Thompson Township in Geauga County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Frances Spatz Leighton

Photographed by Craig Doda, May 2, 2026

1. Frances Spatz Leighton Marker

Inscription. Born Frances Ornstein in 1919 and raised on a farm in Thompson, Ohio, Frances went on to become a famous author. Her most notable book is "My Thirty Years Backstairs at the White House." Frances never forgot her small town roots and left a generous donation to the Thompson Ledges Township Park. That donation was used to create a Nature and Learning Center, build the observation deck and trail improvements. Her legacy lives on here at the park through her gift, which allows each of us to see the beauty that lies within these rocks.

Erected 2025 by Thompson Ledges Township Park Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Parks & Recreational Areas • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1919.

Location. 41° 41.382′ N, 81° 2.676′ W. Marker is in Thompson, Ohio, in Geauga County. It is in Thompson Township. It is at the intersection of Thompson Road (County Route 7) and Madison Road, on the right when traveling east on Thompson Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 16755 Thompson Rd, Thompson OH 44086, United States

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of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Cleveland

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 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Thompson Ledge Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Thompson Ledges / Thompson Ledges Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Charles Martin Hall (approx. 0.3 miles away); Thompson Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); War of 1861-1865 (approx. 4.7 miles away); In Commemoration of Hendrick E. Paine (approx. 5½ miles away); Unionville Tavern (approx. 6.6 miles away); Colonel Alexander Harper (approx. 6.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Thompson.

Photographed by Craig Doda, May 2, 2026

2. Frances Spatz Leighton Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 15, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 15, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.