History of the Chagrin Falls Township Hall

Chagrin Falls had been incorporated as a village for only four years when, in 1848, Aristarchus Champion built a brick, one-story Greek Revival style building on Main Street. A graduate of Yale University, Mr. Champion established a public library in his new building, but sold it a few years later to other individuals.

In 1864, the Chagrin Falls Township Trustees purchased the Library Hall (as it was then called) to be used as a Township Hall. The building was extensively remodeled in 1875, becoming an elaborate two-story Italianate structure. Chagrin Falls blacksmith Henry Church, Jr. made and donated the weathervane that still graces the cupola above the roof. An addition of 12 feet was made to the front of the building and wings were added to both sides. The south wing provided offices for the township officials - still used for that purpose today. The north wing was made into the town jail, but was remodeled in 1934 for a restroom. The upstairs theater was referred to as "The Opera House" and was the site of plays, lectures, and recitals. The lower hall was used for political meetings, dances, and concerts.

At the turn of the 20th-century, townships were responsible for the care of the poor. Beginning about 1905, a volunteer organization called the Mother's Club assisted in this work. In return for use of the Township Hall, the Mother's Club made and sold dinners to raise money to help the indigent.

The Chagrin Valley Little Theatre was organized in 1929 and used The Opera House for its productions until November, 1943 when a fire engulfed the second floor, burning through the roof and toppling the cupola. Because materials were scarce during the World War II years, and the insurance was not adequate enough to fully replace the loss, the Township Hall was once again restored as a one-story Colonial Revival building. The Henry Church weathervane was found intact in the ruins and was again placed on top of the building. The arched Italianate windows on the first floor facing Main Street survived both the fire and the remodeling.

The Chagrin Falls Township Hall was accepted for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 as part of the Triangle Park Commercial District. For 150 years, the Township Hall has continued to make an important contribution to life in Chagrin Falls. In the early days, it was the source of precious books for the "Yankees and Yorkers" as the pioneer population was known; in 1861, following the firing on Fort Sumter, the townspeople came to this building to hear the news - and 13 young men volunteered that day to serve the Union cause; and at the end of the Civil War, the Women's Relief Corp met at the Hall to fashion wreaths to decorate the graves of soldiers on Memorial Day.

The Opera House provided a site for culture, both high and low - chautauquas, traveling shows, local talent shows, minstrels, and The Chagrin Falls Sliver Cornet Band all played here. The annual Firemen's Ball was a big event in the Gay Nineties. In more recent years, the Township Hall was home to the Valley Lutheran Church before they were able to build on East Orange Street in 1948. That same year, the Hall was leased to the sate to sere as an armory for the Ohio National Guard.

Today, the Chagrin Falls Township Hall welcomes many community happenings and gatherings - it is a place for the exchange of ideas - a uniquely American symbol of our democracy.