Parma in Cuyahoga County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Parma's Birthplace

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 20, 2021

1. Parma's Birthplace Marker

Inscription. With the War of 1812 over, Benajah and Ruth Wilcox Fay and their ten children left Lewis County, New York for the state of Ohio. Like many, they were attracted to Ohio by the inexpensive, fertile land. Settling in Township 6, Range 13 of the Blake Tract of the Western Reserve, they represented the first settlers of Greenbriar, named Parma on March 7, 1826. The Fay family cleared their new land, including what later became Theota Avenue, and then built a log cabin. Located on the wagon trail connecting Cleveland and Columbus, the cabin grew into the well-known Benajah Fay Inn, Parma's first business establishment. This historical marker is the site where the city of Parma was born.

Erected 2009 by The Parma Community/Business/School Partnership; Joseph J. Jacubic American Legion Post 572; Parma Education Association; and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 91-18.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers • War of 1812. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 7, 1826.

Location. 41° 24.77′ N, 81° 44.061′ W. Marker

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is in Parma, Ohio, in Cuyahoga County. It is on Ridge Road (Ohio Route 3) just south of Pearl Road (U.S. 42), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cleveland OH 44129, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Cleveland,

on the Lake Erie Shore,

and in the Western Reserve.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: POW-MIA Day (approx. 1.3 miles away); Old Brooklyn Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.3 miles away); Parma Heights Cemetery (approx. 1.3 miles away); In memoriam (approx. 1.3 miles away); Holy Name High School Founded 1914 (approx. 1.6 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.6 miles away); a different marker also named Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.7 miles away); Artifact #1-0041a (approx. 1.8 miles away).

Also see . . . Parma, Ohio (Wikipedia). Benajah Fay, his wife Ruth Wilcox Fay, and their ten children, were the first settlers in 1816. Self-government started to gain in popularity by the time the new Greenbriar settlement contained twenty householders. However, prior to the establishment of the new township, the name Greenbriar was replaced by the name Parma. This was largely due to Dr. David Long who had recently returned from Italy and "impressed with the grandeur and beauty... was reminded of Parma, Italy and... persuaded the early townspeople that the territory deserved a better name than Greenbriar." (Submitted on June 21, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 20, 2021

2. Parma's Birthplace Marker

(looking north along Ridge Road • Pearl Road intersection in background)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 21, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 21, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 994 times since then and 93 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 21, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.