History
of Moorefield Township |
| |
| |
| |
| The
township form of government was brought to America by the Pilgrims
in 1620 and was established in the Ohio Territory even before
Ohio became a state. Today, as in the early years, this remains
the basic unit of local government and currently functions with
those powers that are specifically granted and defined by state
legislature. |
| |
| The
first known settlers arrived in what is now Moorefield Township
in 1799 and were part of a colony of five men, plus wives and
children that came from Kentucky and included Simon Kenton. They
made their first homes along Urbana Pike which was at that time
a cleared path through the forest. Other settlers followed in
the early years of the nineteenth century and made their homes
throughout the area that would become Moorefield Township, which
was officially organized in June, 1818.
|
| |
| |
|
| This
commemorative stone is located in Mumper Cemetery
on Morris Road, marking the location of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. |
This
marker is located at Pleasant Hill Cemetery
on Mechanicsburg Road. |
|
| |
| Early
businesses in the area were saw mills, grist mills and merchandising,
in addition to the main pursuits of agriculture and trapping.
In 1881 there were three churches and nine school districts within
the township. In each district, classes were held in brick schoolhouses,
which were built at a cost of $1600.00 each. During the nineteenth
century and into the first half of the twentieth century, the
township remained mostly rural in nature and agriculture was the
chief support of local families. Historic Crabill Homestead, built
in or before 1826, has been rehabilitated and stands on its original
location at what is now the grounds of Clarence J. Brown Reservoir.
Another historic home, known for many years as the Hunt Home,
dating to the early nineteenth century, stands on the lands where
Simon Kenton built his log home on Urbana Road. |
| |
| |
|
|
| This
plaque marks the location of
Simon Kenton’s first home along
Urbana Road. |
The
brick home known as the “Hunt House” is
located along Urbana Road on land that was
first settled by Simon Kenton in 1799. |
The
Crabill Homestead was built in 1826
(possibly earlier) and is located near
Clarence J. Brown Reservoir. |
|
| |
| Two
events occurred during the middle years of the twentieth century
that helped set the course for Moorefield Township as we know
it today. The first occurred in the early 1950’s when local
developer Edwin Hoppes constructed the first home in the community
that would become known as Northridge. Construction of homes occurred
at a rapid pace in the 1960’s and continued at a steady
rate through the 1970’s and 1980’s and into the 1990’s.
Construction continues today as Northridge is now populated by
more than 2500 homes and condominiums. The second event was the
construction of the International Harvester truck assembly plant.
The first truck rolled off the assembly line in 1966 and the facility
remains a major presence in our community today. These two historic
events have, over the ensuing years, been major factors in the
continued growth of population and business pursuits in Moorefield
Township. Figures compiled by the 2000 U.S. Census reflected a
total population in Moorefield Township of 11,402 persons; that
figure is now estimated to be in excess of 12,000. There are now
many new homes throughout Moorefield Township as development has
spread beyond the Northridge area. |
| |
| |
Another
major event occurred in 1974-75 with the construction of Clarence
J. Brown Dam and Reservoir and the development of the adjacent
Buck Creek State Park. Also during the 1970’s State Route
334 was completed, connecting State Route 4 to U.S. Route 68. |
| |
Bearing
a commemorative stone dated 1872, the old Township Building served
as the seat of township government until a new Township Office/Fire
Station was construction in 2000. Moorefield Township Fire Department
was founded in 1950. The Department was housed at the Township
Building in New Moorefield, with additional equipment housed at
a station built in Northridge in the early 1960’s. Moorefield
Township Fire Department was consolidated in one location when
the new station was opened on Moorefield Road in 2000. |
| |
| |
|
| The
old Township building in New Moorefield Served as Township
Hall
until 2000 and Fire Station from the early 1950’s
until 2000. |
The
fire station on Ridgewood Road, East served Moorefield
Township from the mid-1960’s until 2000. |
|
| |
| As
Moorefield Township has grown through the years, many challenges
have emerged to face local government. Township officials, past
and present, have proved themselves equal to these challenges
and with the cooperation of township residents have also stepped
forward to shoulder the financial responsibility of funding for
roads, fire and EMS services and other optional services that
are enjoyed in Moorefield Township. |
| |
|
|
 |
Old
Metro unit |
First
medic unit |
Refurbished
“Telesquirt” fire truck |
|
| |
Some
residents who have served Moorefield Township as elected officials
in the past are listed below. |
| |
| 1933 |
Trustee
C. J. Spahr |
Trustee
Harry Nicklin |
| |
Trustee
James W. Roberts |
Clerk
James McClintock |
| |
|
|
| 1935 |
Trustee
C. J. Spahr |
Trustee
Harry Nicklin |
| |
Trustee
James W. Roberts |
Clerk
James McClintock |
| |
|
|
| 1937 |
Trustee
James W. Roberts |
Trustee
C. J. Spahr |
| |
Trustee
Harry Nicklin |
Clerk James
McClintock |
| |
|
|
| 1939 |
Trustee Roy
Greiner |
Trustee
C. J. Spahr |
| |
Trustee
Harry Nicklin |
Clerk Willard
Phleger |
| |
|
|
| 1941 |
Trustee
Roy Greiner |
Trustee
C. J. Spahr |
| |
Trustee
Harry Nicklin |
Clerk Willard
Phleger |
| |
|
|
| 1943 |
Trustee
Roy Greiner |
Trustee
C. J. Spahr |
| |
Trustee Harry
Nicklin |
Clerk Willard
Phleger |
| |
|
|
| 1945 |
Trustee
Roy Greiner |
Trustee
C. J. Spahr |
| |
Trustee Harry
Nicklin |
Clerk Willard
Phleger |
| |
|
|
| 1947 |
Trustee
Roy Greiner |
Trustee
C. J. Spahr |
| |
Trustee Harry
Nicklin |
Clerk Willard
Phleger |
| |
|
|
| 1949 |
Trustee
Roy Greiner |
Trustee
Harry Ellsworth |
| |
Trustee Harry
Nicklin |
Clerk Willard
Phleger |
| |
|
|
| 1951 |
Trustee
Fred Weber |
Trustee
Harry Ellsworth |
| |
Trustee Harry
Nicklin |
Clerk Russell
Kile |
| |
|
|
| 1953 |
Trustee
Fred Weber |
Trustee
Harry Ellsworth |
| |
Trustee Harry
Nicklin |
Clerk Russell
Kile |
| |
|
|
| 1955 |
Trustee
Fred Weber |
Trustee
Harry Ellsworth |
| |
Trustee Harry
Nicklin |
Clerk Phyllis
Greene |
| |
|
|
| 1957 |
Trustee
Fred Weber |
Trustee
Carl Stoll |
| |
Trustee J.R.
McLendon |
Clerk Phyllis
Greene |
| |
|
|
| 1959 |
Trustee
Fred Weber |
Trustee
Carl Stoll |
| |
Trustee J.R.
McLendon |
Clerk Charles
Baldwin |
| |
|
|
| 1961 |
Trustee
Fred Weber |
Trustee
Carl Stoll |
| |
Trustee Elder
Loney |
Clerk Charles
Baldwin |
| |
|
|
| 1963 |
Trustee
Fred Weber |
Trustee
Carl Stoll |
| |
Trustee Elder
Loney |
Clerk Charles
Baldwin |
| |
|
|
| 1965 |
Trustee
Fred Weber |
Trustee
Carl Stoll |
| |
Trustee Elder
Loney |
Clerk Charles
Baldwin |
| |
|
|
| 1967 |
Trustee
Fred Weber |
Trustee
Carl Stoll |
| |
Trustee Elder
Loney |
Clerk Charles
Baldwin |
| |
|
|
| 1969 |
Trustee
Fred Weber |
Trustee
Carl Stoll |
| |
Trustee Elder
Loney |
Clerk Charles
Baldwin |
| |
|
|
| 1971 |
Trustee
Fred Weber |
Trustee
Carl Stoll |
| |
Trustee Elder
Loney |
Clerk Charles
Baldwin |
| |
|
|
| 1973 |
Trustee
Fred Weber |
Trustee
Carl Stoll |
| |
Trustee Elder
Loney |
Clerk Charles
Baldwin |
| |
|
|
| 1975 |
Trustee
Fred Weber |
Trustee
Carl Stoll |
| |
Trustee Elder
Loney |
Clerk David
Arthur |
| |
|
|
| 1977 |
Trustee
Fred Weber |
Trustee
Carl Stoll |
| |
Trustee
Steve Hopkins |
Clerk David
Arthur |
| |
|
|
| 1979 |
Trustee
Fred Weber |
Trustee
Carl Stoll |
| |
Trustee Steve
Hopkins |
Clerk Gayle
Arthur |
| |
|
|
| 1981 |
Trustee
Fred Weber |
Trustee
Carl Stoll |
| |
Trustee Steve
Hopkins |
Clerk Gayle
Arthur |
| |
|
|
| 1983 |
Trustee
Robert Mounts |
Trustee
Carl Stoll |
| |
Trustee Steve
Hopkins |
Clerk Gayle
Arthur |
| |
|
|
| 1985 |
Trustee
Robert Mounts |
Trustee
Carl Stoll |
| |
Trustee Steve
Hopkins |
Clerk Gayle
Arthur |
| |
|
|
| 1987 |
Trustee
Robert Mounts |
Trustee
Carl Stoll |
| |
Trustee Steve
Hopkins |
Clerk Gayle
Arthur |
| |
|
|
| 1989 |
Trustee
Robert Mounts |
Trustee
Jack McKee |
| |
Trustee Steve
Hopkins |
Clerk Gayle
Arthur |
| |
|
|
| 1991 |
Trustee
Robert Mounts |
Trustee
Jack McKee |
| |
Trustee Steve
Hopkins |
Clerk Gayle
Arthur |
| |
|
|
| 1993 |
Trustee
Robert Mounts |
Trustee
Jack McKee |
| |
Trustee Steve
Hopkins |
Clerk Gayle
Arthur |
| |
|
|
| 1995 |
Trustee
Robert Mounts |
Trustee
Jack McKee |
| |
Trustee Steve
Hopkins |
Clerk Gayle
Arthur |
| |
|
|
| 1997 |
Trustee
Robert Mounts |
Trustee
Jack McKee |
| |
Trustee Steve
Hopkins |
Clerk Gayle
Kuhbander |
| |
|
|
| 1999 |
Trustee
Robert Mounts |
Trustee
Jack McKee |
| |
Trustee Steve
Hopkins |
Clerk Gayle
Kuhbander |
| |
|
|
| 2001 |
Trustee
Robert Mounts |
Trustee
Jack McKee |
| |
Trustee Joseph
Mosier |
Clerk Gayle
Kuhbander |
| |
|
|
| 2003 |
Trustee
Robert Mounts |
Trustee
Jack McKee |
| |
Trustee Joseph
Mosier |
Clerk Janet
Dyer |
| |
|
|
| 2005 |
Trustee
Robert Mounts |
Trustee
Jack McKee |
| |
Trustee Joseph
Mosier |
Clerk Janet
Dyer |
| |
|
|
| 2007 |
Trustee
Robert Mounts |
Trustee
Jack McKee |
| |
Trustee Joseph
Mosier |
Fiscal
Officer Janet Dyer |
|
| |
