with Colonial Revival elements. Floor-length windows are an unusual feature of this house. The tavern was remodeled extensively when it was moved to its current location on Elm Road in Stow.

This house, originally built by Ezra Wyatt, served as a tavern for many years. It was later converted for use as a parsonage for the Disciples of Christ Church. It was moved to this location in approximately 1920. It is built in the Greek Revival style with Colonial Revival elements.

Stow Tavern

This building was first used as the aquarium at the old Silver Lake Amusement Park. The Silver Lake Aquarium was built to house and feature the fish of Silver Lake. The walls were made of "granite block," a cement block made of ground slag, sand, gravel, and cement. A fourteen-foot pool was built to house sea lions (for one season only since they required a lot of food), beavers, muskrats, and water fowl. There were also 12 fish tanks that contained water grasses, plants, and more than 20 varieties of fish found in Silver Lake. The aquarium was dismantled in 1918 after the park closed and was stored in the backyard of the Lodge home.Mrs. Lodge then decided she did not want it in the backyard any longer and the materials were donated for the future home of the Stow Community Church. In the 1920, the bricks were hauled to a site on Elm Road and reassembled.

This building was first used as an amusement park and was stored in the backyard of the Lodge Home. The Silver Lake Aquarium was built in 1907 as part of the Silver Lake Amusement Park. The building contained a pool for sea lions, beavers, muskrats, and water fowl, along with local fish.

New Apostolic Church/Community Church of Stow/Silver Lake Aquarium 

The Stow Dairy was operated by Al Stein, who started his business in 1920. The first Stow Dairy location was at 149 Hudson Road (now Darrow Road). The building was erected in 1941 at the corner of W. Kent Road and Elm Road. Stow Dairy processed milk from local farmers and sold dairy products directly to the public. Stow Dairy was purchased by Lawson Milk Company in 1953. James J. Lawson of Stow founded the Lawson Milk Company in 1939 and began selling milk in gallon-size glass bottles. Lawson sold his stores (in more than 190 locations) in 1958 to Consolidated Foods. He died in a car crash in Stow in 1962.This is now the site of the Citizens Bank.

This building began as the location of a dairy and was later sold to a milk company founded in Stow and was then sold to a larger food chain. The dairy founder passed away in a car crash in Stow, and the building was later used for the Citizens Bank.

Citizens Bank/Stow Dairy

The Colonnade Building was built in 1926, and at that time, Holt's Pharmacy was in the building, which was owned and operated by Chester Holt. He and his wife lived in an apartment above the pharmacy. Harold and Jacqueline Winkler purchased the pharmacy from Mr. Holt in the 1950s and ran Stow Pharmacy for about 30 years.The post office was connected to the pharmacy at one time. The postmaster was Fred Wetmore.Mrs. Osman's Pie Shop open for business in 1949 in this building. The building was named the Colonnade Building in 1972, and it was renovated in 2003-2004.

This building was built in 1926 and has been a pharmacy, post office, and pie shop at various times. The photographs at the bottom of this page show the building when it was owned by Chester Holt.The building was renamed the Colonnade Building in the 1970s and was renovated in the early 2000s.

Holt Building/Colonnade Building 

The Sohio Station/Standard Oil/VP station was put in around 1931. It is has been on this corner for 91 years.The Dunn-Quigley Funeral Home was the former Titus Wetmore home. The house was built by Titus Wetmore around 1830. It was the location of Stow's first post office and was a stage coach shop for a time. Formerly the Gregory Funeral Home (Stow's first funeral home), this building has been the site of the Dunn-Quigley Funeral Home since 1963. The building is an example of early Greek Revival style architecture, but it has been altered. The building was purchased in 1950 by Rev. Leo Gregory and transformed into Stow's first funeral home. He later sold the funeral home to Dunn, Quigley, and Cirello.The Stow Police and Fire Station was located in the former site of Becker Wholesale Foods in 1967 (building built in the 1930s). The building was razed in 1998 to make room for the CVS.The Veteran's Memorial Park was established in 1970. The marker was moved to Stow Cemetery.The Stow Isaly's was open by "Pop" A.J. Rearick in about 1932. In 1952, Mr. and Mrs. Braucher purchased the store. In 1955, they moved their business into the new building at 3322 Kent Road. After this building was demolished to make room for the CVS, Isaly's II opened in 1998 in the Colonnade Building at 3310 Kent Road.

The northwest corner included schoolhouse #3, the Sohio gas station located at 3349 Kent Rd., and the Titus Wetmore house. The southwest corner included the Township Hall, Becker's Wholesale Foods, the Police and Fire Department, and a Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Park. This area is now home to a CVS and a Funeral Home.

Intersection of 91 and 59

The Gorge House/Cliff House was owned by General Oliver Gross, and then Charles and Elsie Kidney. It was purchased by Lizzie Veon in 1897. Cliff House faced Yukon Street and was burned down by an arsonist in September 1899. A Marathon gas station occupied this space next.The Marhofer Building was built in 1927 by John William Marhofer. Fisher's Grocery was in this building until its closing in 1957. Other businesses in this building at various times included Eddie Ruggles' Grocery, Isaly's, Pimlott &amp; Striver Five and Ten Cent Store, Mault Furniture, and Mac's Shoe Repair Shop. During the 1930s, two of the businesses occupying the upstairs of the building included a dance hall with a live orchestra, and a roller skating rink. The building was razed in 2003 due to flooding issues.Marhofer Garage was opened in 1919 by Chester Marhofer, son of John and Leah Marhofer. It was located about 100 feet south of Kent Road near Stow Corners. Chester's younger brother, John, eventually took over the garage and it became Marhofer Chevrolet sometime in the 1930s.

The Southeast Corner was home to the Gorge/Cliff House, the Marathon gas station, and the 3390 Marhofer building. It is now the home of Marhofer Chevrolet. Businesses in the Marhofer building included grocery stores, a furniture store, and a shoe repair shop. A dance hall and roller skating rink also occupied this space.

Southeast Corner

The tavern on the northeast corner was built around 1810, probably by Ezra Wyatt. It was on a stagecoach stop. Ezra also built the sawmill at Stow Corners. The tavern was across the street from the post office. In 1874, the building was converted for use as a parsonage for First Christian Church.In the 1920s, the tavern house was moved to its present location at 3614 Elm Rd.Braunlich's Drug Store, Acme were in this location next. The Spaght Building/Dubetz Building was erected in this spot in 1928. It is a rare example in Stow of an early 20th century commercial block, combining elements of the Neoclassic Revival and Chicago Commercial styles.

The northeast corner was home to a tavern before it housed other commercial enterprises. This building no longer exists. Near its original location, you would now find The Nest Early Learning Center and the Stow Falls Pet Clinic. It is across from the BP station to the west and Stow Glass &amp; Mirror to the south.

Northeast Corner

The library was founded in 1924 and opened to the public in January 1925. The first library was located in Stow Township Hall on the southwest corner of the Kent Road and Graham Road intersection. The library remained in that building until it was moved in 1930 to a house across from the First Christian Church. The first librarian was Mrs. Williamson, daughter of Adell Durbin. The first book purchased for the library was Treasure Island. In May 1929, the library board voted to provide a two-week vacation for the librarian- the catch was that she had to provide her own replacement and pay the person herself! The library was in the house for 33 years.

The library was founded in 1924 and opened to the public in the following year. The first library building was not located here, but rather in the Stow Township Hall on the southwest corner of the Kent Road and Graham Road intersection. The 3512 Darrow Road location is the current library location!

Stow Corners Walking Tour

Stow First Christian Church and Chapel

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources