Quiet Richfield has a lot to say
George W. Davis
In 1974, quiet Richfield Township was suddenly alive because Richfield Coliseum had just opened as the home of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and became a major venue for special events like boxing, musical entertainment and also the home of the Cleveland Barons hockey team.
Singing legends Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley were among the biggest to perform their shows at the Coliseum on State Route 303 and Interstate 271. Sinatra’s concert was the opening night performance and Elvis performed there two shows in 1975.
The Colosseum stood for 20 years before being inactive for five years until the National Park Service took possession in 1999 and the Colosseum was demolished.
Location
The Village of Richfield is in the northwest corner of Summit County and is the center of Richfield Township. The village is bordered by Brecksville and Broadview Heights to the north, Bath and Hinckley Townships to the west, and Boston Township, the peninsula and Cuyahoga Valley National Park to the east. The village covers 9.5 square miles, according to Richfield Police Chief Michael Swanson, whose officers cover the township’s 25 square miles.
Story
Although the village of Richfield was not established until 1967, the area was originally home to Native American tribes, including the Wyandot and Ottawa Indians in the 1700s. The first white settler was Lancelot Mays, who came to Richfield in 1809.
Leamon Fernham became the community’s first justice of the peace as well as the township’s first teacher. The name of the village is believed to come from a weed that used to grow in the community’s fields.
Strong points
“There is no shortage of things to do here, given the wide variety of events we host each year, our park system, low utility rates, beautiful walking areas and a high rate of visitors. property taxes among the lowest in the state,” Mayor Michael Wheeler said. , who is in the third year of his first four-year term as mayor.
“This is a rural bedroom community with no big box stores,” he said. “We actually have the smallest Giant Eagle supermarket in the chain.” He added that most houses in the village are located on land of at least 2 acres.
Wheeler touted the Richfield Heritage Reserve at 4374 Broadview Road. The 335 acres of walking trails and several beautiful buildings plus two lakes and all sorts of things that go on there during the summer at James Kirby’s estate of Kirby vacuum cleaner fame.
Eastwood Reserve On Streetsboro Road (state Route 303), right downtown, are 13.5 acres of wild growth fields for bees, butterflies, community gardens and walking trails, just west of Broadview Road. There is a fishing pond in the middle of the reserve.
Fall Fest will be held there on September 10, with music and chicken dinners as well as local artisans making jewelry, crafts and raising fruits and vegetables, wagon rides for children are included as well than tours across the prairies.
The 13th annual Magical Butterfly Camp will return to the Eastwood Preserve Garden at 9:30 a.m. on July 23. Participants will learn about monarch butterflies and have the opportunity to raise their own butterflies. Each family will receive three caterpillars and milkweed and can watch these little creatures grow through their life cycle. For more details and to register for the $15 camp, go to richfieldvillageohio.org/260/magical-butterflies.
Richfield Woods Park at 4100 Broadview Road will be the site of the Community Days weekend August 12-14. A parade will leave at 6 p.m. on August 12 and a host of activities are planned throughout the three days for children and adults.
The park covers 45 acres and includes three ball diamonds and five football fields, as well as a pond and the Richfield Woods barn where children’s summer camps and several programs will take place until the end of July.
The green of the village will have four concerts this season. The first gig was last month; this Friday, July 15 will feature The Swizzle Stick Band; and bluegrass band Morning Star will play on July 22. Lawn seating is permitted with lawn chairs. The Parks and Recreation Department will provide snacks at each concert until they are gone.
• The 1.1 mile Carter-Pedigo Trail starts at the Richfield Library, 3761 S. Grant St. downtown and keeps walkers busy with noting down all the fun tree facts and a storytelling trail for the kids.
• holy days in the village will be celebrated on December 3, 10 and 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Eastwood House at 4712 W. Streetsboro Road where hot apple cider, coffee and tea will be available while artisans sell items- gifts for Christmas.
Dine out
When it comes to dining out, there’s no shortage of places in Richfield to satisfy your palate or quench your thirst. And soon will open the microbrewery restaurant Richfield Brewing Co. at Grant Street and Broadview Road. Check out these acclaimed dining establishments, from steaks and seafood to burgers, salads and pastries:
• Whitey’s liquor and burgers American cuisine, including the famous chili, at 3600 Brecksville Road. Go to https://whiteys.com.
• Musketeers Bar & Grill at 3027 Brecksville Road. Go to www.musketeersgrill.com.
• Mexican Restaurant Cozumel at 4880 Brecksville Road. Call. For details, call 234-400-0401.
• Teschner Tavern at 4252 Broadview Road, offering old-world cuisine. For details, call 330-659-9094.
• Richfield’s Olesia Tavern, built in 1880 at 3960 Broadview Road, features a restored Grand Ballroom and Prohibition-style speakeasy and Ukrainian-American kitchen. For details, call 234-400-0288.
• Canoe Pub & Grill at 4635 W. Streetsboro Road. Go to www.dugoutpubgrill.com.
• Plates by La Poste Gourmet Café at 4174 Wheatley Road, a gourmet cafe, is known for its gourmet coffee, pastries, cakes, breads and more. Go to www.pbpbakes.com.
About Richfield Village
Based: 1809; village in 1967
Population: 3,632
Website: www.richfieldvillageohio.org
School District: Revere Local Schools
School website: www.revereschools.org
Mascot: Minutemen
