Cuyahoga Falls High School - Cuyahogan Yearbook (Cuyahoga Falls, OH)

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The Mill Race Imagine a car approaching the city boundary line where a sign states “Welcome to Coppacaw Falls.” The driver would not have made a wrong turn in his search for Cuyahoga Falls. Actually, “Coppacaw” was merely one of the words the area’s earliest ancestors — the Indians — called the river lands. Other names were “Cajahoga,” “Cayohoga,” and “Diahaga.” Translated, they meant everything from “The Beautiful” to “Crooked” to “Place of the Jawbone.” No matter what name it was called, the land on the banks of the Cuyahoga River was always desirable. The Indians enjoyed hunting the wildlife of the valley, while the river provided transportation access to most of Northeastern Ohio. In the city’s early years, the river pro- vided power for local mills and factories. Industrial sprawl hung from both sides of the river’s banks. This central area of river development was even nicknamed “the Mill Race.” As hard times hit in the 1930’s, many of these abandoned buildings were raised as commercial growth moved inward. Today, the geographical advantages remain. While the river continues to pro- vide scenic beauty, electrical power, and rich soil, a newer dimension has been added. The city’s proximity to the urban centers of Akron, Cleveland, and Youngstown provides the opportunity for continued growth. Falls’ Geography 5

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TOP :The flood of 1913 proved lhal ihe Cuyahoga River may not always be a blessing by doing several thousand dollars of damage to Cuyahoga Falls and surrounding cities. ABOVE and LEFT Once most tranquil, Gaylord Grove had a Civil War camp located on the east bank at Gaylord Grove and Bailey Road. It was the camp of the 8th Regiment and 6th Battery. O.N.G.- with Col. D.W. Thomas in command. Since the early 1880’s this area has developed into what is now the River Estates. Some residents have boat docks that arc no doubt in the same places as those of the Civil War. OPPOSITE PAGE TOP: According to legend, Mary Campbell, the first white child born in the Western Reserve, was kidnapped by Indians in a raid. For seven years, she was supposed to have lived in this cave. Through an ex- pedition, she and other prisoners were found and taken back to their families' settlements in Pennsylvania. The Campbells, searching for their daughter, were about to give up when Mary recognized a lullaby her mother was humming. The cave that once sheltered her is rightly named Mary Campbell’s Cave. OPPOSITE BOTTOM: The Falls, here calm with the river at a low level, sometimes become crashing and thundering white water and an amazing sight. 4 Falls’ Geography

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 RIGHT: The falLs itself is chiefly responsible for the development of the city. The fast growth of industry, powered by mills along the river, drew many settlers. BELOW: Henry Welmore, a friend of Newberry’s, was also responsible for the city’s early industry and settlement. Yet, he is remembered more for his development of the neighboring community of Stow. l 7T: RIGHT: Henry Newberry, one of the industrial founders of Cuyahoga Falls was the son of land com- pany investor, Roger Newberry. He saw that the power the falls provided was pul to use and is also remembered by an elementary school bearing his name. FAR RIGHT: Once called the (Percy) “Shelly of Cuyahoga Falls,” the poet , F.lisha Sill, is remembered by both a middle school and a street that bear his name, and at one time students were required to memorize one of his more popular works 6 Founders