Northwood, Logan County, Ohio
Encyclopedia
Northwood is a small, unincorporated
crossroads village
in northern Logan County
, Ohio
, United States
. It lies along the line between Richland Township
and McArthur Township
, approximately two miles south of the village of Belle Center
and near the South Fork of the Great Miami River
. Northwood was founded in the early 19th century, during the early years of settlement in Logan County. Its primary significance lies in its being the original site of Geneva College
.
During the 1830s, the Rev. J. B. Johnston, pastor of the Miami Reformed Presbyterian Church
in Northwood, began teaching a small classical school in his study. Friends and relatives, noticing the popularity of his classes, began to suggest the opening of a small college in the area. Eventually, Geneva Hall was opened in the spring of 1848, partially under the oversight of the Lakes Presbytery of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. Despite its initial popularity, the school soon failed for lack of money and support. At the end of the Civil War
, Geneva was reopened as a school for freedmen and soon began to educate whites as well. The community received a post office on November 24, 1868. During the 1870s, its name was changed from Geneva Hall to Geneva College, and the college became significant enough that the town's name was changed to "West Geneva". Although the college flourished, it moved to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
in 1880, largely because of Northwood's lack of a railroad and because of greater financial possibilities there.
operated in Northwood for a short time.
s in the woods and fields nearby, Northwood was a center for the Underground Railroad
.
After 1880, Northwood declined. While Northwood was never a large town, the departure of the College removed the village's significance, and "West Geneva" reverted to the old name of Northwood. Its post office closed on June 6, 1901, and local residents received Belle Center addresses. During the 1940s, State Route 638 was constructed through the village, curving over the old college property. Today, Northwood is composed of fewer than twenty homes, and only a stone marker remains to mark the College. Its primary significance today is a quarry
and asphalt
plant.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
crossroads village
Crossroads village
Crossroads village is a term that refers to a settlement, primarily in U.S. American history, that was situated where two or more roads would intersect...
in northern Logan County
Logan County, Ohio
Logan County is a county in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 45,858. The county seat is Bellefontaine. The county is named for Benjamin Logan, who fought Native Americans in the area....
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It lies along the line between Richland Township
Richland Township, Logan County, Ohio
Richland Township is one of the seventeen townships of Logan County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 2,455 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the northern part of the county, it borders the following townships:...
and McArthur Township
McArthur Township, Logan County, Ohio
McArthur Township is one of the seventeen townships of Logan County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 1,949 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the northern part of the county, it borders the following townships:*Richland Township - north...
, approximately two miles south of the village of Belle Center
Belle Center, Ohio
Belle Center is a village in Logan County, Ohio, United States. The population was 807 at the 2000 census. It is a Tree City USA, one of the smallest in the state.-Name:...
and near the South Fork of the Great Miami River
Great Miami River
The Great Miami River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately long, in southwestern Ohio in the United States...
. Northwood was founded in the early 19th century, during the early years of settlement in Logan County. Its primary significance lies in its being the original site of Geneva College
Geneva College
Geneva College is a Christian liberal arts college in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, United States, north of Pittsburgh. Founded in 1848, in Northwood, Ohio, the college moved to its present location in 1880, where it continues to educate a student body of about 1400 traditional undergraduates in...
.
Geneva College
Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America
The Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America , a Christian church, is a small Presbyterian denomination with churches throughout the United States, in southeastern Canada, and in a small part of Japan. Its beliefs place it in the conservative wing of the Reformed family of Protestant churches...
in Northwood, began teaching a small classical school in his study. Friends and relatives, noticing the popularity of his classes, began to suggest the opening of a small college in the area. Eventually, Geneva Hall was opened in the spring of 1848, partially under the oversight of the Lakes Presbytery of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. Despite its initial popularity, the school soon failed for lack of money and support. At the end of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Geneva was reopened as a school for freedmen and soon began to educate whites as well. The community received a post office on November 24, 1868. During the 1870s, its name was changed from Geneva Hall to Geneva College, and the college became significant enough that the town's name was changed to "West Geneva". Although the college flourished, it moved to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
Beaver Falls is a city in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,987 at the 2010 census. It is located 31 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, and on the Beaver River, six miles from its confluence with the Ohio River...
in 1880, largely because of Northwood's lack of a railroad and because of greater financial possibilities there.
Other schools
During the Geneva years, Northwood also hosted two other educational institutions. As Geneva was founded as a men's school, Rev. Johnston founded a similar Female Seminary in 1851. Furthermore, the Reformed Presbyterian Theological SeminaryReformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary
The Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary is a seminary located in Point Breeze, Pennsylvania, United States. RPTS is a ministry of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America and was founded in 1810, making it the fifth oldest seminary in the United States.-Mission and Emphasis:RPTS's...
operated in Northwood for a short time.
Other history
Because of the strongly abolitionist beliefs of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, and because of small caveCave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
s in the woods and fields nearby, Northwood was a center for the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
.
After 1880, Northwood declined. While Northwood was never a large town, the departure of the College removed the village's significance, and "West Geneva" reverted to the old name of Northwood. Its post office closed on June 6, 1901, and local residents received Belle Center addresses. During the 1940s, State Route 638 was constructed through the village, curving over the old college property. Today, Northwood is composed of fewer than twenty homes, and only a stone marker remains to mark the College. Its primary significance today is a quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
and asphalt
Asphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
plant.