Residents learn about early Medina County history as part of an America 250 event

MEDINA — History buffs learned about the history of the land that would eventually become Medina County during one of the county's first America 250 events of the year on Sunday. America 250 commemorates the semiquincentennial of the founding of the United States with programming and events taking place in communities all over the country. The city of Medina is an officially recognized America 250 community. Sunday's event took place at the Medina library, where Roger Smalley from the Medina County Historical Society gave a history of the area from prehistoric times to Medina County's first settlements. There is a Paleo-Indian site in Sharon Township that is nearly 11,000 years old, he said. There is also evidence of mound builders in the county, but most of the mounds are gone because of plowing. "Our early neighbors were tribal hunters, including members of the Chippewa, the Ottawa, Wyandotte, Lenape, which are the Delaware, the Mingo and others less frequently," Smalley said. "There is no evidence of permanent settlements in the county that we've ever found yet, but there were hunting camps, and there were trails, Native American trails, that came through our area." Medina County's first settlers arrived before the War of 1812, but some left due to the war and never returned, he said. After the war, more settlers came to townships like Wadsworth, Brunswick, Sharon, Guilford and Medina. Elijah Boardman was a United States senator who owned most of Medina Township, Smalley said. In 1817, he offered to give Medina County approximately 250 acres of land from Medina Township on the condition that the county seat would be created on specific parcels. "Four lots facing the public square were reserved for public buildings," he said. "Also reserved were the lands for the public square park and for the old town cemetery on East Liberty (Street)." A woodchopper was hired in 1819 by the county government to clear a two-acre parcel of land to create a central green space, similar to those in New England, Smalley said. The green space still exists as Uptown Park in the center of the Medina square. Also on Sunday, a re-enactor portrayed James Starr Redfield, an apprentice of Joseph Harris who founded Harrisville Township. Throughout his life, Redfield served as the township constable, justice of the peace, trustee and county commissioner. Redfield was 17-years-old in 1816 when he was awarded a contract from the Ohio State legislature to build a road from Harrisville to Medina, which was around 10-miles long. The road is now Lafayette Road. More America 250 events will be occurring throughout the year. To see a list of upcoming programs in Medina, visit tinyurl.com/3yyxcx9a. "In the 208 years since our founding, there have been many more stories and more happening all the time," Smalley said. "Some of those will be part of the many events coming up throughout this year, and I hope you enjoy as many of those as you possibly can." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.