Canfield Historical Society

Come join us for a guided tour of Old North Cemetery on October 15th at 2pm.  Rain or shine, meet at the Cemetery located at 495 N. Broad Street (Ohio Hwy 46), Canfield, Ohio.  A $5 donation to the Canfield Historical Society is requested for the tour which will last approximately 1 1/2 hours.  Please, dress comfortably. 

Settlers from Connecticut were the first to come to Canfield Township in the late 1700s, and they were followed by a second wave of immigrants, Swiss-German pioneers who began arriving from the Berks and Leigh counties in Pennsylvania in 1804. In 1810, these "Pennsylvania Dutch" established The Zion Lutheran and Reformed Church and built a log church and cemetery on this site. The church was destroyed by fire in 1845 and a new church served the congregation, known as The Old Dutch and German Burying Ground, German Cemetery, and Lynn Cemetery and now Old North Cemetery, is all that remains. Among the dozens of old stone markers, some in German, are markers for veterans of the American Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War, and other wars.

Thursday, May 5th  we enjoyed a presentation by Robert Gentzel entitled “When a Railroad Ran through Canfield.” Robert, a former Canfield resident, has done extensive research on the Niles-New Lisbon Railroad which was a part of the daily lives of Canfield residents from the 1860s through the early 20th century. When the line was complete in 1869, the southbound train ran from Niles to New Lisbon with a dozen stops in between, including Canfield. The history shows the evolution from steam locomotive to diesel engine. The line had both passenger and freight service. The railroad changed hands several times before the last train road the rails in 1981. Join us as we travel through the years and explore the railroad that served our village and the surrounding communities.

Our program was presented in the large meeting room at the Canfield library, across the street from the Bond House. Stop by the Bond House, 44 W. Main Street for cookies and lemonade at 5. Program starts at the library at 6pm. See you there!

The final event of the year Canfield’s Jerry Dixey: A Hot Rod Life will be on Thursday, November 14 at 7:00 pm at the Bond House. Dixey, a native of Canfield, has been leading the Street Rodder Road Tour across the United States for over twenty years. A life-long car enthusiast, Dixey has been honored by National Street Rod Association and writes for Hot Rod magazine. This lecture is free and open to the public.

On Saturday, October 26, the society will host a cemetery walk of the Canfield Village Cemetery. The cemetery was formed in 1810 on property given to “the inhabitants of Canfield” by Elijah Wadsworth and his wife, Rhoda, specifically for the purpose of burying residents. The cemetery, enlarged over the years, continues to serve that purpose today.

This is the first year for this event which will highlight prominent Canfield citizens. From original land owners who settled the village in 1798 to celebrated businessmen who founded enterprises that continued past the century mark, people’s stories will come alive. Veterans of The Revolutionary War, Civil War and World War I will also be featured. Familiar family names, such as Neff, Chidester, Barnes and Manchester, will be showcased. The walk will begin at 2:00 and is free and open to the public. Walkers should park on the east side of the cemetery and meet at the mausoleum.

Canfield History Walk: A Step Back in Time is a fundraising event for the non-profit Canfield Historical Society. The History Walk will guide visitors through Canfield's past, from early pioneer days to the early 20th Century. Local volunteers will portray historical persons and events.  All new presentations for this year include portrayals  of  Mrs. Yeager's WW11 Victory Kitchen, the Cholera outbreak, Col. J.M. Nash, The Onion Society,  and more, for a total of 9 skits!  Of course, everyone's favorite, the portrayal of the 1920's Farmers National Bank robbery will be included.  All will enable young and old to learn more about local history, and foster a love of community.

The event will take place two Saturdays, September 21 and September 28, 2019.  Three tours are available on the 21st-4:30, 5:15 and 5:45 rain or shine.  The September 28 program will be a sit down event indoors for those who are unable or choose not to do the walking program.  Tickets for the Canfield History Walk: A Step Back in Time are $10 per person.  Also available is a special Walk/Dinner package for $25per person that includes dinner at Piccadilly Parlor.

Tickets may be purchased by calling the Canfield Historical Society at 330-533-3458.  Leave a message with your name and phone number and someone from the Society will return your call.