History of Summit County

08/30/2026

Two pretty pieces of Akron history in one photo.

The Huntington Tower was finished in 1931 and was originally called the First National Bank Building. It was designed by Cleveland architects Walker & Weeks and stands 330 feet tall. It’s been the tallest building in Akron since it was built.

Down at street level is the Rubber Worker Statue, which was put in downtown Akron in 2021. The 12 foot bronze statue shows a worker hand wrapping a tire. It was made by Ohio artist Alan Cottrill and was based on a 1917 photograph.

The statue sits in the middle of the roundabout at South Main and East Mill, with the Akron Stories Project plaza surrounding it. There are bricks from local families and a kiosk with stories from people who actually worked in Akron’s rubber industry.

08/25/2026

1912 → still standing. 🐖

This is the O.C. Barber Piggery at Anna Dean Farm in Barberton, also known as the “Pig Palace.”

Built in 1912, this 300 foot long building was made for O.C. Barber’s Berkshire pigs. And for a pig barn, they really went all out. Red brick, stonework, tile roofs, cupolas and those blue and white doors.

In 1915, a cholera epidemic forced Barber to destroy his entire herd. The building was later used for sheep and then calves.

After Barber died in 1920, Anna Dean Farm was slowly dismantled, but the Piggery stayed. From 1921 to 1939 it was used as the headquarters for Troop F of the U.S. 107th Mounted Cavalry, made up of local World War I veterans. Later it was home to Coventry Ware Corp., a ceramics company that operated there from 1959 to 1967.

Today, it’s still standing on Robinson Ave.

So much of Anna Dean Farm is gone, so it’s pretty cool to see this one still here more than 110 years later.

And yes, all of this was built for pigs. 😂

Historical photo from 1912 courtesy of Summit Memory and the Barberton Public Library.

📍 O.C. Barber Piggery, Barberton, Ohio

08/13/2026

Soo… it’s been a long day in Akron 😂

Started the day with lunch at Azteca, then headed out for one of my adventures and ended up walking 5.8 miles, making my way straight down West Market Street.

I got to hang out for a while at the awesome Goodyear Branch Library, built in 1939, before continuing on through the area. I made my way over to East End Cemetery and, of course, ended up experiencing an Akron storm while I was out exploring 😂

I walked by 15 Broad Street and took pictures of some of the other historic buildings along the way, including the awesome Goodyear Clock Tower. One of the coolest moments of the day was actually getting to hear the clock tower chime while I was sheltering across the street from the storm. Definitely not something you get to experience every day.

After all that walking and exploring, I ended the day at the WELL CDC for my Leadership & Development class with TorchBearers.

A long day, a lot of miles, a little rain, and a whole lot of Akron history. ❤️

08/11/2026

‼️Save What We Can of Skyway’s History‼️

For 74 years, Skyway Drive In was more than just a restaurant. It was part of Fairlawn and Akron area history.

Generations of families grew up going to Skyway for a Ski Hi, a milkshake, onion rings, or just to spend a summer evening there. The building and that famous sign became a familiar part of West Market Street and a piece of Northeast Ohio roadside history.

Now Skyway is closed and the property is being redeveloped for a Dutch Bros Coffee.

I understand that businesses close and properties change hands. But just because the restaurant is gone doesn't mean we should have to lose every piece of its history.

There have reportedly been efforts to find someone who could continue the Skyway tradition, but that did not happen. Now we need to ask what can still be saved before demolition begins.

What We Are Asking For

‼️Save the Skyway sign. ‼️

That sign is one of the most recognizable pieces of Skyway. We are asking that it be carefully removed and donated to a museum or historical organization where it can be preserved and displayed.

The American Sign Museum in Cincinnati would be one possible home. An Akron area historical organization could also be considered.

The important thing is that the sign survives.

Save the bricks and other pieces of the building.

If the building cannot be saved, let's at least save some of the materials that can be.

We are asking that as much of the original brick and other historic materials as possible be salvaged. Some could potentially be reused at the new development in landscaping, walls, patios or other features.

Materials that cannot be reused could be offered to a local historical organization instead of simply being thrown away.

‼️Document the history before demolition.‼️

Before the building comes down, the property should be photographed and important pieces should be identified and saved.

This doesn't have to be about stopping the new development. Dutch Bros can come to the property and Skyway's history can still be respected.

We can't save every old building.

But when something has been part of a community for 74 years, I think we should at least try to save a piece of it.

Once the sign is gone and the building is in a landfill, we can't go back and get it.

Skyway was part of Fairlawn's story for generations. It was where people met, ate, celebrated, went on dates, brought their kids and made memories.

Let's not let all of that disappear without saving something.

‼️Please sign and share the petition.‼️

If you agree that the Skyway sign, bricks and other pieces of this local landmark deserve a chance to be preserved, please add your name and share this with others who grew up going to Skyway.

‼️Sign the petition here:‼️

"Save the Skyway Drive In Sign & Bricks for Akron Cincinnati Museums"

https://c.org/8XhgVWk2dy

Let's show the City of Fairlawn and the developers that local history matters.

Don't let 74 years of Skyway history end up in a landfill.

08/11/2026

Benita VanWinkle's 44-year documentary photography project has one request for America's iconic retro movie theaters: Please Remain Standing.

08/11/2026

A little piece of Cascade Locks history.

I came across this old photo of the canal area north of Lock 15 at Cascade Locks, and I honestly love seeing stuff like this.
This photo was taken in the early 1990s, and it’s crazy looking at this area and realizing how much has changed since then.

The canal area around Cascade Locks has such a huge part in Akron’s history. The Ohio & Erie Canal helped Akron grow, and this section of the canal was an important part of that whole system.
What really gets me about this photo is how overgrown and forgotten parts of the area look. It’s one of those pictures that makes you wonder what it looked like 20, 30, or even 50 years before this was taken.

Thankfully, people cared enough about this history to preserve it.
I love finding old photos like this because they give us a chance to see Akron before the changes happened. Sometimes you can look at an old photograph and recognize the place immediately. Other times, you would have absolutely no idea where you were standing.
That’s why saving these photographs matters. Buildings disappear, landscapes change, and sometimes the only thing left is a picture showing us what was there.

📸 Photo credit: SummitMemory.org
From the Cascade Locks Park Association Collection
Photo: View of the canal area north of Lock 15
Date: Early 1990s
Contributor: Cascade Locks Park Association

If you love Akron history as much as I do, definitely take some time to look through the old photographs in the Summit Memory collection. There are SO many cool pieces of Akron history hiding in there. ❤️

08/07/2026

I really hope no damage was done to Firestone Park Elementary. This building is a historic asset to the surrounding community.

Most of us know the story. Harvey Firestone donated the land and built this school to serve the families of the workers in the neighborhood he created. The building still contains many original historic features that trace back to that vision.

Not that long ago, the building was being used for fire training until the councilman stepped in and stopped it in an effort to preserve the school and give it a chance at adaptive reuse. That's why APS needs to be transparent about what is actually happening with this building.

Issue the RFP. Find a new use for it. Do something other than let it continue to sit vacant.

There are plenty of truly dilapidated structures that could be used for fire training. Using a historically significant building like this makes no sense. We've already lost too many important buildings in Akron because action came too late.

Let's not repeat those mistakes. Let's honor and preserve our historic buildings before they're gone.

08/06/2026

🎵 Weekly Song Share 🎵

I thought it'd be fun to start something new. Every week, let's share a song we've been listening to. Music has always been one of my favorite ways to connect with people, and I'm always looking for something new to add to my playlists.

My pick this week is "Because the Night" by Patti Smith (1978).

This song starts off so haunting and just keeps building. Every time I hear it, I end up turning it up. I've been dancing around the house to it for the last few days lol. Good vibes from the Godmother of Punk. 🤘

My favorite lyrics are:

"Take me now, baby, here as I am
Pull me close, try and understand
Desire is hunger, is the fire I breathe
Love is a banquet on which we feed..."

What song have you had on repeat lately? Doesn't matter if it's from the '50s or came out last week, I want to hear it!

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.