Author Archives: Donna Webb

From l845 on when George Barber opened his match factory here, Akron grew to dominate the American match market. Barber’s son Ohio Columbus, was an important force in the growth of the industry. Raw materials … more →

1795-1880. Afro-American who came to Cleveland in the early 1800’s. He conquered racial bias when he became a charter member of an otherwise all white Baptist church. He won white volunteers to the Underground Railroad … more →

Usually pine from the Michigan lumber camps, brought to Cleveland by lake boats and from Cleveland to Akron by canal.

The V-shaped heavy white oak timbers against which upper lock gates closed.

An industry powered by water diverted from the wasteway. This diverted water was used to turn a turbine or a water wheel as the water descended from the upper level to the lower level of … more →

A two-part gating system consisting of doors made of heavy timbers which closed in a “V” pointing upstream. Used to contain water and to allow boats to pass into and out of a lock.