Brimfield History | Brimfield Government

Brimfield, the Southern Gateway to the City of Kent and Kent State University was founded in 1818. Brimfield's first real resident was Mr. Simcox, a lone squatter. Its first legal resident was Henry Thorndike Esquire, who named the township Thorndike. In 1836, the township was renamed Brimfield after a town in Massachusetts.

HISTORIC KELSO HOUSE
Brimfield Memorial House Association (BMHA)
Curator: Judi Allen
President - Helena Parry
V.P.: Judy Hendershot
Secretary: Susanne Heisey
Treasurer/Business Agent: James Winkler
4158 ST RT 43
P.O. Box 1231, Kent, Ohio 44240. (330) 673-1058
E-Mail: kelsohouse1@aol.com  Call the Kelso house for tour information and hours of operation. NEW: www.kelsohouse.org
 

The Kelso House is owned and operated by the Brimfield Memorial House Association. The house is currently located at 4158 State Route 43. In earlier times the house graced the south corner of State Route 43 on the east side of County Highway 18 or Tallmadge Road as it is called today. William Kelso built the Greek- revival tavern in 1833.

In 1836 he and his wife Lucy Saywer Kelso opened the Kelso House "Union House" or "Old Hotel" as it was called by the early town folk. Until Lucy's death in 1886, the stage tavern served as the center of the town's social activity with a post office on the main floor and a ballroom on the second floor. After Lucy's death the house was rented to the Frank Kurtz family and later to the Simon Bostick's and many others until 1902 when the Kelso House became the home of Lucy and William's granddaughter, Caroline Snyder Miller (Carrie) (1863-1961), and Caroline's husband James.

In 1963 the Brimfield Memorial House Association formed and purchased the Kelso House from the Shell Oil Company for $1.00 to avoid its demolition to make way for a new gas station. Land was acquired behind the historic Jones House at 4160 St. Rt. 43 and the "Union House" Kelso House was moved to its present location. Later, more land was purchased to house other historic buildings including the Michael Cable Barn (1845), the Boosinger Corn Crib and Granery (1879) and a garden shed.

Today the Kelso House stands proudly at 4158 St. Rt. 43, which is adjacent to the Brimfield Elementary School. The house is nestled along with other historic buildings in a park like setting with oak, tulip poplar, walnut , and other plants and trees of earlier times.

The bell  hung in the town hall from 1871 until 1951 when the town hall was taken down. In November of 1972 Foster Woodward and Winan Snyder mounted it at the Kelso House. The bell rang again on February 3, 1973 as it joined in the national observance of the signing of the treaty to end the Vietnam War.

Brimfield History | Brimfield Government