Sheffield Through Time

Explores the history and architecture of northern Ohio, highlighting pioneer settlement, architectural evolution, and the area's agricultural growth along Lake Erie.

The legacy of the hardy pioneers who ventured to northern Ohio in the early 1800s and those who followed and strived to make Sheffield's Lake Erie shore and hinterland a wonderful place to live, learn, work, and raise families is depicted in Sheffield Through Time. It traces architectural styles from Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate, and Victorian to Classical Revival. Along the way numerous Vernacular-style farmhouses and barns were built to match the particular needs and backgrounds of the new settlers. Geology played an important part of the early settlement of Sheffield Township. The ancient beach ridges left behind by retreating glacial lakes were the first areas selected for homesteads because of their rich sandy soils. The land along the lakeshore was the least desired by the early settlers because of its high clay content. When Bavarians emigrant arrived in the mid-1800s, they discovered the shorelands were excellent for growing grapes and pastures for their livestock. These factors coupled with stream-power provided by the Black River and French Creek allowed Sheffield to flourish.