Ashtabula County Historical Society

Second oldest historical society in Ohio.


Came to Raise Families, Build Homes and To Work:
Soil, Wildlife Drew Settlers To Township
By Nancy Horst (1976)

A man by the name of King from Conneaut offered four gallons of whiskey if they would name the town after him. The whiskey was shared by all concerned and the bargain sealed. The name Kingsville became permanent when the township was organized in 1810.

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School children were "bussed" to a centrally located school by horsedrawn hacks when the centralization of schools plan known as the "Kingsville Experiment" was begun in 1896. The Plan was studied by educators throughout the country.

Of all the many historic events that have taken place in this township, the one that drew national attention was an inventive idea later referred to as the "Kingsville Experiment." This term was applied to the then unheard of centralization of country schools.

The many rural schools scattered throughout the township were especially hard to maintain. Therefore, the plan of centralization was proposed. This plan known as the "Kingsville Experiment" was put into practice in 1896 drawing at first only one school district. Gradually, the plan was expanded until pupils from all districts in the Kingsville area were being "bussed" to a central public school. By 1905, eight teachers were on duty at the central building and ten horse-drawn hacks carried the students to school.

2010 Schedule

Blakeslee log cabin,
on its original foundation,
is 200 years old this year.
 
The birthday celebration
will continue at Log Cabin
Days, the second weekend
in September.
 
Jenny Munger
Gregory Museum
wine-tasting
event Aug. 21.
 

 




  
ACHS Phone listing, answered by Jean Metcalf: 440-466-7337
Web Site: http://www.ashtcohs.com