Wakeman unveils new Ohio historical Marker

WAKEMAN — An Ohio Historical Marker that was several years in the making was unveiled on Saturday in the Village of Wakeman. A dedication was held on Sept. 21 at the Wakeman Community Park for an Ohio Historical Marker for Garrett Morgan's Wakeman Country Club (1924-40s). Morgan's club in Wakeman was one of the earliest recreational clubs developed by African Americans in Ohio. In 1923, Morgan was awarded a patent for his invention of an improved traffic signal. He later sold that patent to the General Electric company for $40,000. With that income, Morgan created the country club in August 1924. Garrett Morgan IV, the great grandson of Garrett and Mary Hasek Morgan, served as the masters of ceremony on Saturday. Longtime Wakeman resident and country club neighbor Helen Wheeler gave the welcome remarks before the Northern Ohio Fraternal Order of Leatheread Society posted the colors. Katelyn Libertowski followed with a rendition of the National Anthem. Granddaughter Karren Morgan recited a prayer for America, then remarks followed from Wakeman Mayor Chris Hipp. He was followed by Ohio Senator Nathan Manning, House Representative Dick Stein, and Cameron Wood — the oral history coordinator at the Ohio History Connection. The family members unveiled the marker, then granddaughter Sandra Morgan read the inscription on the marker. Garrett Morgan III, grandson, gave the closing remarks. Morgan III built his home in 2007 on a portion of the original property. He was able to purchase back all but one lot that was owned by the families of the original club members. Garrett Morgan was born on March 4, 1877. He was raised on his family's farm before moving to Cleveland in 1895. Among his many notable contributions to supporting the African-American community during his lifetime, Morgan incorporated the National Safety Device Company in Oberlin to help market and manufacture his invention of the "breathing device" — which also received a patent in 1914. That invention was used by firefighters, the U.S. military — and helped Morgan save lives in the Cleveland waterworks tunnel disaster in 1916. In 1920, Morgan established the African American newspaper, The Call, where accomplishments were recognized. Morgan grew frustrated by the racial climate in Cleveland in the early 1920s, despite all his inventions and business success. He had a desire to create "a village of our own" and a safe place for his family and others to get away from the stresses of daily city life. On Aug. 25, 1924, Morgan purchased 121 acres in Huron County. The country club was located one mile south of Wakeman on Chenago Road near the intersection of Ohio 60. The northern border of the property was the Vermilion River. Membership in the club was dependent on purchasing one of the 247 deeded lots, which ranged from $60-160. More than 100 lots were sold. The Wakeman Country Club offered outdoor recreation, including camping, horseback riding, hunting, and fishing and swimming in the nearby river. There was also a dance hall and a small restaurant, the Chicken Shack. Music and dancing attracted African Americans from several northern counties throughout the state. Boxers were also trained and put on exhibition fights at an amphitheater near the river. Morgan often told Clevelanders looking to come to the club to "take Route 20 to Wakeman." There was also a passenger train that stopped in Wakeman, just one mile north of the club. A group from Oberlin and Cleveland signed the deed for the Club on Sept. 4, 1924, which transferred the 121 acres to the Wakeman Country Club Company. Activities at the club began to wane during World War II. Morgan and Mary, along with their family, continued to enjoy spending their time at their cabin in Wakeman. They tended to their vegetables and orchard garden until Garrett's death in 1963. Today, there are no remaining buildings from the club where Garrett III owns portions of the orignal land. The marker in Wakeman is the second Ohio Historical Marker for Morgan. There was one erected in honor of him and his inventions at E. 55th Street and Harlem Avenue in Cleveland.