Barberton historian remembered for ‘bringing joy’

PHOTO COURTESY OF BARBERTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
From left, as young men, Stephen Kelleher and Bernie Gnap, pose in this undated photo that may be from when Kelleher
had an idea to buy a caboose and set up an ice cream stand in Barberton.

PHOTO BY CHRISTINA McCUNE | BGNN
The wishing well stands on property owned by the Barberton Historical Society. Donations are being accepted in the name of Barberton historian Bernie Gnap through the Barberton Community Foundation toward repairing the aged well which was damaged when a large tree fell on it a couple of years ago.

PHOTO BY CONRAD STORAD

A large oak tree fell on the wishing well during the winter of 2022.

PHOTO BY LAURIE STORAD

The wishing well used to have beautiful arches before a large tree fell on it a couple of years ago. 

One of the books available at the Barberton Public Library co-authored by Bernie Gnap.

O.C. Barber and his dogs would walk his farm including the path to the wishing well. Learn more about O.C. Barber and Anna Dean Farm at www.annadeanfarm.com. 

By CHRISTINA McCUNE
BGNN managing editor

BARBERTON  Bernard Gnap, known affectionately as “Bernie,” could rattle off answers to your local history questions quicker than it
would take you to type them into a web search engine, or flip through a history book.

The 75-year-old Barberton historian was an instrumental part of gathering and recording the city’s history for generations to come. He conducted research and co-authored some of the Barberton Historical Society’s books, which are available at the Barberton Public Library.

Gnap passed away May 17 after a yearlong illness.

Neighbors and friends are working to continue Gnap’s efforts to preserve and educate people about local history. They have nominated Gnap for the Barberton Walk of Fame. They also are working with the Barberton Historical Society to repair the O.C. Barber Wishing Well, which is in a wooded area on historical society property along Mansion Drive. They are accepting donations in Gnap’s name through a historical society fund set up at the Barberton Community Foundation, and the plan is to erect a plaque at the well as a tribute to Gnap.

Close friends also hope to carry on Gnap’s sense of wonderment and curiosity about notable industrialist and revolutionary agriculturalist Ohio Columbus Barber, who is well known for founding Gnap’s beloved hometown in 1891.
Over the past couple of months, Wanda Voris and Mary Redinger have been busy digging into the personal history of the man who preferred to work quietly behind-the-scenes. Along the way, they are re-educating themselves about the Magic City’s rich history, and they have discovered more about their friend and his attachment to the city he loved than they ever realized.

“Bernie had a lifetime passion for history,” Voris said. “We didn’t have to Google anything – he would just tell us.”

The friends decided Gnap deserved a memorial in the city so that fellow residents are aware of his contributions to Barberton. Steve and Wanda Voris submitted an application last month to nominate Gnap for the Barberton Walk of Fame. Applications are considered by a committee each year and criteria for receiving a star consists of professional achievement, longevity in the city and contributions to the community.

“He was a tremendous source of information,” said Bob Snyder, president and founding member of the Barberton Historical Society, who in the same spirit as Gnap has a wealth of knowledge about the city. “He was relentless in going after … the last remaining people who were connected with the (Anna Dean) farm. He would do oral histories. He would record their testimonials about living on the farm and their impressions of the farm.”

Gnap’s father, Joseph, worked for Barber as one of his youngest employees when he was a kid picking raspberries, and he later worked for him as an adult for about 40 years as a foreman at the Diamond Match Co. When the elder Gnap passed away at age 97 in 2004, he also was noted as the longest living employee of O.C. Barber.

Bernie Gnap was able to learn about Barber and gather information about him straight from personal accounts from his father and others who worked for him. He also traveled out of state to interview relatives of Barber for research.

“Bernie loved doing research,” Voris said.

From his home, Gnap had a view from across the street of one of the more than century-old buildings and he lived not far from other structures and their unique architecture that had made up O. C. Barber’s 3,800-acre Anna Dean Farm.

The Barberton Historical Society’s numbers have dwindled, but the organization continues to have a handful of board members who were part of the core group that founded it 50 years ago when they were University of Akron students. Snyder and John Vancse do much of the caretaking of the property. Stephen Kelleher, who served as president and was active in the organization, has passed away. His wife, Christine, continues to serve on the board, as well Tom Clark. The group has accomplished much over the decades to save buildings, apply for grants and preserve local history. They continue to care for five of the remaining seven buildings.

A Friends of the Barberton Historical Society group has been started, which includes Mayor William Judge and other officials and civic-minded residents. Snyder said there is talk of making a Barberton museum in collaboration with the Barberton Public Library.

Read the complete story in the July 18, 2024 edition of The Barberton Gazette & Norton News. E-edition subscribers have access to all the back issues in the digital archives.