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Selover Public Library

corner of State Routes 95 and 314
419-768-3431

Daniel Selover donated $10,000 in memory of his parents for the construction of a library in 1924. The building was dedicated for use in January 20, 1926. Daniel died before he saw the building. In 1983 the shell Oil Station was torn down to give way to the new addition to the library. On January 20, 1990, 64 years after the original building was dedicated, an open house was held for the dedication with Pauline James as the guest speaker. Pauline had been involved with the library all her life. Her father, Bert Buchanan, being one of the original trustees of the library. The heavy oak furniture in the library was made by inmates of the Ohio State Reformatory for the original building. It is very appropriate that the library stands on the very spot that the founders of the village thought was to be the center for education for it's residents.

It was in 1830 that Enos Miles had built the "LEONARD HOUSE" and tavern on this parcel of land. In 1838 Enos built a larger four story brick building adjoining the west end of the tavern. This building was build and know as the "ACADEMY" and was intended as a finishing school for young ladies. The ground floor of the Academy was used for business rooms, the second floor for the living room and dining room with the third floor for classrooms and students private rooms, while the fourth floor was used as an assembly hall. The partitions and flooring in the building were so constructed that each room was sound proof. Due to insufficient enrollment in the Academy, the building was remodeled and used as a hotel, store and tavern. The tavern was rented to Phineas Squires. The hotel register show that Grover Cleveland stayed in the hotel in 1885 the year he became president of the United States. The hotel was destroyed by fire in 1887.

It is told that while excavating for the Leonard House in 1830 a human skull, which had more teeth than modern man, with a jaw bone that was so big that it fit easily over the jaw of the largest man in the town. The skull was transported to Mansfield and never heard of again.


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