Community Spotlight: Minerva is steeped in history and quiet charm

George W. Davis
·8 min read

The village of Minerva is somewhat of an anomaly because it is encased within three counties: Stark, Carroll and Columbiana.

Longtime residents questioned about the oddity will tell you that only about 2% of the village is in Columbiana County while Stark and Carroll share the balance almost equally.

What people will say about Minerva is that it is a small, fairly tight-knit community with plenty to do within or just outside the village, and it holds a wealth of history, with structures still standing or open for business from the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Some of Minerva's charm comes from the old, well-kept buildings and homes in which some businesses still operate today.
Some of Minerva's charm comes from the old, well-kept buildings and homes in which some businesses still operate today.

Location

Minerva covers 2.23 square miles in the southeast corner of Stark County, with Carroll County bordering its northern area and Columbiana County bordering the east side of the village where U.S. 30 and state Route 183 meet. Minerva Police Chief Christopher Miller said communities bordering the village are Malvern, Carrollton, East Rochester and Robertsville. Miller's officers cover the village’s portions in Carroll and Columbiana counties. Sandy Creek Joint Fire District (formerly Minerva Fire) covers the village and Paris and West townships in Columbiana County, Fire Chief Aaron Stoller explained.

History

Surveyor John Whitacre came to this small area in 1818, surveyed the land and purchased 123 acres to construct a log mill. He named the community for his niece, Minerva Ann Taylor, and the community grew up around the mill and was established as a town in 1833. Minerva was incorporated as a village in 1862.

The community is steeped in history and quiet charm with plenty of shopping locations both inside and nearby, as well as parks, trails and recreation areas. Some of its charisma comes from the old, well-kept buildings and homes in which some businesses still operate today.

Some of the town’s most notable people include:

• Minerva manufacturers Willard and Isaac Pennock, who patented the country’s first steel railroad car in the 19th century.

• John Cowan, local musician, who was the bassist with the Doobie Brothers.

• Pro baseball player Oscar Grimes.

• William “Bill” Powell, owner and designer of nearby Clearwater Golf Club in East Canton, the nation’s first integrated golf course.

• Telephone industrialist Theodore Vait.

• Charles Wilson, former U.S. secretary of defense and former CEO of General Motors.

The Hart Mansion was built as a home in 1869 and transformed into a fine-dining restaurant in 2008.
The Hart Mansion was built as a home in 1869 and transformed into a fine-dining restaurant in 2008.

Highlights

With summer sunshine and warmth having just arrived, the reopening of the Minerva Municipal Pool is slated for the end of this week as residents celebrate the Memorial Day Weekend.

Philip Turske, the village's full-time administrator, said a new restaurant is expected to open shortly, while a second group is still searching for “the perfect location” to open a second eatery.

He noted that since coming to Minerva almost three years ago he has been impressed with the work of those who have preserved businesses and homes, some over the century mark or close to it.

With degrees in political science and criminal justice from Davis & Elkins College and a master's in public policy, Turske works closely with part-time Mayor Timothy Tarbet. The administrator is in charge of daily village operations, and the mayor presides over the village council and mayor’s court, dealing with minor offenses.

Turske called the village’s parks and walking expanses “great,” listing ballfields at Municipal Park (aka Brock Park); Bicentennial Park; and Rotary Park; but none at Veterans Park. Turske and wife Emily have a son, while Tarbet and wife Nancy have two daughters and four grandchildren.

Tarbet also is president of the Minerva Area Chamber of Commerce and vice president of the Minerva Area Community Charitable Trust Association. He is in his 34th year with the Minerva Fire Department (now called the Sandy Creek Joint Fire District). He retired in 2018 as a corporate trainer with True Value Hardware after spending most of his working years in retail hardware.

• Among the oldest structures in Minerva is The Hart Mansion at 411 N. Main St., which was built in 1869 as the home of George F. Yengling and in 2008 was transformed into a fine-dining restaurant by co-owners Vicki Phillips and her aunt Pat Miller, who bought the mansion in 2003. The current owners kept the name to honor the family of Hiram Hart, who purchased the mansion in 1900; family members Paul and Gertrude Hart restored most of the home to its original state.

Phillips said the two-floor restaurant, with seating for 40, is open Wednesday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for lunch and from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday for dinner. Reservations are required by calling 330-868-4278, with last seating at 7:30 p.m. American cuisine specialties include steak, seafood and pasta. Website: Hartmansionrestaurant.com

A 19-foot-tall statue of cow Lacey May stands at the headquarters of Minerva Dairy, which has been family-owned for 128 years.
A 19-foot-tall statue of cow Lacey May stands at the headquarters of Minerva Dairy, which has been family-owned for 128 years.

• Minerva Dairy has been a family-owned butter and cheese creamery for 128 years, having begun in 1894 in Wisconsin and moved to Minerva in 1935, and is recognized as America’s oldest family-owned creamery. Siblings Adam Mueller and Venae Mueller Watts are the family’s fifth-generation executives with 90 employees now and corporate headquarters at 430 Rodloff Ave.

In front of the offices stands a 19-foot-tall, 1,200-pound statue of cow Lacey May named in honor of fourth-generation owner Phil Mueller, the current owners’ father, who was the first to make lacy Swiss cheese, which the dairy no longer makes.

The firm is known for its batch-churned 85% butterfat butter and a wide variety of other cheeses and butter, including 2-pound sea-salt and unsalted roll butter shipped internationally and across the U.S., including Hawaii and Alaska. Website: minervadairy.com

• Kishman’s Fresh Market IGA store began operation at 202 E. High St. in 1954, has expanded five times and also has a second store in Malvern. Matt Kishman, brother Tom and sister Kristin Meadows are the current managers of the store started by George Kishman and father-in-law Thomas Mairs. Thomas and Janice Kishman are president and vice president, respectively. The Minerva grocery is open Monday through Saturday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Malvern store hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Kishman has 125 total employees. Website: kishmans.com

The Normandy Inn restaurant is at 114 S. Market St. in Minerva.
The Normandy Inn restaurant is at 114 S. Market St. in Minerva.

Fun and dining

Besides its parks, trails and shopping locations, especially downtown, Minerva offers golfers two nearby courses to test their talent.

• As noted above, Clearview Golf Course at 8410 Lincoln St. SE near East Canton was the first integrated course in the country, thanks to World War II Army veteran Powell, who designed and built the 18-hole, 5,980-yard course on his 78-acre site. He opened the first 9 holes in 1948 and added nine more in 1978. Clearview was named a National Historic Site in 2001. Powell’s children, golf pro Renee Powell and course superintendent Larry Powell, run the course now. Website: clearviewgolfclub.com

• Great Trail Golf at 10154 Great Trail Drive in Columbiana County is a 27-hole course that began as 9 holes in the late ’60s, added a second 9 in the mid-’70s and the third in the early ’90s. The course covers 300-plus acres of rolling hills, dense woods and panoramic views and 18 holes plays 5,791 yards from the longest tees. Website: greattrailgc.com

• The Roxy Theatre at 114 N. Market St. was built in 1936 and since 2011 has been owned and operated by the Minerva Area Chamber of Commerce, said chamber Executive Director Denise Freeland. The theater shows movies, stages community theater productions and will remain a multipurpose theater, Freeland said.

Besides The Hart Mansion restaurant, Minerva has plenty of good eating. Check out the following locations:

• Corner Restaurant & Lounge at 701 Murray Ave. Hours: 6 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. daily.

• China House at 509 E. Lincolnway. Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

• Normandy Inn at 114 S. Market St. Hours: 4 to 9 p.m. daily except Wednesday and Sunday.

Que Pasa Mexican Restaurant is at 101 N. Market St. in Minerva.
Que Pasa Mexican Restaurant is at 101 N. Market St. in Minerva.

• Que Pasa Mexican Restaurant at 101 N. Market St. Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

• Holland's Restaurant at 204 N. Market St. Hours: 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.

Holland's Restaurant is at 204 N. Market St. in Minerva.
Holland's Restaurant is at 204 N. Market St. in Minerva.

• Railroad Cafe at 216 Arbor Road NW. Hours: 4 p.m. to midnight Tuesday through Thursday; 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

• Classic 57 Restaurant at 317 E. Lincolnway. Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday; and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Classic 57 Restaurant is a ’50s-style diner is at 317 E. Lincolnway in Minerva.
Classic 57 Restaurant is a ’50s-style diner is at 317 E. Lincolnway in Minerva.

About Minerva

Founded: Established in 1833. Incorporated as village in 1862.

Population: 8,684 as of 2020

City website: minerva.oh.us

School district: Minerva Local Schools, Lions

District website: mlsd.sparcc.org

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Community Spotlight: Minerva is steeped in history and quiet charm with shopping and recreation