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

Lyceum Square

Photographed by Christopher Light, November 3, 2007

1. Lyceum Square Marker

Inscription. On this site the Lyceum Village and the Berea Seminary were established in 1837 by John Baldwin, Jame Giruth, Henry O. Sheldon, and Josiah Holbrook. Their vision was to create the first in a connected series of Lyceum Villages. The Villages were designed especially to assist in the education of teachers, promote “scientific” exchanges over the world and thus encourage the study of the works and word of God, and cultivate the spirit of “peace on earth and good will to men.” The community, however, declined and in 1842, John Baldwin assumed the indebtedness of $15,000. James Wallace acquired the area. It was owned by the Methodist Children’s Home in the 1860’s and then sold to German Wallace College in 1866, becoming the original German Wallace College Campus.

Erected 2001 by Baldwin-Wallace College, The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 23-18.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • Education. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1837.

Location. 41° 22.078′ N, 81° 51.088′ W. Marker is in Berea, Ohio, in Cuyahoga County. It is on Seminary

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Street ¼ mile north of Church Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Berea OH 44017, 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: Chapel Square Memorial Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); United States of America Navy Department (within shouting distance of this marker); First Congregational United Church of Christ of Berea (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Civil War Memorial (about 700 feet away); U.S.S. Maine Memorial (about 700 feet away); Berea Veterans Honor Roll (about 800 feet away); Albert E. Baesel (about 800 feet away); Berea And Middleburg Township World War Honor Roll (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Berea.

Regarding Lyceum Square. The Methodist Children’s Home still exist and is the subject of another historic marker.

Baldwin - Wallace College, Memorial Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Christopher Light, November 3, 2007

2. Baldwin - Wallace College, Memorial Building

Memorial Chapel image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Christopher Light, November 3, 2007

3. Memorial Chapel

Photographed by Craig Doda, February 28, 2026

4. Lyceum Square Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2007, by Christopher Light of Valparaiso, Indiana. This page has been viewed 2,672 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 13, 2007, by Christopher Light of Valparaiso, Indiana. 4. submitted on March 7, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.