Summit County is giving people one last chance to say goodbye to the former Edwin Shaw medical campus before the remaining buildings are torn down.
The county and village of Lakemore will host a special ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Lakemore United Methodist Church, 1536 Flickinger Road, to commemorate the property that played such an important role in the community and lives of many people.
The event will include speeches by political leaders and time for anyone to step forward to share memories. The county also will have photographs and other artifacts from the former hospital on display.
Lakemore Mayor Rick Justice said he hopes many people attend and share personal stories.
The community has a strong emotional tie to the property, and its history has been intertwined with the property’s.
“We have a great connection to it,” Justice said. “We’re going to miss that being there.”
Over the last 100 years, the county- owned property, which is more than 100 acres and includes a small cemetery and three-hole golf course for disabled individuals, has been the site of a tuberculosis hospital, children’s home and rehabilitation facility.
But the buildings have sat vacant and shuttered since 2010, and they have become a target of thieves and vandals.
Cleveland Clinic Akron General now operates Edwin Shaw Rehabilitation Hospital in a Cuyahoga Falls facility.
The former Edwin Shaw buildings are slated to be razed starting at the end of November or beginning of December.
The county has received many requests from people who want to walk through the property one last time. But the buildings are in such disrepair and littered with vulgar graffiti, that isn’t possible for safety reasons, county officials said.
“Whenever you have a landmark removed, there is some sadness,” said Jeff Gindlesberger, pastor of the United Methodist Church since 2002. “But because it has been closed for a period of time, I would hope there is some excitement over new possibilities.”
The county has been trying to sell the land but hasn’t been successful. The general feeling is that potential developers were scared off either by the price tag of rehabbing the structures or razing them.
The county hopes that it will be able to better market the property without the buildings.
Justice said he would like to see development that brings jobs to the village, as opposed to housing.
Officials have said there are no plans to disturb the cemetery or to relocate the three-hole Challenge Golf Course.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ .