Barberton in Summit County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Johnson’s Corners

Second Settlement in Norton Township

Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 24, 2019

1. Johnson’s Corners Marker

Inscription.
Thomas Johnson first came to Norton Township in 1814, and within three years he had established the township’s first sawmill along the fast-moving waters of Wolf Creek. The enterprising Johnson also erected a tavern, store, and post office, all on the northeast corner of this town square. In 1830 a grist mill was added to the community. Predating the founding of Barberton by seventy-seven years, Johnson’s Corner existed from 1817 until 1929, when it was annexed into Barberton.

Erected 1996 by Rite-Aid Corporation, City of Barbeton, Barbeton Historical Society and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 12-77.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1814.

Location. 41° 0.349′ N, 81° 38.331′ W. Marker is in Barberton, Ohio, in Summit County. Marker is at the intersection of West Wooster Road and 31st Street (South Cleveland-Massillon Road), on the right when traveling west on West Wooster Road. It is in front of the Rite-Aid drugstore. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1403 Wooster Rd W, Barberton OH 44203, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least

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8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Slovenian Independent Society Home (approx. one mile away); PPG Industries in Barberton (approx. 1.1 miles away); Glenn "Jeep" Davis (approx. 1½ miles away); The Freedom Tree (approx. 1½ miles away); a different marker also named The Freedom Tree (approx. 1½ miles away); a different marker also named The Freedom Tree (approx. 1½ miles away); Staff Sergeant Howard E. Woodford (approx. 1½ miles away); a different marker also named The Freedom Tree (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Barberton.

Also see . . . Before Barbeton. City website entry:
Excerpt:

Two early routes through Norton Township formed the crossroads which created Johnson’s Corners. The Cleveland-Massillon Road bisected the township from north to south, while the Wooster Road was an early stage coach route which connected Warren and Wooster.
...
By 1874, when an atlas of Summit County was published, Johnson’s Corners contained about 36 lots and extended both north and south on the Cleveland-Massillon Road (31st Street) and east and west on Wooster Road. Included in the village were the hotel, a blacksmith shop, two wagon shops, three general stores, a shoe store, a post office, printing office, two churches and a school. A steam saw mill was added in 1867 and the original grist mill continued to run.

Johnson’s Corners and the Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 24, 2019

2. Johnson’s Corners and the Marker

(Submitted on December 4, 2019.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 20, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 4, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,035 times since then and 123 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 4, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.