Located just a few miles east of Cuyahoga National Park, Hudson is lovely New England-style town that has become a bedroom community for both Cleveland and Akron. The reason it resembles a New England town, is because it was laid out by New Englanders and the fact that it is just east of the Cuyahoga River is an important detail in the communities history. This part of Ohio before it became Ohio had been claimed by the state of Connecticut. In fact it was called the Connecticut Western Reserve, but the land had been off limits to settlers-- this land belonged to various Native American groups that were hostile to American settlers. However, in 1794 a group of Native Americans waged an unsuccessful attack on General Anthony Wayne at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. The following year, those Native Americans signed a new treaty with the federal government giving up all claim to land north and east of a line running east from Fort Greenville to the Cuyahoga River. This officially opened up this portion of the the Connecticut Western Reserve.
Eager to begin selling land to new settlers, survey teams were organized by the Connecticut Land Company (one of several such teams) to map out the most desirable sections of the Reserve so it could be sold in lots. One of these surveying teams was headed up by David Hudson who was a shareholder in the Reserve. On June 26, 1799 David arrived on what would later become known as Hudson Township. Here he and his surveyors plotted out what would become Hudson. David returned to Connecticut to gather his possessions and family and returned to the new settlement in 1800. The new community was named in his honor.
Early on Hudson was an agricultural center and up through the Civil War, it was a stop on the Underground Railroad. The infamous Abolitionist John Brown called Hudson home. It was John Brown's father, Owen Brown, that became the first Underground Railroad stationmaster in Hudson
The annual Hudson Home & Garden Tour held in mid June showcases some of the city?s most notable homes and gardens.
The Clothesline Art Show is sponsored by the Hudson Society of Artists and run in conjunction with the Hudson Home and Garden Tour. Held at the Hudson Middle School Commons, 77 N. Oviatt Street, this FREE art show features original art cleverly displayed by local artists and offered at reasonable prices.
A tradition started in 1948, the Ice Cream Social will be held on the green in the center of town near the Gazebo from 6 to 9 p.m. Enjoy ice cream, local entertainment, food and games for all ages. Activities are FREE to the public, although tickets are required for refreshments.
Held in mid July, the Hudson Wine Festival showcases over 250 wines and benefits the Humane Society of Greater Akron. The festival will feature musical entertainment, food, artists and pet related activities.
Held on the last weekend of August, Art on the Green is a juried fine arts and crafts show featuring more than 140 artists from around the country. Held rain or shine on the green along Route 91 and south of Route 303, admission is free and the event runs Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This land has its beginnings in England when King Charles II granted the colony of Connecticut a 120 mile wide strip of land in what would later become Northeast Ohio. It became known as the Connecticut Western Reserve.
In 1795 after the Treaty of Greenville is signed between warring Native Americans and the federal government, the Connecticut Land Company began selling 25 square mile lots of land through a lottery. This is when David Hudson and 5 other partners put up the $12,900 for a plot of land called Township 4 Range 10. Only Hudson made the trip to claim the land. It would take him 2 months to reach his 25 square mile parcel. After laying claim to his parcel, Hudson returned back to Connecticut to bring back his family as well as a few other hardy pioneers willing to relocate in this new wilderness. Anner Maria Hudson was the first child born in the area and was the 8th child of Anna and David Hudson. She was born in the first log cabin built in the county on the corner of Baldwin and North Main Street.
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