Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Goodbye, Captain Aaron Root Home?

The view this past Sunday
Take a good look at this tranquil country scene – because it's going to disappear soon. The view is looking south at the southwest quadrant of the intersection of Colorado Avenue (State Route 611) and Abbe Road in Sheffield Village.

It was noted in The Press on January 22, 2014 that a new Dollar General store for the southwest corner of the intersection is in the planning stages. It would sit right across from St. Teresa of Avila Parish and its cemetery.

According to this article in The Press by John Edwards, it remains for the Ohio Dept. of Transportation formally approve the creation of a lane that will enable eastbound autos on Colorado Avenue to more easily make a right turn to Dollar General.

Here's an aerial view of the area, with the southerly direction at the top of the picture.


Courtesy Sheffield Village
Historical Society & Cultural Center
What's really sad is that the old Captain Aaron Root house (at left) will most likely be demolished, as it is located near the rear of the land that is being developed. Captain Aaron Root was a Great Lakes shipmaster from Sheffield. He was known for secretly smuggling runaway slaves on their way to freedom in Canada aboard his ships.

You can read an extensive history of Captain Aaron Root and the whole Root Family here in this great article that appeared in the December 2012 issue of The Village Pioneer, Newsletter of the Sheffield Village Historical Society & Cultural Center.

Here's another view of the home that Captain Aaron Root lived in until the mid-1800s (below), courtesy of the Lorain County Auditor Website.

It's strange knowing that the scene below (photographed as I drove by it on the way home from work on Monday) will probably become a thing of the past, and thus one of the oldest homes in the county – ramshackle as it is – will disappear. 


8 comments:

Anonymous said...

This should be an historical site... If it's not I really can't believe it! I live in the nation's oldest city and almost everything done has to pass historical guidelines or sometimes even an archeology dig... So sad if this site gets demolished without a fight...

Loraine Ritchey said...

How sad this community does not embrace its history and especially Capt. Root's involvement in the "freedom" trail is left to rot and wither ... I would be ashamed if it were my history that was so negated

Anonymous said...

Just so everyone can visit the Dollar Store...what's wrong with this picture?

Anonymous said...

Wow.. What a shame.. It's hard to believe this site is not restored... This is history being demolished...

What was the route of the Underground Railroad?

The Underground Railroad’s network was informal and had many routes. Many routes traveled through the Appalachian Mountains, and some even required travel by boat. A popular route followed the Mississippi, and then to the Great Lakes region before entering Canada.

The Underground Railroad began in early 1800s, and was the most active from 1850 to 1860, freeing about 1,000 slaves per year. Over the entire course of the Underground Railroad, more than 100,000 slaves were freed using the system.

Drew Penfield said...

Items Salvaged From Capt. Root House

http://newindianridgemuseum.org/articles/items-salvaged-from-capt-root-house/

JessicaKissinger88 said...

Captain Aaron Root is my ancestor on my mother’s side. I wish I could visit and learn more!

Dan Brady said...

HI Jessica,

Here is a new link to that issue of The Village Pioneer with the article on Capt. Aaron Root.

https://sheffieldvillage.com/the-village-pioneer

Scroll down to Vol. 7 No. 4 December 2012 and you will see the link to download that issue.

Dan Brady said...

Hi again,

Hope you saw all these posts too:

https://danielebrady.blogspot.com/search?q=Aaron+Root