Historical Society partners with historic churches, tavern for walking tour

BGNN staff report
The Norton Historical Society is collaborating with two of Summit County’s oldest churches — and a
tavern that has served customers almost continuously for more than 150 years – to present a walking
tour of the historic hamlet of Loyal Oak from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10. This “multi-open house tour” offers visitors the chance to view four 19th-century structures and to tour the Loyal Oak Cemetery, whose graves date to the early 1800s.

During this tour, visitors of all ages can expect to see and learn more about:
• The Loyal Oak Schoolhouse (which served then-Norton Township’s District No. 6 from the mid-1800s to 1927) at 3296 S Cleveland-Massillon Road;
• The 1920s speakeasy in the basement of the Wolf Creek Tavern, 3044 Wadsworth Road;
• The residents buried in Loyal Oak Cemetery, behind the Trinity Lutheran Church of Loyal Oak;
• The brick sanctuary of the Trinity Lutheran Church of Loyal Oak, 3281 S Cleveland-Massillon Road;
• The wood-framed former “Reformed” church – now Grace United Church of Christ of Loyal Oak – at 3285 S Cleveland-Massillon Road.

The society and churches suggest that guests park in either church’s parking lot and begin their tour at the schoolhouse, which faces the churches. The tour of open houses will take place rain or shine. The
society, churches and tavern suggest visitors wear comfortable shoes. To learn more
about each organization or to join, visit: facebook.com/nortonhistoricalsociety, wolfcreektavern.com, facebook.com/TrinityLutheran.Norton/, and facebook.com/GraceUccOfLoyalOak/.