Dover Congregational United Church of Christ

An Open and Affirming Congregation SERVING, CARING and SHARING...SINCE 1811

BICENTINNAL HISTORY 1811 to 2011

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Dover Congregational United Church of Christ has been blessed with 200 years of spiritual growth and fulfillment. We have grown from a simple log cabin church to a modern multi-functional facility. We have welcomed everyone over the years. We are a memberof a worldwide church organization with more than one million parishioners and 5,000 places of worship.

Our strength comes from the collective individuality of our members. We have shared the joys of marriage and birth and the sorrows of illness and death. We have grown from a few to many – all wanting to worship our gracious God in an environment of love and acceptance.

Our Communion Table is available to all. Our pulpit messages touch all. Our Christian Education efforts reach out to children, youths, young adults and adults. Our Chancel Choir is well-regarded and inspiring.

Our mission outreach is both local and worldwide. We collect funds and provide resources designated to help people near and far. We assist at a food pantry in our inner-city sister church. We have adopted orphaned children in India and Israel. Our youth and young adults participate in mission trips every year.

Our Fellowship and Social activities include after Sunday church service coffee hours, monthly dinners, lunch events, a long-established Church Library, womens fellowship groups, and a writers group. We publish a weekly Sunday church bulletin and a monthly newsletter.

We offer our facilities for others to access including a Play and Learn Nursery School, Al-Anon, Meals-on-Wheels, Boy Scout and Girl Scout Troops, Cub Scout Pack and Brownie Troop.

We are proud of our history and heritage and welcome all to be a part of our church family.

God bless you all, Dover Congregational United Church of Christ

200th Anniversary Committee

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Beginning with humble roots back in 1811, the Dover Congre-gational Church and its many members have witnessed 200

years of storied history. Join us in a retrospective of the important events and forward-thinking leaders who set the foundation for our church to move into the 21st century.

THE HISTORY OF OUR AREA

The location of Dover Congregational Church was claimed by Portugal, Spain, France and England at different times. Portu-

gal dropped their claims and England eventually defeated Spain and France for the territory that became a part of the United States of America.

In 1796, Moses Cleaveland, a shareholder in the Connecticut Land Company, led a band of surveyors into the Western Reserve. After the survey, two of the other owners of The Connecticut Land Company, Ingersoll Hubbard and Joshua Stowe, bought and paid $11,423 for a township known as Dover-Township 7, Range 15 in the far northwest corner. This now includes Bay Village, Westlake and part of North Olmsted. In 2011 dollars that would be $5,722,923!

Mr. Hubbard and Mr. Stowe sold the land to individual settlers. One of his first customers was a Vermonter by the name of Joseph Cahoon. On October 10, 1810, Cahoon, his wife, two daughters and five sons, settled on Lot 95. At the location of that first house, more than 24,000 houses now exist.

Over the next several years the Cahoons were followed by others. Naming only a few: Ashel Porter, Barnabas Hall, Martha Nathan Bassett, Ebeneezer and Nehemiah Porter, Amos Sperry, Jason Bradley, John Wolf, and Joseph Root. These names were both founding settlers of Westlake, but also founding members of Dover Church. Many of our local streets are named after these “Founding Families.”

On April 6, 1812, Township 7, Range 5 ceased to be a few square miles on the maps of land agents in the East and became a political entity named Dover.

In early 1910, the northern part of the township seceded to form

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Bay Village. In 1912, a southern portion left to join North Olmsted. The remaining township residents formed Dover Village in 1913, taking with it a portion of Olmsted Township.

Dover Village was renamed the Village of Westlake in 1940. This was done to eliminate confusion with Dover, Ohio. The Village of Westlake became a city in 1957.

RELIGION IN DOVER TOWNSHIP

Westlake churches appear to have been started by earnest, thoughtful, hardworking men and women who dedicated

land, money and time to the work.

The first church founded, which is Dover, was formed in Lee, Massachusetts, in 1811, when eight people organized a Congregational Church to bring to Ohio.

Two Methodist churches were established in 1825 and in 1827. The Baptists organized in1836. In 1837 a group organized St. John’s Episcopal Church and erected a building just north of Dover Center. A German population arrived in 1856 and established a German Lutheran Church, which is now St Paul’s Lutheran Church on Detroit Road.

THE STORY OF DOVER CHURCH

It is said that the average pioneer came west with an ax in one hand, a rifle in the other, Bible and spelling book in the sad-

dle bag. But one group of people from Lee and Ashfield, Mass was bringing something else. They were bringing credentials for the establishment of a church in the wilds of Ohio.

The First Congregational Church of Lee, Mass. on June 5, 1811 allowed for some of their members to form a new church in the State of Ohio. Some of those named were Jedediah and Sarah Crocker, Lydia, wife of Moses Hall, Caty the wife of Abijah Crosby, and Abner and Rebecca Smith.

As there was no meeting house or minister in this new fron-tier when they arrived, the little band met in the homes on the

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Sabbath, their worship consisting of just “prayer and song.” Soon a log schoolhouse was built on North Ridge, now Detroit Road, near Cahoon Road, which was also used by the congregation.

Our history can best be presented around the four buildings we have used.

THE LITTLE LOG CHURCH

Soon others came to Dover. By 1815 plans were being made to build a church. An old record tells us that in 1818 a corpora-

tion was formed called the Dover Congregational Society. In 1822 a log meeting-house was built near the present site, probably a little to the north. It is said to be the oldest Congregational church in Cuyahoga County.

In 1824 the Rev. John McCrea was ordained as the first regular pastor of Dover Church. At this time, the membership was 22. Mrs. McCrea died during her husband’s pastorate in Dover and is said to be one of the first persons buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Westlake.

A few years later the log church was destroyed by fire. According to legend, a youth in the community was out hunting and was for-tunate enough to bring down a bird. Desiring some out-of-sight place to cook his game, he entered the little log meeting-house where he soon had a roaring fire going. But alas, his luck turned for the anticipated feast went up in smoke and the cabin burned to the ground with it.

Joseph Stocking, a pillar of the church whose property was close by, offered the use of his barn. Services were held in the Stocking barn and the Town House until 1836.

These early pioneers seldom missed church. It was the highlight of the week. Church was an all-day affair with preaching in the morning, basket lunch at noon, and another service or two in the afternoon. The lunch hour was a time for swapping news and discussion of farming, etc. A trip to church from the far corners of the township was time-consuming, especially when the roads were muddy in the spring or rough and frozen in winter. These hardy

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people wore heavy clothing and practically every family possessed a robe made from the hide of a buffalo or some other wild animal. If snow covered the ground in those long-ago winters, as it often did, the weekly trip to church could be a gala event in a bob-sled or home-made sleigh to the company of jingling sleigh bells.

Application was made to the State of Ohio for a new charter to incorporate the First Congregational Society of Dover. The charter was changed from time to time until Jan. 3, 1898, when all properties, trust funds etc. were transferred to Dover Congregational Church.

THE WHITE FRAMED CHURCH

The white frame church was commissioned in 1833 and completed in 1836. As those early pioneers believed that the

church should be the center of their lives, they chose the very cen-ter of Dover Township as the proper location. This meeting-house, a copy of the early New England church, was a pretty two-story white structure with green blinds. There was a belfry but no bell.

The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was celebrated on the first Sunday of each alternate month beginning with January. Neither cross nor candles were to be found in the White Church for in those days Protestants considered such things as “papist trappings.”

One of the social affairs of the church was the “Mite Society” which met once a month at the church. A large group of young and old gathered to enjoy an evening of visiting by the elders while the young folks played circle games. The evening usually ended with group singing, and then the refreshments. Oyster suppers were held in the winter, with homemade ice cream socials and strawberry festivals in summer.

An important event of the church year was the all-day annual meeting held early in January. The minister was hired on a year-to-year basis and the subscription paper for his salary was passed at the yearly meeting. The first salary listed in the church records was $700.00 per year and residence, paid to Rev. H. M. Walker in 1878.

The white church was surrounded on three sides by open sheds

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in which were parked the horse and buggy. Each family had their own stall and was responsible for its upkeep. Most families also had their regular pew.

In the early days prayer meetings were held in the homes in the various neighborhoods during the week. On the Saturday before Communion Sunday a preparatory lecture was held at the church. This was a time of instruction for prospective members.

THE YELLOW BRICK CHURCH

At the annual meeting of Dover Church held January 5, 1909, a motion was made and carried that a new church building

be erected.

The white frame church building, which had no basement, was moved to the north of the church lot where it could be used during the construction of the new building. On May 4, 1910, the corner-stone was laid with appropriate services. First services were held in the new church on Easter 1911. In 1952, a new red brick north wing was erected, housing the parlor and downstairs classrooms.

The 100th Anniversary of Dover Church was observed on June 2, 3, and 4, 1911.

The exterior architecture of the Yellow Brick Church was Romanesque in style - yellow or buff brick with sandstone trim. The beautiful and outstanding stained glass windows previously on the north side of the sanctuary were placed on the north wall of the small chapel when the north wing was added in 1952. The beautiful pictorial windows were eventually removed by experts and now are on the north wall of the present church above the balcony.

When an announcement was made of a church supper and program to be held December 29, 1921, everyone was urged to attend - yet the whole affair was somewhat shrouded in mystery. The Treasurer gladly announced that all indebtedness on the church building had been paid.

For many years the baccalaureate service for Westlake High School was held in Dover Church. During World War II a Civil Defense

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Center was set up in the basement of Dover Church.

During forty-seven years in the yellow brick church four anniversaries were celebrated: 100th, 120th, 130th, and 140th.

THE RED BRICK CHURCH

On July 27, 1958, the final service was held in the old yellow brick church. Services were then held at the Dover Elementary

School directly across the street until the new house of worship was ready for use. The remainder of the present red brick church was then added on.

On November 9, 1958, the congregation marched from the school to the church ground for the laying of both the old and the new cornerstones and the current redbrick church was opened. Taking part in the ceremony were relatives representing the founding fathers and a family representing the most recent members. That is the main building we know today.

INTERESTING NOTES

Women had no vote in the early church. The first women’s group in Dover Church was organized May 19, 1869 for the

mutual benefit as a social gathering, for missionary endeavor, and for help when needed in the local church. Later the name was changed to ‘Woman’s Association,” and, more recently, to conform to the larger group of Congregational Church women, the name “Woman’s Fellowship” was adopted. Whatever the name, Dover women are still doing an outstanding job in terms of the general welfare and upkeep of Dover Church.

The first youth group in Dover Church was the Christian Endeavor Society founded in 1884, being one of the first in Ohio. This was something new among young people and proved to be of great value in providing training in Christian leadership to many of the young people in the community. The meetings were held on Sunday evenings, usually followed by an evening preaching service. There was also a Junior Endeavor Society for younger boys and girls which met on Saturday afternoon. The present youth

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groups known as Junior Climbers and Senior Climbers seem to have the same goal as the old fashioned groups, but keep up with modern times.

THE GREAT SECESSION

Of particular note is that about 1840 the congregation got into a political-religious battle over church government and was split

right down the middle. Some say it was over the question of slavery. For whatever reason and for several years, one group worshiped in the White framed Church and the other in the nearby Town House. In 1847 the church was reunited and reorganized with fifty-one members. At this time it was called the Second Congregational Church, but the word “Second” was eventually dropped.

EARLY SETTLERS OF NOTE

Joseph Cahoon, with his wife and seven children, arrived in Dover on the morning of October 10, 1810 and claimed lot No. 95

on the lake shore, now Bay Village. Although the Cahoons eventually became a part of the Bay Methodist Church, the family name is found in the early Dover Church records. The Cahoon ances-tral home has become the Historical Museum in Bay Village. The original 3,850 acres were purchased for $501, and would now cost $3,857,700!

Leonard G. Porter, founder of the Porter Library, who came to Dover in 1826 at the age of 20 years, lost his wife and only child in 1841. From that time on he devoted much of his time and attention to the religious education of youth. He not only gave moral support but also financial help to both Dover Church and the community. “Uncle Leonard,” as he was commonly known, served as Sunday School Superintendent for over forty years. In 1884, Leonard Porter willed the sum of $1,000 to the establishment of a public library in Dover Township, Ohio and a collection of books to be housed within what is now our Westlake Porter Public Library.

Betsy Crocker, daughter of Jedediah and Sarah Crocker, is said to have been the first school teacher in Dover. She “held school” in a

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log school house, built in 1816 on the lake shore.

When Dover Church decided to build a parsonage in 1888, a lot was purchased from Betsy L. Smith which still stands at 2519 Dover Center Road. On August 14, 1910, Mrs. Smith gave to Dover Congregational Church a deed for additional land around the church, which is now part of the present parking lot.

Nancy Hall with her husband, David Ingersoll, settled on what became known as Hall Road. Today, it is called Columbia Road.

Abner and Rebecca Smith built one of the earliest houses. It stills exists at 1820 Center Ridge Road.

Leverett Johnson, who came to Dover with his uncle Asahel Porter in 1810, was a very ambitious lad. He soon cleared a tract of land and built a log cabin. When he had enough in worldly possessions and was of the proper age, he courted pretty Abigail Cahoon, daughter of Joseph. This was Dover’s first wedding. Leverett Johnson was not only a prominent man in his home community, but he also served five terms in the state legislature. It is believed that he gave the original land for the Dover Church property.

John Wilson, a graduate of Oberlin College, came to Dover in 1844 and the following year founded Dover Academy, which is now the Westlake School System.

Asher Cooley came to Dover in 1818. His son Vincent is the uncle of Roger, a fifth-generation Cooley and a member of Dover Church today. Another Cooley, George L. Cooley, organized an early farmers’ insurance coop. He eventually started and was the first President of the Ohio Farm Bureau, which is now Nationwide Insurance, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

The early Dover Church does not boast of great men. None became president of our Nation, none were noted as millionaires, and none were even a minister of the gospel or a missionary in foreign fields. The founders of our church were plain people and, for the most part, tillers of the soil, carpenters, and those who worked with their hands. They were honest, industrious people with lofty ideals and high standards. The church was a part of their lives - a stronghold of Christian faith in the community.

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MINISTERS OF DOVER CHURCH

About 40 ministers have served Dover Church as Pastor or Interim Pastor. No doubt the earliest came as missionar-

ies, staying only a short time. Some came as student pastors from Oberlin Theological Seminary, were ordained in the church and stayed on as regular pastors. Three returned to Dover Church for a second pastorate.

Of particular note:

1824 - John Mc Crea ordained as first regular pastor.

1866-73 - Herman B. Hall was the father of Charles Martin Hall, the man who made possible the industrial use of aluminum.

1887-91 - O. Jenkins and his family were the first to occupy the parsonage, at that time the first house south of the church. This house still stands at 2519 Dover Road, now the home of current church members Don and Ruth Schneider.

1922-27 - Warren W Tuttle established the first vacation Bible School and the first junior choir.

1927-29 - Charles H. Baldwin helped to organize and sponsor Boy Scouts. Troop 208 had its beginning at this time and still exists today. A year later a Girl Scouts Troop was organized.

In 1944, Mineo Katagiri from Hawaii served as Interim Pastor. He was a Japanese-American born in Hawaii of Buddhist parents. Although there was much anti-Japanese feelings and propaganda at the time, he was very well received and popular among teenagers and adults alike.

THE NEXT 50 YEARS

In the early 1960’s, except in summer, Dover Church held two Sunday worship services and two church school sessions, at

9:30 and 11:00 A.M. The church rolls contained some 800 names!

Through the 60’s, people attending the annual Cuyahoga County Fair in Berea made many complimentary remarks about the food served at the dining hall by Dover Church Women’s Fellowship.

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This great effort finally ended in 1972.

In 1961 the Dover Congregational Church ended its 150-year old tradition when it voted to accept the new constitution of the United Church of Christ, formed in 1957 by a union of the General Coun-cils of the Congregational Christian Church and the Evangelical and Reformed Church, and became Dover Congregational United Church of Christ. It was now operating under a new organization structure of a governing Board or Council, and a Moderator.

A 175th Anniversary Brunch was celebrated Sunday, January 26, 1986, at the Westlake Holiday Inn with 209 people attending!

Dover Church has always had a commitment to social issues, and attended to the needs of the poor. In fact, Dover Church had always been open to, and interested in, what was going on out in the world as well as concerns on the home front. Both youth and adults habitually contributed time, money and talent to good causes.

In June, 1963, another tradition was born…the PICNIQUE came into being. It was described as a combination of a picnic and a barbecue. Folks brought casseroles, salads or desserts to share. Until recently the PICNIQUE was held in our “back-forty” across the little bridge from the church.

On September 8, 1963, the Reverend Rudy H. Thomas was introduced as the new Senior Minister.

Rudy, as he became known, had the longest tenure in the pulpit - over 25 years. He started an acolyte program that is still active today. He led several European tours and pilgrimages to the Holy Land. He brought a social consciousness to the Church for support-ing the civil rights movements and resisting the Vietnam War.

Dover Church has been closely linked to Westlake public education. The Red Brick Building, one of the first Westlake school buildings, was directly across Dover Road across from the church. A number of our members have served on the School Board and other school committees. Lee Burneson, a longtime member of Dover Church, retired as School Superintendent in the summer of 1963 after work-ing in the Westlake City Schools for 40 years. The middle school across the street from our church bears his name. His leadership spanned the days when Westlake was a small village to becom-

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ing a major suburban community. His daughter-in-law, Sara Lee, remains a very active member of the church today.

Scouts have met at Dover Church for many years. Boy Scout Troup 208 has been sponsored by Dover for over 83 years, and often led by Dover Church men. Cub Pack 46 also meets here.

Dover Church has always been a great supporter of the UCC Outdoor Ministries, especially the camps for Adult and Youth Retreats. Dover Family Camp was an annual event for many years. The two UCC Camps, Templed Hills and Pilgrim Hills were created through the efforts of Dover Church men.

As most churches have experienced economic highs and lows, Dover has been no exception. Through the years the generosity of our members has been demonstrated over and over again. Church mortgages have often been satisfied many years before their terms.

In 1965, memorial money left by John Endress allowed for the light-ing of the steeple for the first time. It is still glowing each night.

In the mid-1960’s, some sixteen men of Dover Church bought old parts of a church organs and installed it in the church. None had any experience in organ, but they were able to create a great sound for the church. In 2010 a new electronic organ was purchased with funds from anonymous gifts and installed.

In 1996, Cora Brisky bequeathed a significant endowment to Dover Church for remembrance in memory of her sister, Helen Unger to be used in support and betterment of the Helen Unger Memorial Library at Dover Church.

THE CAMBODIANS

In January 1976, Dover Church took in two young Cambodian men. They were warmly welcomed and stayed temporarily with

Dover Church families. Donations of furniture, clothing, food, money, etc., and arrangements for an apartment in Rocky River, all came in from Dover Church people. Some helped them find jobs. They become naturalized Americans who now have their own homes and beautiful families. We have officially sponsored several other Cambodian refugees (making a total of eight), and indirectly

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sponsored many more. Through it all, the Church worked mainly through Church World Service. Charlie and Jane Bellows led the Dover Church support efforts.

Our country’s Bicentennial year of 1976 saw several celebration dinners at Dover Church. We participated in a Bicentennial Weekend and an Ecumenical Church Service, both held at Clague Park on the Fourth of July.

With an energy crisis upon us in the winter of 1977, The Columbia Gas Company set “allotments” of gas for its customers. Dover Church needed to curtail normal gas consumption by 70%, or shut down! During February and March, services were held in the dining room. Parts of the building used daily were kept at “minimum comfort level.” But we survived!

On March 5, 1978, Mark Thomas, younger son of Rudy and Reta, was ordained in Dover Church. This was the first ordination in this church of a son of this congregation in its entire 167 year history! Mark is now Senior Minister at Lakewood Congregational Church.

A 12 STAR CHURCH!

On Sunday, March 2, 1980, George Plagenz, Religion Editor of the now defunct Cleveland Press, sat quietly in our midst. On

the following day, he wrote us up in his church-rating column. He wrote that he was enlightened as well as inspired in our church. He commented that the Chancel Choir was one of the finest choirs he had ever heard.

It was Plagenz’ practice to award up to three stars in each of four categories: worship service, music, sermon, and friendliness. He gave Dover Congregational 12 stars: a perfect score.

In 1985, our church bell rang out once more! The 600 pound bronze bell in the church steeple had not rung for years, but in March, church members voted overwhelmingly to have it restored. A dedication service on September 15 marked the first ringing of the rejuvenated bell. We now hear the marvelous sound each Sun-day morning at the beginning of the service. It also rings daily at 12 noon and 6 P.M.

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Starting in the mid-1980’s, our Senior Climbers annually set out on Habitat for Humanity and Christian-sponsored help projects around the country. In 2011, the group went to the Bahamas to help an Aids Camp.

On October 2, 1983, the new Columbarium was dedicated. The Columbarium was built with memorial funds and other gifts as a place where the cremated remains of church members and their loved ones could be permanently interred in the church. It is located behind the altar in the small chapel.

AN ERA ENDS AND A NEW ONE BEGINS

In 1988, Rudy Thomas retired after graciously serving the Church for 25 years. Rev. Scott Patterson became Senior Minister in 1990.

We were again blessed with stable, continuous leadership for the next twenty tears.

In 1988 a million dollar capital campaign was conducted that added on to east side of the church with what his now known as Thomas Hall. Additional classrooms were also added and old offices remodeled. The church was air-conditioned for the first time. We gratefully paid off that mortgage in 2004.

When Scott Patterson came he immediately started the Prayer Group, which has been meeting weekly on a continuous basis for twenty-two years.

Since 1994, Dover Church has supported and participated with the Deaconess Community Foundation which provides resources that help organizations empower people to become self-sufficient. The Foundation’s actions are guided by the spiritual traditions of the United Church of Christ.

In 1992, our beloved Reverend Rudy passed away. In 1994, Scott became Chairman of the Westlake Ministerial Forum, which in-cluded most of the churches in Westlake.

In 1996, Dover participated in the Habitat for Humanity Blitz, and helped to build an inner-city family residence in almost record time.

In 1999, we began participating in the Parish Nurse Program

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through Fairview Hospital.

In 2001, we greeted the arrival of Rev Kelly Burd to be our Associate Minister. Kelly brought a new energy and enthusiasm that reached out to our young people and children. In 2004, Kelly became Dean of the Cuyahoga County West UCC Clergy. Rev Kelly Burd left us in 2007 to pursue her interest in working with youth at a national level and accepted an appointment at the National UCC Headquarters in downtown Cleveland.

2000 began the Church’s ten year relationship in supporting the Cleveland Interfaith Hospitality Network or IHN and twice a year provided weekly shelter and support to families in transition from homelessness A great deal of effort was needed for this commit-ment and Dover Church responded.

In 2003, we were able to build the Harmony Pavilion in the back forty, honoring long time member John Wang and his many contributions to Dover Church. 2003 also saw the retirement of Bette English, our Christian Education Director, after sixteen years of dedication.

Dover Church made a commitment in 2004 to purchase, use and sell fair-traded coffee products to support the needy farmers in around the world.

In 2005, the church undertook an extensive study and in 2008 we voted to become an Open and Affirming congregation. We affirm that God’s grace is available to all. We welcome people of all ages, genders, races, views, abilities, sexual orientations, ethnicity, and economic backgrounds into the full life and ministry of our church.

In 2005, Dover Church also responded with help for several families relocated to the Cleveland area because of Hurricane Katrina.

In 2010, Scott Patterson retired after twenty years of faithful service and commitment to Dover Church. We are currently served by Rev Ellen Palmer Marsey as Interim Minister.

Dover Congregational United Church of Christ has been privileged to be part of this community for 200 years. We look forward to continuing to live and grow here in faith.

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Dover Congregational United Church of Christ200th Anniversary Committee

Co-Chair………………………………………………Bob and Ruth Fortney

Committee Chairs:Recoding Secretary…………………………………………Suzanne AldrichPublicity/Media…………………………………………………..Bill WilkinsScheduling………………………………………………………George BufkinFloat…………………………………………Nelson and Shirley McClimonCoordinator with City of Westlake………………………….George BufkinMusic and Movie Night…………………………………………Bob FortneyHistorical…………………………………………………………Mike EnglishEntertainment…………………………………………………...Millie Harley Music and Movie Night…………………………………………Bob FortneySocial Media……...........……………………………………Suzanne AldrichParty Celebration………………………………………………Ruth FortneyAdvisor……………………………………………………...Rev Ellen MarceyAdministrative Support…………………………………Virginia Lockmeyer

Other Committee Members……………………………………Dale WinklerBette English

Gretchen WangRoger and Lollie Cooley

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSI would like to acknowledge and give credit to the resources used for this document: Mae Weston, a fourth generation member of the Church, for her Sesquicentennial, 1811 - 1961, Dover Congregational Church, church history published in 1961; Mabel Johnson, a current church member for her Story of the Past Twenty-five Years, 1961 - 1986, published in 1986 ; A History of Westlake, Ohio, 1811 to 1961, by William D. Ellis and Mary Ellen Wobbecke, published in 1961; and Early Dover History, by Vincent Cooley, circa 1972. And several conversations with Roger and Lollie Cooley, Sara Burneson, Gretchen Wang and Bette English. Ed Stevens and Stevens Strategic Communications.

Michael R. English, Editor

All Are Welcome

2239 Dover Center Road, Westlake, OH 44145440-871-1050 / www.doverucc.org