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

1837 — 1987

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 17, 2021

1. 1837 — 1987 Marker

Inscription.
Beneath the center of this millstone, which ground the grain for the bread of Bedford’s early settlers, is a box containing mementoes of Bedford’s Sesquicentennial Celebration of 1987.

We, the Bedford Sesquicentennial Committee, charge the residents of our community to retrieve said box during the Bedford Bicentennial year of 2037. We also suggest that the Bicentennial Committee add significant items appropriate to the occasion and replant the container, with instructions that it be opened in Bedford’s 250th year of 2087.

Erected 1987 by Bedford Sesquicentennial Committee.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Time Capsules series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1837.

Location. 41° 23.405′ N, 81° 32.112′ W. Marker is in Bedford, Ohio, in Cuyahoga County. It is on South Park Street just east of Willis Street, on the left when traveling east. The marker is located near the south side of the Bedford Railroad Depot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 33 South

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Park Street, Bedford OH 44146, 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 walking distance of this marker: Bedford Railroad Depot (a few steps from this marker); Elmer Harrison Flick (within shouting distance of this marker); Bedford Township Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Bedford Civil War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); In Remembrance Veterans of World War I (within shouting distance of this marker); Bradford WWII Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Benjamin Franklin Fitch (within shouting distance of this marker); Archibald M. Willard, 1836-1918 (within shouting distance of this marker).

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 17, 2021

2. 1837 — 1987 Marker

Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bedford.

Also see . . . Bedford, Ohio (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: Bedford began as part of the Connecticut Western Reserve in 1797. A large portion of the Western Reserve was sold to the Connecticut Land Company in 1795. Surveying of the land began shortly after and was spearheaded by Moses Cleaveland. Seth Pease and Amzi Atwater surveyed Lot 46, which eventually would become Bedford Township.
The first settlers to the area started to arrive in 1813. Early settlers to the region were drawn to Tinkers Creek and the hardwood forests. Waterfalls on Tinkers Creek were ideal for mills, which would power local businesses. The first mill in Bedford Township was built by Adams and Starr in 1815. The first official settler to the area was Elijah Nobles. He settled here in 1810 in the western part of the township on one of the 100 lots surveyed. Bedford became an incorporated village on March 15, 1837. In 1837, the population of Bedford Township had grown to be 475 people and at that time, the residents petitioned to become the Village of Bedford, which sits at the geographic center of
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 17, 2021

3. Millstone donation plaque
This millstone was donated to the Bedford Historical Society by Joseph and Benedetta Sirna, and Joseph and Luch Spoto
June 1987
Bedford Township.

(Submitted on December 24, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

1837 — 1987 Marker [right] & Bedford Railroad Depot image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 17, 2021

4. 1837 — 1987 Marker [right] & Bedford Railroad Depot

Credits. This page was last revised on December 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 23, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 54 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 24, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.