Northfield in Summit County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Forgotten Village of Brandywine
A bustling village once surrounded these falls. Taking advantage of the waterpower, George Wallace built a sawmill here in 1814. Over the next decade, the Village of Brandywine added a whiskey distillery, gristmill, woolen mill, and a dozen houses. In 1825, Wallace transferred his property to his sons, who then formed the Wallace Brothers Company.
Eventually, Brandywine’s prosperity dried up. The Ohio & Erie Canal, and later the railroads, shipped goods to the cities of Akron and Cleveland, leaving towns like Brandywine behind. Except for the barn and house built by James Wallace in 1848—now restored as the Inn at Brandywine Falls—only a few hidden foundations remain of the Village of Brandywine.
Brandywine Falls’ rock base (right) consists of alternating layers of erosion-resistant sandstone and easily eroded shales. In the Village of Brandywine (below) is the mid-1800s, a steel bridge carried Brandywine Road over Brandywine Creek, just before the falls next to the gristmill (to the left in photo). In the distance stands the Wallace Farm, now the Inn at Brandywine Falls.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1814.
Location. 41° 16.656′ N, 81° 32.286′ W. Marker is in Northfield, Ohio, in Summit County. Marker is on Brandywine Road. The marker is on the grounds of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8230 Brandywine Road, Northfield OH 44067, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (here, next to this marker); Champion Electric Company (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Brandywine Falls (about 300 feet away); Stanford Farm (approx. 1.1 miles away); Boston Township World War II Honor Roll (approx. 1.4 miles away); Welcome to Cuyahoga Valley National Park (approx. 1.4 miles away); Bustling Boat-Building Village (approx. 1.4 miles away); Fortunes Rise and Fall (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northfield.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 13, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 8, 2012, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 818 times since then and 78 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 8, 2012, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 2. submitted on July 10, 2022, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 8, 2012, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.