South Newbury Union Chapel - National Register of Historic Places

10/19/2026

10/09/2026

Great news! We have made it onto the Ohio Leadership Trail debuting this November 2026! Watch for more information at https://america250-ohio.org/trails-and-tales/

10/09/2026

📜 ON THIS DAY IN WOMEN’S RIGHTS HISTORY

October 8, 1853

Just one day earlier, the National Woman’s Rights Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, had concluded after three days of discussion and debate.

Held October 5–7, the convention brought together advocates who spoke about women’s right to vote, equal access to education and employment, and reform of laws affecting women’s lives.

The movement that began at Seneca Falls in 1848 was continuing to grow—and women’s rights advocates were taking their message to communities across the country.

📖 Today’s image: the original Proceedings of the National Women’s Rights Convention, held in Cleveland in 1853. This copy was once owned by Lucy Stone and later inscribed by Susan B. Anthony.

A piece of history, preserved in the collections of the Library of Congress. (The Library of Congress⁠)

09/29/2026

Hey, look what we found underneath the stage! Lovely old posts that may have stood on the stage. Their style echoes the posts at the front door and on the belfry.

As long as we were excavating outside, we decided to do a little digging inside too. Thanks to (left to right) John, Robin, Bari (who just watched), Doug, Bill, and, of course, Lassie (who as the real expert digger just supervised), we found 3 of these and see more artifacts that we need to retrieve when we have more tools.

168 years later we are still discovering more about this fascinating little historic site!

09/28/2026

Thank you Heritage Ohio for recognizing this very special place in Geauga and Ohio History!

Built around 1858–1859, South Newbury Union Chapel began with a simple but powerful idea: there should be a place where people were free to speak.

After James A. Garfield, then a teacher at what is now Hiram College, was prevented from speaking at a local church, resident Anson Mathews donated land for a community meetinghouse. An 1865 agreement established that the Chapel would be open for “Literary, Scientific, Moral, and Religious purposes” and lectures on all useful subjects, while belonging exclusively to no denomination or group.

That commitment to free expression helped make the Chapel a center for 19th-century social reform, particularly the growing movement for women’s suffrage.

In October 1871, nine local women, now remembered as the “Newbury Nine,” arrived at the Chapel, then serving as their polling place, and demanded their right to vote. Their ballots were rejected, but they returned to try again in 1872 and 1873. Their activism helped lead to the formation of the Newbury Woman Suffrage Political Club in 1874, one of Ohio’s earliest women’s suffrage organizations. Susan B. Anthony later spoke from the Chapel’s small stage in 1879.

The building’s role in community life continued long after those early reformers were gone. Over the generations it has served as a polling place, classroom, library, meeting hall, performance space, gathering place for civic organizations, and center for community events. The Chapel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and recognized on the National Votes for Women Trail.

Today, the South Newbury Union Chapel remains a tangible reminder of what determined citizens can accomplish. The building often called the “Free Speech Chapel” and the “Cradle of Equal Suffrage” has spent more than 165 years providing a place for people to gather, organize, debate, learn, and work toward change.

As a Legacy 250 building, South Newbury Union Chapel preserves an extraordinary Ohio story about free speech, women’s suffrage, community activism, and the courage of ordinary people willing to stand up for what they believed.

What historic building tells an important story of the people who changed your community? Submit it to Heritage Ohio’s 250 Buildings, 250 Stories initiative.
Submit your story here: www.heritageohio.org/250-buildings-250-stories

09/28/2026

09/27/2026

What a gorgeous day for an archaeological dig at Union Chapel! Thank you to everyone who attended and worked so hard. We were fascinated by all the pieces of dishware and building materials you uncovered! And thank you to Geauga Park District, Chief Naturalist John Kolar, and GPD Volunteer Doug H for all their dedication in making this a memorable experience!

09/23/2026

Many of our Geauga suffragists were teachers as well.

09/21/2026

Watch history unfold on Wednesday, October 14 in Columbus, Ohio, with the unveiling of the Ohio Women's Monument! For more than a year, artist Brenda Councill has worked to bring the monument to life, and now it's nearly ready for its debut on Capitol Square.

See the behind-the-scenes progress of the monument and also register to attend the free event at oac.ohio.gov/home/news-and-events/all-news/ohio-womens-monument.