Howland Township to Celebrate 200 Years in 2012
January 25, 2012 – Howland or "The High Land" officially became a township in 1812. The Township will commemorate its bicentennial by remembering its past and preserving it for the future, all while celebrating a successful 200 years.
Bicentennial Day
Many have looked, but the documents establishing the Township have been lost. So, to mark the beginning of our celebration, the Board of Trustees has declared February 1 to be the official bicentennial day. This coincides with statewide recognition of that as Ohio Township Day.
Fourth of July Festivities
The highlight of the celebration will be the annual Fourth of July festivities. In addition to the usual rides, food tents sponsored by community and school organizations, vendors, and music, there will be special bicentennial-related attractions.
Parade
Contest for Historical Entries
The bicentennial is the obvious theme of the parade. But participants are being asked to select a person, place, or thing from the Township's history and to represent it in their entry. Suggestions and more details will be provided to past participants, churches, and other community organizations in a mailing and on the website. All of the entries will be judged, and the top ones will be awarded cash prizes for their groups. The floats will be judged by our grand marshals.
Float IdeasSign-up Form
Grand Marshals
There will be three grand marshals of the bicentennial parade.
Joseph Howland's Great-Great-Great Grandchildren
On January 31, 1798, Joseph Howland bought a tract of land from the Connecticut Land Company identified as Range 3, Town 4 in the area of the Connecticut Western Reserve that later became Trumbull County.
The Howland family line continues, and two of Joseph's great-great-great grandchildren will be our grand marshals: Louisa Meredith Howland Miller and G. Dulany Howland. Louisa now lives in Vienna; Dulany lives in Dallas, TX, and is a certified financial planner and founder of G. Dulany Howland Advisory Corporation. They will be bringing their family members, so there will be three generations of Howlands at the celebration.
Captain John Adgate's Descendants
Howland sold 1,600 acres of his land to Captain John H. Adgate. Ever since he arrived in the southwestern part of the township in 1799, Adgate’s descendants have lived in the area. Joining us as a grand marshal will be James Adgate.
Former Township Officials
Howland is the township that it is because of its history of strong, steady leadership. Those who have served as trustee, clerk, or fiscal officer will be invited to participate in the parade and to be recognized for their contributions. A history of all elected officials as best as can be compiled will soon appear on the website.
Click Here for an Historical Listing of Howland Township Officials
Who was Joseph Howland?
We know that Joseph Howland bought the tract of land in the Western Reserve that became Howland Township. We also know that he is a descendant of John Howland, who came to America in 1620 on the Mayflower. But thanks to Louisa, Dulany and the Howland family, residents will be able to learn more about him: they will be bringing artefacts and memorabilia from their family's personal collection. Residents will be able to meet them and learn more about the Howland family at the Township Administration Building immediately after the parade. Details will be forthcoming.
Howland Township History Center
The Howland of yesterday is not the Howland of today. With each day that goes day, personal memories of what once was are fading. To preserve what we can of Howland past, the Board of Trustees have authorized the establishment of the Howland Township History Center on the lower level of the Administration Building. The museum will be a permanent place open to the public where our shared history will be on display. There will also be a presence on the Township's website.
The first items in the museum are 17 photographs showing people and places from township history, including Miller's Store in Howland Corners, the first schoolhouse, Ratliff Sawmill, Ohio Supreme Court Justice Lynn B. Griffith, and the Wilson Home. The pictures were donated by the Howland Historical Society.
Call for Historical Items
The Township is working with members of the Howland Historical Society to populate the museum with photographs, memorabilia, and artefacts of all things Howland. Current and former residents are encouraged to search through their boxes, basements, and attics. Even if you are not willing to part with your treasure, we will do our best to reproduce it.
Fundraising
We will be looking to private sources and donations to help defray the costs of the celebration and the museum. More information about opportunities and fundraising events will be forthcoming.
Website
Information about the celebration will be available at a special page on the Township's website: HowlandTownship.org/bicentennial.
Howland Historical Society
The Howland Historical Society is organizing itself and looking for new members. For more information, please contact Bob Battison at (330) 307-5664.
For more information about the bicentennial or the museum, please contact Trustee Matthew Vansuch ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or Natalie Ciferno-Gifford ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) at (330) 856-2340.