City of Orrville history

Community history began in 1814 with the arrival of a veteran of the Revolutionary War, James Taggart Jr., to stake out the claim to which his war service entitled him.

Orr continued to live until the death of his father, in 1818.

His son, Jacob Brenneman, was born in Lancaster county, Pa., February 28, 1822, removed to Wayne county with his father, where he remained until he was twenty-six years of age.

The first school within the present limits of Orrville began in a cabin in 1825 in the Walnut and Paradise Streets area.

William M. Orr -- William M. Orr, only child of Judge Smith Orr, deceased, was born in Baughman township, January 7, 1826.

Isaac Schriber, son of Daniel, was born in Greene township, June 29, 1834.

John A. Wolbach, the editor and publisher, was born in Greene township, April 6, 1849, and learned the printing business in the office of the Wooster Republican.

In 1851, the Pittsburgh and Fort Wayne Railroad was being promoted through this area and one day, soon after the news was heard by the settlers in the area, Smith Orr and Christian Horst discussed the coming changes.

Daniel Schriber, a native of Pennsylvania, and for seventeen years a citizen of Wayne county, died February 2, 1852.

He was married February 16, 1853, to Elizabeth Martin, of Baughman township.

He then began selling goods one mile south-east of the present site of Orrville, where in 1859 he removed and continued his merchantile business, with D. G. Horst as partner.

He is a member of the Wayne County Medical Society, and was made Postmaster of Orrville in 1860 by Abraham Lincoln, serving eight years.

Orrville's first factory, a pottery, was established in 1862 and was located on West Market Street.

Arrival of Settlers | Growth of Railroad | Surrounding Property | Early Businesses | Population | Government | Official Flag and Seal | Clock Tower | Schools | Present Day | Listing of Officials from 1865

Orrville Planing Mill was organized in 1867 by a joint stock company, with a capital of $20,000, and after passing through different hands, is now owned and run by Joseph Snavely.

The beginning of our present banking institutions date back to 1868 when an exchange bank was organized by Jacob Brenneman and David Horst.

Dunlap began his services June 6, 1869, but his ministry was short.

In approximately 1870, Orr Street was extended through the swamp to Burton City.

Hand Rake and Fork Manufactory --Boydston & Ramsey, proprietors, was founded in January, 1871, manufacturing hundreds of these implements annually.

The Graded Schools of Orrville, organized in 1872, are among the very best conducted in the county, having a fine school building, and using all the improved methods of instruction, and are a highly creditable institution to the growing little railroad city.

J. M. Jenkins preached his first sermon April 26, 1874, and was installed, September 24,, by a committee of Presbytery, consisting of Rev.

Orr Lodge Knights of Honor was instituted July 9, 1875.

D. G. Horst, H. H. Strauss, and J. H. Stoll, M.D., were elected Elders at a meeting held May 19, 1876.

William Orr, his third son, died August 3, 1877.

Douglass, Ben, History of Wayne County, Ohio, from the days of the Pioneers and First Settlers to the Present Time, Robert Douglass, Publisher, Indianapolis, Ind., 1878.

Commencement services for high school graduates began in 1880 by J.W. Wright who was hired that year as the first superintendent and principal.

The first significant structure to serve the government functions of Orrville was constructed at 207 North Main Street in 1882.

The first plant opened in 1893 with 4 eight-inch wells, a small boiler, and a steam pump.

In 1894, a Board of Waterworks Trustees was formed to construct and administer a waterworks for the Village of Orrville.

Street paving began here in 1898 when Herring and Son of Mansfield paved Market Street from the square to the C.A. & C. Railroad.

The department issued its first connection permit on November 21, 1908.

In 1909, Orrville founder, Judge Smith Orr, signed over four acres of land to the Village for the purpose of digging a well and building a pumping station to supply water to the town.

Then a six room senior high school was built (which was later renovated and is the present junior high school). Maple Street School was built in 1913, the result of a $25,000 bond levy.

In 1918, with a growing population and a greater demand for water services, 3 additional ten inch wells were drilled.

Orr Park was officially underway in 1920, when the mayor selected George H. Irvin, William H. Heebsh, J.M. Smucker, and Harvey L. Zimmerman to the Park Board.

In 1923, 3 more ten-inch wells were added, bringing the total to 10 wells.

The Board was later joined by Leroy B. Webner in 1929 when Mr.

On July 25, 1930, the park, now named Orr’s Park in honor of the Brenneman sisters’ donation, was dedicated to the community.

Two other major expansions saw Orr Park grow, as in 1940, Ms.

The park expanded northward to encompass Orr Woods in 1943, which was purchased for this purpose by Burt Cope of Will-Burt, a local repair shop, and now the premier manufacturer of mobile telescoping masts, towers, trailer systems, and pan and tilt positioners today.

The old Senior High School was constructed in 1954-55 at a cost in excess of a million dollars.

North Elementary School was built in 1960 to replace the Walnut Street School which had been razed.

The following year, the Presbyterians erected their first church, their second to be built in 1961.

In September 1972, Wayne College, a 3.5 million dollar branch of the University of Akron opened its doors.

Chamberlain sold another parcel of the former Orr farmland to the city, and in 1992, Chamberlain’s son-in-law donated the 40-acre space that now encompasses the dog park and wetland area.

The $13 million facility, capable of treating 3.7 million gallons of water per day, was completed in late 1997.

A new overall school campus plan was developed in the early 2000's with a proposed new elementary school housing grades K-4, a new middle school housing grades 5-8, and a new high school addition for grades 9-12.

The first part of this overall school campus started with the construction of the new middle school at 801 Mineral Spring Street in 2006 at a cost of $10,000,000.