New Haven Ohio History League formed

NEW HAVEN — Several New Haven area residents and early pioneer descendants are forming the New Haven Ohio History League. The group is working to preserve the history of the small village and its surrounding township that was once the hotspot of southern Huron County in the early and mid-1800s. New Haven was once a stopping point for giant grain wagons on their way to ports at Milan and Sandusky. And it was where settlers came to get their start before dispersing to other townships or moving westward. Many of the first settlers came from New England to claim land given as part of the Firelands in reparations for homes burned during the Revolutionary War. New Haven village is even modeled after New Haven, Connecticut using the town square and plat system seen there. Caleb Palmer was an early surveyor in New Haven Township and is credited with building a home here in 1811 and being the first settler in this area. Other known pioneers were Rouse Bly, John Chapman aka Johnny Appleseed, Isaac Mills and Reubin Skinner. New Haven continued to prosper until the coming of the railroad in the 1870s. Village citizens were persuaded to disallow the railroad through the town by judge and property owner Abijah Ives. Thus, Chicago Junction to the west developed as the business area for the township. Numerous citizens of the Willard and Plymouth area today and their ancestors had their beginnings in New Haven primarily through the school system. A high school existed there until the consolidation with Willard and Plymouth in 1959. The elementary school remained until 2014. The history league is sponsored by the Plymouth Area Historical Society. The New Haven Ohio History League currently administers a Facebook page, has applied for an Ohio Historical Marker, and has been instrumental in placing name signs at Old New Haven and Guinea Corner cemeteries. "We will continue cemetery, artifact and family preservation projects," said Karen Coffey Wilson. Anyone interested in joining the New Haven Ohio History League as a member, a sponsor, a volunteer or to share your ideas, contact Barb Babcock or Karen Coffey Wilson on the Facebook page for more information.