Perseverance

             As we walked around Fowlers Mill and Chardon Square in Geauga County last Saturday, I heard two stories that struck a chord with me due to the communities’ perseverance.  The appearance of the area surrounding the 19^th century core of Fowlers Mill was in jeopardy and half the town square in Chardon was lost to fire.  In both cases, the community reaction was remarkable.  The circumstances may have been different, and even the time period was different, but each community put everything they had into saving their town.

A consultant for Nextel supposedly assessed the area and deemed it insignificant.  I’m not sure how anyone can look at a collection of 19^th century structures and not think there may be historical significance that should at least be researched further.  When Nextel moved forward and built a cellular tower on the hill overlooking the hamlet of Fowlers Mill, they had no idea what they were up against.      The community immediately jumped into action.

I found a website with a collection of newspaper stories on the issue.  They told how the neighbors in the area of the tower were enraged by its placement within site of the historic district.  The Township Trustees indicated their helplessness where zoning for communications towers is concerned.  The Fowlers Mill Historical Preservation Association sued Nextel and the FCC for issuing a license to build the tower without following proper procedures for an historic area.  The preservationists prevailed and the tower was moved to another location.

             Chardon is another story of perseverance.  This one involved a community trying to save the town from fire.  In 1868, a fire swept up the west side of the town square, swallowing up one building after another, regardless of the attempts of the townspeople to stop it.  They even used dynamite to blow up a building in an attempt to create a firebreak.  The fire jumped right over it, continuing up the street, eventually engulfing the courthouse, and finally stopping as it reached the church.  The townspeople met immediately to plan reconstruction.  Since the town was rebuilt in the same time period, it has a harmony of style with a balance of shape and size that is somewhat unique.