Brittain, Akron, Ohio facts for kids

Brittain, Ohio was once a small community located just east of Akron, in a place called Springfield Township. It was founded in 1832 by the John T. Brittain family. Today, Brittain is no longer a separate village; it has become a part of the larger city of Akron. A house built by the Brittain family around 1874 can still be seen on Brittain Road.

Brittain was an important crossroads. Roads from Tallmadge (to the north), Mogadore (to the east), North Springfield (to the south), and Middlebury (to the west) all met there. The area is about 1,066 feet above sea level.

Early History and Geography

The Little Cuyahoga River flowed right through Brittain. Another waterway, the Springfield Lake Outlet Creek, joined the river near the village. This area might have been a place where indigenous people lived long ago.

First Settlers and Farming

After the Brittain family, other early settlers arrived. One of them was Benjamin Hilbish. He started farming wheat in 1849. He also built a home for his family in 1869. These early settlers helped the community grow.

Life in the Village

Brittain was a lively place with many businesses and services. People sometimes called the village the "white grocery." This was because it had several grocery stores and its streets were known for being clean.

What Was Brittain Like?

In 1892, Sheriff Alanson Lane described Brittain. He said it was about a mile east of Akron's city limits. He mentioned that Brittain had hotels, a store, a post office, and a school. There were also workshops like a wagon shop and a blacksmith shop. A clay-mill was also part of the community.

Brittain had a one-room schoolhouse where children learned. There was also a post office, which helped people send and receive letters. A Methodist church served the community's spiritual needs. The village also had a grist mill, which ground grain into flour. The Roegers family even had a workshop that made carriages. A sawmill was located at Oak Hill, right on the Little Cuyahoga River.

Brittain Becomes Part of Akron

Over time, the city of Akron grew larger and larger. First, it expanded and took in Middlebury, which was to the west of Brittain. Then, Akron continued to spread, and Brittain itself started to become part of the city. Many parts of the old village were lost as Akron developed.

The Impact of New Roads

After World War II, a big project began to build interstate highways across the country. One of these highways was built right over much of what was left of Brittain. This construction further changed the landscape of the former village.

Today, Brittain Road in Akron is named after the old village. Most of what was once the Village of Brittain is now found around the intersections of East Market and Mogadore Road in Akron. This area is part of the Ellet school cluster.