Loyal Oak walking tour includes local history and ice cream

The Norton Historical Society is collaborating with two of Summit County’s oldest churches — and a tavern that has served customers for more than 150 years — to present a walking tour of the historic hamlet of Loyal Oak from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10.

The event will offer visitors the chance to view four 19th-century structures and to see Loyal Oak Cemetery, whose graves date to the early 1800s.

Stops on the tour include:

∎ The one-room Loyal Oak Schoolhouse, which operated from the mid-1800s to 1927, at 3296 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road.

∎ The 1920s speakeasy in the basement of Wolf Creek Tavern at 3044 Wadsworth Road. The main part of the tavern was built in the 1870s.

∎ The brick sanctuary of Trinity Lutheran Church of Loyal Oak at 3281 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road. Dedicated in 1886.

∎ Loyal Oak Cemetery behind Trinity Lutheran Church of Loyal Oak at 3281 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road.

∎ Grace United Church of Christ of Loyal Oak , the wood-framed former “Reformed” church, at 3285 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road. Dedicated in 1886.

The historical society suggests that visitors park at either church and begin their tour at the schoolhouse across the street. Guides will be stationed at each location. The tour will take place rain or shine.

“The Norton Historical Society is delighted to be working with the owners and members of the beautiful, story-rich sites in Loyal Oak, first known as Bates Corners, and which was one of the earliest settlements or hamlets of then-Norton Township,” Norton Historical Society President Harriet Chapman said.

“Visitors will come away appreciating the history of each building and the cemetery at this 200-plus-year-old crossroads, as well as the backstories of two nearby sites not on the tour: the former Union Hotel — once a stagecoach stop — and the former Knecht Cider Mill.”

After the tour, visitors can enjoy ice cream from Loyal Oak’s Wolf Creek Creamery in the Grace UCC Church fellowship hall. There is no charge, but a freewill offering will be accepted.

Commemorative T-shirts will be available for purchase.

Visitors can reach Loyal Oak by taking Route 21 to Route 261, heading east, or taking Interstate 76 to South Cleveland-Massillon Road, heading north.

For more information, visit nortonohiohistory@gmail.com or call 330-322-9248.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Loyal Oak walking tour includes local history and ice cream