They’re some of the most eye-catching features to be found in Summit Metro Parks — our bright red barns! Cascade Valley, Hampton Hills, O’Neil Woods and Silver Creek Metro Parks are each home to one of these iconic structures. Dating from the mid-1800s to early 1900s, all four barns have been restored by the park district in recent years.
Remembering Akron’s Agricultural Roots
Visitors approaching Silver Creek Metro Park via Eastern Road are greeted by the beautiful “Harter barn,” which is actually a complex of several buildings, the oldest of which may have been built as early as the 1850s. The Harters were involved in several local dairy operations beginning around the turn of the last century. Over the years, the barn has housed antique farming implements including tools made by Akron’s own Buckeye Mower & Reaper Company, inventor of the first combine and once one of the world’s largest manufacturers of farm equipment. Summit Metro Parks acquired the land and barns in 1966.
Escaping to a Country Retreat
As Akron surged into a booming industrial expansion in the first half of the 20th century, its business executives were getting away to the nearby countryside. These “gentleman farmers” were hobbyists who farmed for enjoyment rather than for income or subsistence. For example, the Adam farm was the weekend family home of Reginald Adam, vice president of Akron-based Saalfield Publishing Company, then a leading publisher of children’s books. His farm was located in the Top o’ the World Area of present-day Hampton Hills Metro Park, where the 1920s bank-style barn still stands.
Similarly, William O’Neil, son of department store owner Michael O’Neil and founder of General Tire & Rubber Company, established his own summer retreat at what is now O’Neil Woods Metro Park. The O’Neil family’s gothic arch barn was probably built in the 1930s and can be viewed today during a hike along Deer Run Trail. The Adam and O’Neil families both generously turned over their land to the Metro Parks in the late 1960s.
Protecting Struggling Bat Populations
Today, all four barns in the Summit Metro Parks system are home to both big and little brown bats, especially the barn located along Sackett Avenue at Cascade Valley. With their plethora of nooks and crannies, older barns provide the perfect home for maternal bat colonies to raise their young. As the result of a deadly disease called white-nose syndrome, all of the bats found in Summit Metro Parks are listed as “species of concern” by the state of Ohio, and their populations are closely monitored by park biologists. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources manages a citizen science program for those interested in supporting local bat restoration efforts.
Looking to the Future
With the recent acquisition of the Valley View property, Summit Metro Parks inherited its fifth historic barn. Likely dating to the late 1800s and once used by the Himelright family as a dairy barn, the building was later converted to a clubhouse by the owners of the Valley View Golf Course. Summit Metro Parks is currently considering various future uses for the structure as the surrounding land is returned to its natural state.
This article first appeared in the November/December issue of Green Islands magazine. For more stories like this, Summit County residents can subscribe here.