Kent Audio Tour: Hidden Stories of Landmarks and Legacy

Stops on this tour

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   Rockwell Field

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   If you visited here nearly a century ago, you’d see the Kent State Golden Flashes football team kicking off for the very first time in 1920. Their home opener? Let’s just say it…Read moreShow less

   If you visited here nearly a century ago, you’d see the Kent State Golden Flashes football team kicking off for the very first time in 1920. Their home opener? Let’s just say it wasn’t exactly a Cinderella story-a 7-0 loss to Bowling Green. But hope springs eternal! Over the next twenty years, this field saw baseball, men’s track, and even high school games. Rumor has it, so many visiting teams complained about the rough field that the student paper called it “an embarrassment.” But hey, the Flashes ran undefeated here from 1929 to 1931-nothing boosts school spirit like not losing once for three years straight! The field was named for David Ladd Rockwell, a man whose importance to Kent State can’t be overstated. He was a city mayor, a board member, and a driving force behind getting the very first campus built right here in little old Kent, Ohio. His legacy still echoes, not only in the Commons but also in Rockwell Hall, which started life as the university’s first library. Oh, but Rockwell Field wasn’t always about touchdowns and home runs. Over time, the university blossomed. New buildings, walkways, and dorms like Engleman Hall crowded around the field. The once-remote edge of campus became the beating heart of student life. As the years rolled by, the humble field evolved into Rockwell Commons, a green oasis where you could find intramural sports, picnics, or just groups of students lazing in the sun. But if you think Rockwell Field is just about old sports legends, think again. This place was front and center during some of the most tense, emotional chapters in American history. In the 1960s and 70s, it became a gathering spot for student protests-none more famous than the Kent State shootings in May 1970. During those tense days, you would have seen crowds chanting for peace, heard the passionate calls for justice, and watched as the Victory Bell-donated by a local railroad and perched on the field’s edge-rang to signal the start of demonstrations. Today, that same Victory Bell is still rung every year at exactly 12:24 p.m. on May 4, a ritual honoring those who lost their lives or were injured during the shootings. After the big move to new and shinier athletic complexes in the early 1940s, some argued Rockwell Field should become a massive parking lot. Others disagreed and wanted to keep it as a space for students to enjoy. The solution? A little bit of both-which, you’ll notice, is the kind of compromise universities excel at. As the years went on, Rockwell Commons kept its spirit alive, seeing everything from ROTC drills to fiery speeches, and even serving as a site for the annual commemoration of the May 4 tragedy. So, as you stand here, take in the open air and imagine all the moments-triumphs and heartbreak, games won and lost, brave voices in protest and laughter in the sunshine. Rockwell Field is still a place for gathering, remembering, and maybe even running around if you’re feeling inspired. Just watch out for any leftover rocks. I wouldn’t want you writing your own embarrassing headline in the Kentonian!

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   Ohio State Normal College at Kent

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   Straight ahead, you’ll spot a stately building with huge stone columns lining the entrance-just look for a row of pillars stretching up above the leafy trees and you’ll know…Read moreShow less

   Straight ahead, you’ll spot a stately building with huge stone columns lining the entrance-just look for a row of pillars stretching up above the leafy trees and you’ll know you’ve found the Ohio State Normal College at Kent. Now, take a deep breath and picture yourself standing here over a hundred years ago, when this very spot was fields and farmland instead of a center for learning. Back in 1910, folks in Kent were on the edge of their seats, nervously sweeping their porches and peeking out their windows as word spread: the governor had signed a law bringing a brand-new teacher’s college to northern Ohio. Communities from all around wanted to host it, and a search commission came rolling into Kent, looking for the perfect patch of land. Imagine the excitement as townsfolk whispered about the commission’s surprise visits and last-minute decisions. Would Kent be chosen, or would the dream slip away? Who could have guessed that it would be the old William S. Kent farm, right at the corner of East Main and South Lincoln, that would go down in history? The telegram arrived like a lightning bolt-Kent had been chosen! And what better way to celebrate than with a little naming confusion? For a while, this place was called "Ohio State Normal College at Kent," a bit of a tongue-twister, but soon enough, it became Kent State Normal School, named for William S. Kent himself. It’s the only public university in Ohio named after a real person-so the next time you’re stuck on a trivia night, that one’s on the house. The real magic kicked off in June of 1912, when the townsfolk gathered for a grand ceremony to lay the first stone for Merrill Hall on top of what was then "Normal Hill"-the highest point in the area, with a view over the whole city. There was a parade, plenty of proud speeches, and a time capsule filled with photos and treasures from the day. By the summer of 1913, Merrill Hall opened its doors to the first 47 students and 20 brave faculty members. That’s right-just 47. So if you’ve ever felt self-conscious about a tiny seminar class, imagine being in the very first one here, wondering if the other 46 were going to show up! Back then, all the action happened in Merrill Hall: lessons, the library, even basketball games in makeshift gyms. Lowry Hall opened not long afterward as the women’s dorm-originally called "Walden Hall," thanks to its peaceful, pond-like setting. Fast forward to 1915, and the Administration Building (now Cartwright Hall) and Science Hall (now Kent Hall) opened their doors. Sack lunches, chalk dust, and the echoes of bouncing basketballs filled the air. Science Hall wasn’t just about beakers and Bunsen burners-it was where the University School began, a place buzzing with young voices until 1927. Over the years, the buildings grew and changed. The original campus plan dreamed big, even hoping for a fancy dome on the Administration Building-spoiler alert, it was never actually built (let’s just say some architectural dreams cost a bit too much). More dorms sprouted up, more classes moved in, and, during World War II, Lowry Hall even housed aviation trainees. Imagine the flurry of uniforms and the whir of war-time excitement in those hallways. The decades rolled by with new additions, like Wills Gymnasium and a student union, and the old buildings got some much-needed makeovers as Kent State grew. By the 1970s, the heart of campus shifted, and the original five buildings were given new roles-Sociology in Merrill, Anthropology in Lowry, Psychology in Kent Hall, and so on. Today, these mighty columns still stand, a lasting reminder of Kent’s leap of faith more than a century ago, and the generations of teachers, thinkers, and dreamers who began their journey right here. If you listen closely, maybe you’ll catch a whisper from the past-a hint of chalk on slate or the distant cheer of a victorious basketball team-welcoming you to Kent State’s proud beginnings.

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   Kent Industrial District

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   To spot the Kent Industrial District, look for the bold red-brick train depot with three symmetrical towers, just past the old stone walls and the gentle curve of the river with a…Read moreShow less

   To spot the Kent Industrial District, look for the bold red-brick train depot with three symmetrical towers, just past the old stone walls and the gentle curve of the river with a waterfall-it's right beyond the train tracks, watching over the heart of downtown. Welcome to the Kent Industrial District! Take a deep breath and listen for the rush of water over stone-the Cuyahoga River is working hard just as it did two centuries ago. Imagine it’s the late 1830s: the smell of wet earth and sawdust is in the air, and you’d probably hear the distant crack of hammers and saws as workers build new mills and factories along these banks. Early settlers, drawn by dreams of using river power, built their first gristmill right here in 1807. Picture a landscape buzzing with optimism, as boats glide through the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal built a few decades later. People hoped to turn this little village into a silk-making empire-yep, silk! But then, as luck would have it, silkworms are pickier than you’d expect about Ohio weather. The silk dream fizzled faster than you can say “cocoon,” thanks in part to the Panic of 1837 and some chilly mornings. But every cloud has a silver lining-this canal brought a surge of new buildings and speculation, and soon, you’d see a 19-foot stone arch dam and a sturdy canal lock right here. Zenas Kent, father to the city’s namesake Marvin Kent, jumped in with both boots: he built a flour mill and a tannery just south of here. The tannery even had a famous temporary partner-John Brown, a man you might remember from your history books, long before his raid on Harper’s Ferry. Fast forward and the soundscape changes. Hear workers calling out in the distance and the steady as, in the 1850s, Marvin Kent himself-let’s call him the original Mr. Kent-takes his shot at industry by starting up the Franklin Mills Cotton Company. They build a grand, five-story factory on the old silk mill site. But like a cake forgot in the oven, it’s all outside, no inside; investors pull out and the shell stands empty for over twenty years. Along comes James Turner from Jamestown, NY, who transforms it in 1878 into a bustling alpaca mill. Can you imagine the whirr of looms and whoosh of water wheels driving the whole contraption? For ten years, alpaca and worsted goods surge from this spot, destined for Cleveland and far beyond. If you’re wondering where your shirtwaists came from in the early 1900s-this place has you covered, literally! The L.N. Gross Company ran a shirtwaist factory right here for a good stretch, employing over a hundred women and girls. It’s amazing to think how many little stories-the dreams and worries, the laughter, the clatter of their work-are soaked into these very bricks. And wait, there’s more-train buffs, get ready! Marvin Kent again stepped up, bringing the railroad here and making this area a key stop for the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad. Railroad tracks sizzled with energy as locomotives first rolled through in 1853. By 1875 the elegant depot ahead of you was buzzing with travelers and steam. The old wooden bridge soon gave way to the iconic stone arch bridge you see today, and later, a second rail line joined the crowd on what railroaders called the “lower tracks.” Frankly, with all these railroads and factories, this place must have sounded like a symphony of technological progress for fifty years! But industry isn’t forever. Floods in 1913 battered the dam and lock, and while the tannery and old mill eventually disappeared-for a while, even the grand depot faced the wrecking ball. In a heartwarming twist, locals banded together to save it, and it came back as a restaurant and gathering place. Today, parks have replaced the roar of factories, giving you river walks and boardwalks under big Ohio skies, where you can still catch the echo of old water wheels and steam whistles. So as you stand here, close your eyes and try to hear it all-the hope, the hustle, the hissing railcars-and know you’re at the very heart of Kent history. And hey, you didn’t even need to dodge a silkworm!

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