A vast tract of land had been claimed by the colony of Connecticut based on its royal charter of 1662. The Western Reserve of Connecticut extended as far as the Mississippi River. By 1795, most Native Americans had moved or been removed from Northern Ohio, and after independence, The Connecticut Land Company was formed. Led Moses Cleaveland, a Yale graduate, a team of about 40 axemen and surveyors was sent out from Connecticut to the Western Reserve to clear land and create a plank road west to Lake Erie.
The original settlers created a settlement called Wilson's Crossing, but the town was renamed "Concord," in 1805 in honor of the Revolutionary War site.
The original settlers created a settlement called Wilson's Crossing, but the town was renamed "Concord," in 1805 in honor of the Revolutionary War site.
Concord Township in Lake County, Ohio, was our first stop in our eight-stop, three-day sprint through Ohio. Concord in Lake County is a prosperous community of 19,000 residents, a 1/2 hour east of Cleveland. With Tom riding shotgun, we reached the town's historical society located in a 1841 stone schoolhouse. We were greeted by town officials who showed us around the exhibits and adjoining community gardens.
This Concord Ohio had fertile land and plentiful water power, and easy access to The Great Lakes. The old plank road developed into highways. Two railroad lines pass through town, but neither make a stop in Concord. Today, it is largely a commuter suburb of Cleveland, but a number manufacturing plants keep the local economy vibrant.
One of our guides through the museum was Connie Luhta, a seven-time Concord Township trustee, and an avid aviation enthusust. At 87 years, old she still ran the local airfield. Connie's love of flying dates back to the 1960's when she used to race planes. She still flies a Piper Cub, but she no longer teaches aspiring pilots. After our all-too-brief meeting, Connie directed us to her air field while she headed off to a township board meeting.
Despite the time crunch, Tom and I wandered the Concord Airfield enthralled by the faded majesty of the place.
Despite the time crunch, Tom and I wandered the Concord Airfield enthralled by the faded majesty of the place.
