Everett Historic District, Cultural Landscape Report, Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area

Winstel, Jeffrey

The crossroads community of Everett fronts a wooded valley wall and is bordered by river-bottom fields. Everett is located in the southwestern corner of Boston Township, Summit County approximately nine miles north of the city of Akron. The street pattern of the community defines Everett as a crossroads; the eastern end of Everett Road abuts the north-south oriented Riverview Road. Buildings located within proximity of this intersection comprise the bulk of Everett. The remainder includes the Szalay Farm and the Hunt Farm, which are located off Bolanz Road, approximately one-fourth mile south of Everett. Residents of these farmsteads regarded themselves as residents of Evertt and relied on the services of the community. As with any rural crossroads, additional farmsteads surrounding the community also perceived Everett as their community service area. Unlike the Szalay and Hunt farmsteads, these are not within view of the crossroads. The purpose of this report is to identify elements that contribute to the significance of Everett's cultural landscape during the period of significance (c. 1830 to 1935) and to provide treatment recommendations to guide site development. Because the National Register nomination did not address the cultural landscape, the study area for this report will extend beyond the National Register district boundaries and include the agricultural fields and natural features that contribute to the character of the crossroads settlement. The methodology used to analyze Everett's cultural landscape involves a multi-disciplinary approach. Planning and resource management documents were consulted to develop an overview of natural features in the study area. The archeological record was reviewed for identification of significant and potentially significant sites, as well as evidence of how human occupation has impacted the landforms. Historic photographs, atlas maps, and tax assessors' maps were reviewed to trace the physical development of the community. A literature review of primary and secondary source information assessed the impact of settlement, transportation development, commercial, institutional, and recreational land uses. Agriculture was analyzed in a more in-depth nature as the community depended on an agricultural economy. U.S. Census Productions of Agriculture records were studied to determine the market production for the farming area that depended on Everett for services.

Everett Historic District, Cultural Landscape Report, Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area

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