History of the Village of Chagrin Falls

Chagrin Falls - A name that is the source of smiles and speculation, unique in all the world, a one of a kind postmark and a distinctive address.

Cristfild Johnson, in his “History of Cuyahoga County,” printed in 1879, writes: “The name of the river Chagrin is undoubtedly derived from the old Indian word ‘Shagrin,’ which is supposed to mean ‘clear water,’ but this is not so certain.”

Harvey Rice, in his sketch of Moses Cleaveland, reported: Moses Cleaveland thought he was traveling on the Cuyahoga River, and after great difficulty and embarrassment in unsuccessful maneuvering realized he wasn’t. He was so chagrined, that he named it the Chagrin River.

The most accepted version is by historian Elizabeth G. Rodgers, Ph.D. “It is the anglicized and corrupted version of the name of the French trader, Francois Séguin, who operated a trading post at the confluence of the Cuyahoga River and Tinkers Creek from about 1742.”

Chagrin is the Americanized version of the name of a Frenchman called Séguin.

The founders of the Village of Chagrin Falls were attracted by the clear river, with its large and small waterfalls, and the towering timbers of its virgin forests. These represented sources of power for industry and lumber for mills and homes. The present serenity of our tree-lined streets, well-kept houses and charming shops does not suggest our beginnings as a bustling mill town. Yet, our destiny was to evolve from a manufacturing town to a peaceful and friendly residential community.
The early settlers were God-fearing, hardworking people looking for greater opportunities for their families, and so they were interested in the lands of the Western Reserve. They came predominantly from New England and England.

First, they built shelters for their families, and then they went about the task of establishing mills and small factories. Soon they began meeting together to worship God according to their personal inclinations – in homes, or “over a store,” - until congregations could be established. The Methodist Church on South Franklin Street dates from those early days (1844). It originally stood across the street from its present location. The Federated Church on Bell Street resulted from one merger in 1884 and another in 1929 of several earlier churches.

The waterfalls and dams along the river were soon harnessed to run a variety of enterprises ranging from paper, flour, woolen and saw mills, to foundries, and factories for making axes, lathes and woodenware. (Visit the Chagrin Falls Historical Society Museum, 21 Walnut Street, to see a wonderful display of products manufactured in the Village during this era.) In 1844, The Village was incorporated. In the 1870s, the Village had all the hallmarks of a mill town, including muddy, rutted streets, smoke-filled air and noisy saloons. Of the many mills from those busy days, only one, a paper mill, exists today.

As the mill owners prospered, they replaced their early homes with more impressive ones, often moving their first homes to other lots. Over 40 local homes have been moved from their original lots. Today, architectural diversity lends charm to the Village. Much of this is due to the preservation and restoration of its homes. Many of the Village’s homes are listed in the Ohio Historic Inventory.

Education was highly valued by early residents. At first classes were held in private homes, and churches sponsored spelling classes until a small school was opened on Main Street. The present Chagrin Falls school campus, which contains the High School, The Middle School and Harris Stadium, once served as the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds.

Entertainment first centered in the churches with coral concerts and prayer meetings. The Town Hall’s addition of a second floor Opera House in 1875 offered minstrel shows, vaudeville, drama and music. When traveling vaudeville declined, the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre took over the Opera House stage from 1931 until a fire destroyed the theatre in 1943.

Chagrin Falls’ reputation as an art center also had early beginnings. Henry Church, Jr., born in 1836, a blacksmith in the Village, was a gifted artist known for his paintings, stone animal statuary and his carving of Squaw Rock in the Chagrin Metropark. His works are in prestigious collections and museums, including the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum in Williamsburg, Virginia and the Cleveland Museum of Art. The Valley Art Center, the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre and the Chagrin Falls Historical Society all contribute to the lively cultural richness of the Village today.

Chagrin Falls evolved from a manufacturing town to a center for the surrounding farms in the 1930s, to the prosperous suburban community that it is today. People are still drawn to Chagrin Falls, where history can be felt, where the river still makes its eternal journey through town and the waterfalls exert their age-old fascination.