Cascade Valley in Akron in Summit County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Schumacher's Akron

Photographed by Craig Doda, May 10, 2026

1. Schumacher's Akron Marker

Inscription. Schumacher's need for raw materials, workers, and supplies influenced the region's economy. Farmers could bring their products for milling by horse and wagon down Cascade Street, which this trail now follows. Companies like Buckeye Mower & Reaper Works filled a need for machinery and equipment in the growing agricultural economy.

In 1880 his mills employed 100 workers, including 88 men and 12 women. Businesses grew to sell supplies necessary for mill operations, such as the paper sacks provided by the Thomas Phillips Company.

(caption:) In 1880 Schumacher paid $1.50 a day for ordinary labor and $2.00 a day for skilled labor, which was decent pay for the time. He avoided child labor. In 1880 the minimum age of his male workers was 16 years; the minimum age of his female workers, 15 years.

(caption:) Cascade Mills employees, 1887 photograph courtesy of Summit County Historical Society Thomas Phillips Company illustration courtesy of Valley Railway Guidebook Buckeye Mower & Reaper Works advertisement courtesy of National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 148 Souvenir Booklet.

Erected 2008 by Ohio & Erie Canalway; Cascade Locks Park Association; The City Of Akron; Summit Metro Parks.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic

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list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.

Location. 41° 5.417′ N, 81° 31.022′ W. Marker is in Akron, Ohio, in Summit County. It is in Cascade Valley. It is at the intersection of West North Street and Hickory Street, on the right when traveling east on West North Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 57 W North Street, Akron OH 44308, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Cleveland

and in the Western Reserve.

It is also in the American Midwest.

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: The Cascade Race (within shouting distance of this marker); Generations of Power (within shouting distance of this marker); Schumacher's Cascade Mills (within shouting distance of this marker); The Oatmeal King (within shouting distance of this marker); Made in Ohio, Produced for America (within shouting distance of this marker); Becoming an American Company (within shouting distance of this marker); The Legacy of Schumacher (within shouting distance of this marker); Wheel Power (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Akron.

More about this marker. The marker is located in Cascade Park.

Photographed by Craig Doda, May 10, 2026

2. Schumacher's Akron Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 13, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 13, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.