The
town of Fairport Harbor is located along the shore
of Lake
Erie at the mouth of the Grand River,
about
30 miles northeast from the city of Cleveland.
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About
Fairport Harbor
Country : United
States of America
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State :
Ohio
County : Lake
County
Population:3
180
(census
2000)
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The
land on which Fairport Harbor is now built was originally sold in 1798,
although it was 1803 before the first home was built. In 1812, Captain
Abraham Skinner, who had acquired the land from it’s original owner, laid
out the formal plat for a town on the east side of the Grand River to be
named “Grandon.” Somewhere between 1812 and 1818 the name was changed to
“Fairport” (and later Fairport Harbor), but the town dates its establishment
to Skinner’s plan. By 1818 there were several houses, two taverns, three
stores and a warehouse at Fairport, as well as some docks along the river.
Already Fairport was a stopping point for ships and a gateway to northeastern
Ohio for arriving settlers, and the town was responding to serve this traffic.
It also became an early center for shipbuilding and commercial fishing
as commerce along the lake grew.
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Fairport’s story is not
one of continuous growth. The prosperity of the town has always hinged
on adapting to changes in the economy of the region, and the changing nature
of local employment opportunities. Its population has historically grown
and declined in response.
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“Several
decades after the Civil War the port once again grew in response to the
need for iron ore and ships now plied the river with that commodity. Transportation
improved, workers were needed and the village experienced a new wave of
immigration. Irish, Germans, Finns, Hungarians ans Slovaks arrived to take
their places in a bustling community. Many of their descendants remain
today. As job opportunities increased workers from the Appalachia regions
of the country migrated northward and became part of the community. (These)
diverse migrations to the village have resulted in the traditional melting
pot of nationalities. Though this in itself is not unique, yet there is
a uniqueness in Fairport as these nationalities, though preserving their
own customs, staunchly unite in their support of the community. Local citizens
take pride in Fairport Harbor.....”
Source:
(“A History of Fairport Harbor Ohio,” ©1976, The Fairport Harbor Bicentennial
Committee)
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When these words were
written, Fairport Harbor had become a “company town” with a large chemical
plant operated by the Diamond Shamrock Corp. providing employment to more
than 1200 residents. The closure of that plant at the end of 1976 delivered
an economic blow from which the village still suffers. Many people left,
and since then Fairport Harbor has evolved into primarily a residential
community whose residents work elsewhere. But the community spirit is unflagging.
One
manifestation of this civic pride and the unity of Fairport’s residents
despite their varied ethnic backgrounds is seen in gatherings around the
community bandstand. It is situated in a large public square in the center
of the village. The original bandstand was circular in design, but today
a generic octagonal gazebo serves the purpose.
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In 1893
the “Sulo” Band of the Kasvi Temperance Society became the first organized
concert band in Fairport.
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This was
followed by the Imatra Band in the early 1900's. Largest of all was the
J. F. Jacobson Band that presented a free concert at the bandstand every
Sunday afternoon during the summer months up until the time of “Professor
Jake’s” death in 1941. Although this ended the “golden” concert band era
at Fairport, it did not diminish the people’s love for musical gatherings,
and today the bandstand still features performances
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during
community festivals, of which Fairport Harbor has several each year.
Fairport
Harbor is another example of a place whose bandstand has played an important
role as a catalyst for community unity through both prosperous and difficult
times.
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