City Of Westlake -

Is your Westlake house over 50 years old? In today's 250th Tuesday post, we're highlighting the Westlake Historical Society Plaque Program, which allows residents to celebrate their home's place in Westlake history!

The home in this picture was built by Sylvanus Crocker, son of Jedediah and Sarah Crocker, founding members of the first church in Dover Township, now Dover Congregational Church. Crocker family descendants owned much of the land that Crocker Park is constructed on. The home still stands along Detroit Road.

For 50 years, the Westlake Historical Society has provided residents a way to honor their home or building with a plaque installed on the residence. To learn more about this opportunity, call 216-848-0680 or email westlakehistory@yahoo.com.

Residents are advised that the City’s electric aggregation program is expected to end during the residents’ June billing cycle. Residents currently participating in the program will automatically return to The Illuminating Company unless they choose another electricity supplier. Residents who wish to compare supplier options may visit PUCO’s Apples to Apples website to review available plans and rates before summer utility pricing takes effect. https://www.energychoice.ohio.gov/ApplestoApples.aspx

The PUCO's website is dedicated to consumer education regarding electric and natural gas choice in Ohio. The website was developed specifically to be the premier resource for Ohio’s energy consumers seeking information and offering comparisons regarding electric and natural gas supplier choices. The site offers information to help consumers understand electric and natural gas choice, including what steps need to be taken when switching suppliers, what their rights are as a consumer, apples-to-apples comparison charts, and a frequently asked questions page.

In our 250th Tuesday fun fact, today we recognize one of the most well-known names of Westlake's early settlers, Leonard G. Porter. He lived from 1806 to 1884 and arrived in the area of Dover at age19. Leonard married Catherine Stevens in 1838 and had one child who died in infancy. When Catherine died in 1841, he was left a widower at age 35. 

He never married again, instead devoting his life to working for the betterment of the community of Dover. He was a Township Trustee, Justice of the Peace, Sunday School Superintendent, donated land for and taught at Dover Academy, and was a leader of the Dover Literary Society, which is best remembered as the originator of the public community library concept. He left $1,000 in his will: $500 to go toward a building and $500 toward purchasing new books for a library. Another fine example of a wonderful early Dover resident who helped to make Westlake what it is today!

Leonard is buried at Evergreen Cemetery and was portrayed by local historian Mel Maurer on the recent Westlake Historical Society and Porter Public Library Cemetery Tour, held April 25.

Congratulations to Mayor Dennis Clough, who was honored yesterday as the inaugural recipient of the Tri-C Westshore Community Engagement Award at the Westshore Community Leadership Exchange breakfast, hosted at Cuyahoga Community College's Westshore Campus.

This year marked a new chapter for the long-running event — reimagined as a ticketed fundraiser benefiting the West Shore Family YMCA, an organization whose mission centers on making membership and programs accessible to every family, regardless of means. A packed house of nearly 100 business and community leaders from across the Westshore — including Westlake, Rocky River, Bay Village, Avon, Avon Lake, and Fairview Park — gathered for the State of the College address by Dr. Michael Baston and the State of the Campus address by Dr. Scott Latiolais.

Being named the first-ever recipient of this award reflects Mayor Clough's long-standing commitment to the partnerships that make our region stronger. Thank you to Tri-C Westshore for convening the community and for spotlighting the work of the West Shore Family YMCA.

🔗 www.tri-c.edu

This Earth Day, take 2 minutes to see how Westlake shows up for the planet year-round — pollinator gardens, citywide recycling initiatives, and eco-friendly city services, all in one place.

🔗 https://earth-day-rose.vercel.app/

For more info on the Pollinator Gardens in the city - https://www.cityofwestlake.org/page/the-pollinator-project

🌎 Happy Earth Day from Westlake!

Did you know that there are six Revolutionary War Veterans buried at Evergreen Cemetery? You will now see special light pole banners displayed at the cemetery to honor each of them. They are Jedediah Crocker, Joseph Porter, Jasher Taylor, Abner Smith, Sylvanus Smith and Jonathan Smith.

There is an incredible interactive cemetery tour at Evergreen this Saturday, April 25 at 1pm, presented by the Westlake Historical Society and Porter Public Library.

Costumed characters will help share the stories of some of Westlake's first residents: Leonard Porter, Walter Clague, Leverett Johnson, May Weston and the Weston family. This is an engaging and memorable afternoon of local history.

Registration is appreciated online through Porter Public Library or in person at the library; for more information, please contact 440-861-2600 or the Westlake Historical Society 216-848-0680.