Facts & Photos of Old-Time Kent
his panorama of Kent takes us back to a simpler time…a time when neighbors sat on the porch and watched their kids chase fire flies. When our image was captured, Kent had become a main transportation hub for local farmers and manufacturers – thanks to the P & O Canal and several rail lines.
As a gift to the citizens of Kent, Home Savings Bank commissioned a 30 by 5-foot mural of the image. It hangs proudly in the bank’s North Water Street downtown office.
The Bechtel Building, built by Fred Bechtel on the very block where he was born in 1892. He operated a men’s furnishings and tobacco shop from this location until his death in 1952. Fred, with his trademark starched collar and cigar, strikes a pose alongside his wooden Indian Mini-Ha-Ha.
Loncoy’s, a grocery and meat market, was operated by Harry C. Longcoy. The structure pictured was erected in 1912 after the store was completely destroyed by fire Sunday morning February, 12 that same year.
Kent native William Wilson Reed entered the general insurance business with his son in 1913. W. W. Reed & Son developed into a large successful business—in operation for over 95 years.
Black’s Bakery at 116 South Water Street, was purchased by Rosco Hahn in 1924. The bakery was remodeled in 1933, to carry Isaly’s dairy and ice cream products. The business again expanded to include Hahn’s Fine Foods, which involved catering and a delicatessen. The Hahn family operated a successful business from this location until a devastating fire gutted the building in 1973. A cozy patio occupies the spot today.
Dick Donaghy and his brother Roy operated the W. H. Donaghy Drug Co. after their father’s death in 1915. Dick sold the drug store in the 1960’s and focused his attention on a college supply store, Campus Supply, Inc.
In 1895 a 150-foot tower was built next to the train depot in a small park.
A bell was placed in the tower and was rung during emergencies and for celebrations. Depot Park, as it was known, became quite the gathering spot.
The Methodists were founded in Kent in 1815. They built their own church in 1840
and began plans for a larger structure by the 1880s. The cornerstone for the First Methodist Episcopal Church (photo at left) was placed in 1891. In two years the
building was complete.
Stones for the P&O Canal lock and dam were hand-chiseled at this stone quarry. Bissler Furniture, Kent’s first retail business on the west side of the river, was later constructed on the site. Evidence of the quarry is still visible today.
The Kent Block was erected in 1836 by Zenas Kent on the northwest corner of Main and Water streets (today’s Home Savings Bank Plaza). At the time it was larger than any structure in Cleveland or Akron. Bricks were made locally in the David Loncoy Brick Yard. In 1880 W. N. Carver, then owner of the block, added the additional story. The entire structure was lost to a fire in 1974.
Williams’ Brothers Mill was owned and operated by the Williams family from 1879 to 1999, when the business was purchased by Star of the West. Photo predates the landmark grain elevators, which where constructed in 1936.
Getz Brothers Hardware was founded in 1887. John and William Getz operated the store at 132 North Water St. until the business was sold in 1969. In 1905 the Home Building & Loan Co. (today's Home Savings Bank) moved
their operations to a small office in the rear of the hardware store, where it served the public until a fire in 1937.
Charles Sawyer and Milton Kneifel established a grocery store at 142 South Water Street. In 1905 Burt Kneifel, brother of Milton, bought out Mr. Sawyer’s interest and the store became known as Kneifel Brothers.
The Kent National Bank Building was built on the corner of Main and Water in 1867. Marvin Kent, Charles Kent, and The Kent National Bank Company paid for the construction, with each owning a portion of the building. Marvin Kent opened an opera house on the top floor.
Joseph C. Gigger operated a hardware store at this location in the Link Block, which he conducted with success until his retirement in 1942. He opened his business three doors down the street in 1901, moving to 135 East Main about 1908.
Charles Andrew Horning purchased the Eckert Livery Stable February of 1914, and engaged in the livery and auto work at 141 East Main until 1917. In that year he went into the moving and general trucking business; in 1926 added coal sales and ready mixed concrete.
Zenas Kent’s old homestead, built in 1851—the home of Dr. J. W. Shively and wife Amelia L. Kent Shively, daughter of Zenas. The site was selected for Kent’s first modern moving picture theater, the Kent Theater… seating capacity of 1,000 people.
