Built in 1869, the Geauga County Courthouse is a High Victorian Architecture-style building. The courthouse is located in Chardon, Ohio, where it is a historical centerpiece for Geauga County. Photo courtesy of Geauga County Archives and Record Center.

Geauga County Turns 200
Kent State Geauga Campus Actively Participates, Sponsors Events

By Ashley Katona
Kent State Public Relations Student

Families, friends and neighbors are invited to take a walk down memory lane back to 1806 and relive 200 years of Geauga County’s vivid history.

Throughout this year-long bicentennial celebration, many exciting and reminiscent activities have been planned, thanks to Kent State Geauga and other prominent community organizations.

“Kent State Geauga is part of this county’s history, having celebrated more than 40 years as the only higher education institution in the heart of the county,” says Denise Milhollan, an active community leader who helped plan the Geauga Campus’ involvement with the bicentennial.

“Giving back to the community and being involved is at the core of our values,” she says.

A bicentennial board was formed in 2001 to promote events that focus on education, commemoration, legacy and celebration, says Mihollan.

As part of Geauga County’s bicentennial, Kent State Geauga is sponsoring three entertaining events:

• June 10: Raccoon Music Festival. Along with the Geauga County Historical Society and Burton Library, Kent State Geauga will host a day-long event featuring bluegrass, Irish and country music at the historical society. Visit the Geauga County Historical Society Web site for more information.
   
• July 12 to 16: Ohio Chautauqua “War and Peace.” Presented by Geauga County Library and Ohio Humanities Council, this event features individual scholars portraying Theodore Roosevelt, Francisco Pizarro, Chief Cornstalk, Clara Barton and Ernie Pyle. The Teddy Roosevelt presentation, sponsored by Kent State Geauga, is July 14 at the Geauga Campus and July 15 at the Geauga County Public Library.
   
• Aug. 12 to 19: “Bicentennial Project: 1800’s House.” Living in the 1800s will become a reality for one family chosen to live onsite at Century Village as guests of the Geauga County Historical Society.

“The Geauga Campus is celebrating this bicentennial as an integral part of the community,” says Milhollan. “Our participation in the community and the partnerships we have developed show our commitment to enhancing Geauga’s economic and cultural development.”

For a list of special events throughout this year, visit the official Geauga County Bicentennial Web site at www.geauga200.org.