Strongsville Historical Society

10/12/2026

Hello everyone, we thank you for your years of support on our page, following the page and sharing content with your fellow Facebook users. our page was created many years ago and due to circumstances beyond our control, we don't have the full flexibility needed to invite new volunteers to help with managing our page. For the long-term benefit of our organization, we have decided it was necessary to create a new page. Please go to our new page to like our posts, follow us, and share the new page with your Facebook friends and groups so they move to our new page as well. Thank you for your support!

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61595295451994

Strongsville Historical Society collects, preserves, and promotes the history of the Strongsville area and its contributions to our regional and national history. We do this for our community by fostering an understanding and appreciation for our past.

09/25/2026

Don't forget, our Harvest Festival is tomorrow, September 26th, from 11:00am to 4:00pm!

Especially if you are planning to bring your children or grandchildren, we have a few exciting additions to the Historical Village where you have the opportunity to explain how some things were done in the "old days".

After many years sitting idle, our smokehouse and outhouse have both been restored and will be open and ready for visitors to explore these two outbuildings! They are both located in the SE corner of our village near the library entrance to our grounds.

Donated in 2022, we are excited to announce that we have restored and installed what is believed to be a 1970s era phone booth in our Olds General Store so visitors can pose for a photo op with a rotary dial pay phone!

If you happen to have an old Cleveland Yellow or White Pages laying around, we would love to add these as props to this display.

09/24/2026

We have an exciting new photo op in our Olds General Store for our Harvest Festival this weekend! Bring your kids and grandchildren and go back a half century to when we inserted coins into pay phones to make a phone call.

09/12/2026

Calling all Ohio Bell phone techs, we're fixing up a phone booth to put in our general store in our Historical Village. We can't figure out how to get this plastic ring down from the ceiling in the booth so we can change the light hulb or convert to LED. Any advice on the trick to getting this ring down?

09/12/2026

Here are some exciting finds from a recent Strongsville home cleanout that will be added to our archives for future exhibits. The drawing of what looks like a coin was the mock-up for tokens that were manufactured for Strongsville's Sesquicentennial in 1966. You can still buy these in our General Store today! What other hidden Strongsville history gems are tucked in closets, attics, and basements, waiting to be found? Please give us a shout if you think you have a piece of Strongsville history.

07/31/2026

We are so excited about the Hometown Heroes Project in Strongsville, Ohio, a community-driven tribute led by members of our City Council and the Strongsville Historical Society to honor the brave men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces!

Through proudly displayed banners in the Town Center, we recognize the dedication, sacrifice, and courage of our local veterans—past and present—who have answered the call to serve our nation.

This project not only seeks to celebrate the service of our city’s veterans but also strengthens our community’s connection to those who have protected our freedoms, ensuring their stories and contributions are remembered for generations to come. By investing in one of our banners, you too can contribute to this lasting legacy of Strongsville’s very own hometown heroes!

Go to our website to complete a Hometown Heroes banner online order form or open a PDF order form for printing. www.strongsvillehistoricalsociety.org

07/22/2026

07/21/2026

Located at 13600 Pearl Road in Strongsville, Ohio, the Strongsville Cafe building has a rich local history dating back to the early 20th century. Originally constructed around the 1910s, it operated as a "Buggy Co." carriage store before transforming into a tavern in the 1930s.The structure has a deep-rooted history in the community, with its evolution spanning from its early days in the horse-and-buggy era to its status today.

Long before it became a neighborhood pub, the structure itself was part of Strongsville's early commercial hub. According to archives from the Strongsville Historical Society, historic photos from the 1910s show the building located near Depot Road (now Westwood Drive). At the time, the building featured "Buggy Co." painted on its side.

Establishing the Cafe: 1933 The business officially traces its origins back to 1933, opening its doors at the end of the Prohibition era. While local records note it has operated continuously as a bar since at least the 1940s, its 1933 establishment makes it a true survivor of mid-20th-century local history.

History at a Glance1839: The building was erected on the northwest corner of Pearl Road and Westwood Drive as the Warner Strong Store, a prominent early commercial hub.
1910s: The building was utilized for local mercantile operations (often associated with the Buggy Company).
1933: Following the repeal of Prohibition, the Strongsville Cafe officially opened its doors. It has maintained continuous operation ever since, serving as the city's oldest bar.

The cafe resides right in the historical heart of the city. It is famously situated just across the street from Don's Pomeroy House, a nationally registered historic property that operated as an Underground Railroad safe house in the 1850s.

While the Strongsville Cafe is the longest-running tavern in Strongsville, the title of the oldest continuously operating bar in all of Cuyahoga County belongs to the Harbor Inn in Cleveland (established in 1895).

07/18/2026

The Strongsville Commons Gazebo: Emulating classic architecture, it acts as the community's literal and figurative center stage. It remains heavily integrated into major annual celebrations like the Strongsville Homecoming Festival, the City Club's Rib Burnoff, and the spectacular Winter Wonderland Lighting Celebration.
In line with many historic Connecticut Western Reserve towns across Northeast Ohio, the original concept of a "bandstand" or gazebo on the town square gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to accommodate community band concerts, rallies, and social gatherings.

The origins of Strongsville's Town Square date back to the founding of Strongsville Township in 1818, which was spearheaded by early pioneer John Stoughton Strong. True to the patterns of the Connecticut Western Reserve from which the township was formed, the settlers organized the town center around a traditional New England-style public green space. This design prioritized a shared, open lawn designated for community gatherings, local government, and social interaction.

07/16/2026

🔥 A throwback worth cheering for! 🏈