Dr. Crosby Promotes the Chuckery

AKRON & SUMMIT COUNTY

Karl H. Grismer,

Summit County Historical Society,

Akron, Ohio c. 1950 p 125-127

Mayor Newberry undoubtedly was an ardent booster of the Falls. But he did something in 1837 for which he was severely criticized in later years by Falls people. He sold water rights and land to a concern which planned a colossal water power development—a project of such magnitude that it threatened to put both Cuyahoga Falls and Akron in eclipse.

The key man behind this undertaking was none other than Dr. Crosby, father of the Cascade Mill Race and one of the founders of North Akron.

While stupendous in magnitude, the project was really quite simple. The good doctor planned to capture the rushing water of the main Cuyahoga in a dam just below Prospect Avenue in the Falls and conduct it in a canal through the Glens to a bluff on North Hill overlooking the Little Cuyahoga valley. At that point, four miles from the dam, the water would plunge down to the valley below.

The plan was exactly the same as that of the Cascade Mill Race. But this time the volume of water to be used was infinitely greater and would provide a hundred times more water power. The falling water would be used again and again at different levels in its downward flight; there would be almost no limit to the number of manufacturing plants which could be built.

A great industrial city would arise—the greatest in the world!

Dr. Crosby had sublime faith that his dream would become a reality. He was so enthusiastic that he sold his one-third interest in the Cascade Mill Race and lands in North Akron to Judge King on October 17, 1840, for $77,358 and used all the proceeds to buy the necessary lands and water rights. Altogether he purchased four square miles, about 2,500 acres. This included the river bottom and abutting lands all the way from Cuyahoga Falls to the junction of the Cuyahoga with the Little Cuyahoga.

A vital part of the needed land was purchased from Henry New­berry. Old timers said Newberry received such a good price that he was able to build the fine stone house at the eastern end of Broad Street which for a half century was used as a sanitorium, and is now the Summit County Receiving Hospital.

Dr. Crosby soon got prominent men to aid him in the venture. Among his associates were General Perkins, Frederick Wadsworth, Eleazer C. Sackett, Dr. Edmund W. Crittenden and Peter Eicher, all outstanding citizens: And on February 27, 1837, a charter was obtained from the state to incorporate the Portage Canal and Manufacturing Company with an authorized capital of $500,000.

The promoters confidently expected to raise the money for the project in England and immediately ordered beautifully engraved bonds, printed on fine quality bank note paper. Each bond was for 500 pounds sterling. This plan fell through because of the 1837 panic and money needed to proceed was not obtained until three years later. Large blocks of stock were then sold in Eastern cities.

Even though the promoters were forced to delay construction of the dam and canal they proceeded to lay out their dream city. It in­cluded most of the land on top of North Hill, where the residential section was to be located, and extended far down into the Little Cuya­hoga valley. The business section was centered at Cuyahoga Street and Tallmadge Avenue; the mammoth manufacturing plants were to be erected along the bluff. Handsomely printed maps were prepared—and circulated throughout the nation.

The name given to the proposed city was Summit City. But that name didn't last. One day a stranger asked Col. John Nash, of Middle­bury: "What is the population of Summit City?" "About 10,000," the colonel replied. Then he added with a leer: "That is, it has one man and 9,999 woodchucks." Always thereafter Summit City was known as the Chuckery, and the proposed canal was called the Chuckery Race. It even bore that name on maps.