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Photograph of Bellville Bandstand
Photograph by User:OHWiki, CC0 1.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.

Bellville Bandstand

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. A historic map-sheet match is not published yet. The record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary.

From the record

“Bellville is the only town in Jefterson Township, and is located on the northeast quai'ter of Section 9 and adjoining sections. The first building within the present incorporated limits was the first in the toAvnship, erected in 1808.”

History of Richland County, Ohio : (including the Original Boundaries) ; Its Past and Present, Containing a Condensed Comprehensive History of Ohio, Including an Outline History of the Northwest, a Complete History of Richland County ... Miscellaneous Matter, Map of the County, Biographies and Histories of ... the Most Prominent Families, &c., &c. (1880). Machine-read text.

one of 61 National Register listings in Richland County · listed in 1973 · category: Structure.

Sources: the county history on the Internet Archive · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service

The listing

  • What is counted as historic. The nomination lists 1 structure as contributing to the listing.
  • Address. North Bellville Municipal Park, Bellville, 44813
  • When was it listed? 1973-11-26
  • Category. structure
  • Township. Jefferson township
  • National Register reference number. 73001519 - the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.

The ground it stands on

108,849 words

The chapter on Jefferson Township in History of Richland County, Ohio : (including the Original Boundaries) ; Its Past and Present, Containing a Condensed Comprehensive History of Ohio, Including an Outline History of the Northwest, a Complete History of Richland County ... Miscellaneous Matter, Map of the County, Biographies and Histories of ... the Most Prominent Families, &c., &c., published 1880 names Bellville. This is what it says, exactly as the scans read.

Wise, from Pennsylvania, northeast quarter of Section 34 ; ^Martin Crow, from Pennsylvania, northwest quarter of Section 26 ; Casper Fitting, northwest quarter of Section 33 ; Thomas Griswold. northwest quarter of Section 30 ; William Casper, from Kentuck}-, northeast quarter of Section 27 ; Benjamin Hennis, northeast quarter of Section 19 ; John Robinson, from Pennsylvania, southwest quarter of Section 11; John Gatton, from Maryland, northeast quarter of Section 13 ; Jacob Culver, from Pennsylvania, northeast quarter of Section 10 ; Barson Sweet, from "V^ermont, northwest quarter of Section 16 ; Abram Vaughn, from ^Maryland, southwest quarter of Section 15 ; James Doughty, from New York, southwest quarter of Section 9 ; Abineal Dodge, from New York, northeast quarter of Section 16 ; Michael Shuey, from Pennsylvania, southeast quarter of Section 6 ; Adam Shafer, from Pennsylvania, southwest quarter of Section 6 ; Christian Aungst, from Virginia, northeast quarter of Section 8 ; Benjamin Potts, from Vermont, southwest quarter of Section 7 ; Chancy D. Wright, wheelwright, in Bellville ; John Weaver, from A'irginia. northeast quarter of Section 18 ; B. F. Thrailkill. from Maryland, northeast quarter of Section 28 ; Caleb Selb}-, southeast quarter of Section 19 ; Gideon Cornwall, from Virginia, northwest quarter of Section 1 5 ; Amos Hartly, from Mar3-land, northwest quarter of Section 31 ; Peter Boham, southwest quarter of Section 20 ; John McDowel, northeast quarter of Section 21 ; William Mahagan, from Mar^-land, southwest quarter of Section 31 ; Peter Strine ; Samuel Bevo, northeast quarter of Section 31 ; Thomas Durbin, from Virginia, southeast quarter of Section 9 ; Scott Durbin, from Virginia, southeast quarter of Section 9 ; William Price, northeast quarter of Section 16 ; John Fordney ; Philip 3Ierring, from New York, southwest quarter of Section 4 ; Phineas ^lerring (wheelwright), from New Jersey, southwest quarter of Section 4 ; Timotliy Evarts, from A^ennont. southeast quarter of

Passage source: History of Richland County, Ohio : (including the Original Boundaries) ; Its Past and Present, Containing a Condensed Comprehensive History of Ohio, Including an Outline History of the Northwest, a Complete History of Richland County ... Miscellaneous Matter, Map of the County, Biographies and Histories of ... the Most Prominent Families, &c., &c., published 1880.

Section 22 ; Geo. Aimgst, from Virginia, southeast quarter of Section 1 5 ; John Fowler, southwest quarter of Section 14 ; John Boham, northeast quarter of Section 20 ; Robert Bell, Sr., and Robert Bell Jr., from New Jersey, northeast quarter of Section 0 ; Zephaniah Bell, northwest quarter of Section 4 ; John Study, from Pennsylvania, southwest quarter of Section 25 ; John "Watson, southeast quarter of Section 7 ; Joseph Hix, from Pennsylvania, northeast quarter of Section 25 ; Henry Swank, from Pennsylvania, northwest quarter of Section 34 ; James Selb}', southeast quarter of Section 19 ; Jacob Stout, from Pennsylvania, northwest quarter of Section 7 ; Jonathan Oldfleld, came to township in 1808, from New York, northeast quarter of Section 22 ; William Oldfield, came in 1810, from New York, southeast quarter of Section 16 ; Samuel Oldfield, came in 1810, from New York, northeast quarter of Section 16 ; John Weirick, came in 1809, from Maryland, northwest quarter of Section 17 ; Peter Weirick, came in 1809, from Mar^dand, southwest quarter of Section 8 ; John Zent, Sr., came in 1810, from Pennsylvania, northwest quarter of Section 9 ; John Zent, Jr., came in 1810, from Pennsylvania, southwest quarter of Section 7 ; Duncan Spear, came in 1810, from Vermont, southwest quarter of Section 15 ; William Spear, came in 1810, shoemaker in Bellville ; Abraham Smith, in 1810, from Vermont, northwest quarter of Section 22 ; John Leedy, came in 1811, from Pennsylvania, northwest quarter of Section 35.

Passage source: History of Richland County, Ohio : (including the Original Boundaries) ; Its Past and Present, Containing a Condensed Comprehensive History of Ohio, Including an Outline History of the Northwest, a Complete History of Richland County ... Miscellaneous Matter, Map of the County, Biographies and Histories of ... the Most Prominent Families, &c., &c., published 1880.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Jefferson Township - 108,849 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.

Fires near this property

5 since 2005

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 5 fires within 5 miles of Bellville Bandstand between 2005 and 2018, burning about 10 acres in total. None started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning4
Missing data/not specified/undetermined1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
27 April 2013Debris and open burning5.0 acresOhio Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
10 April 2005Debris and open burningunder an acreOhio Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
1 April 2014Debris and open burning4.5 acresOhio Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
5 March 2018Debris and open burningunder an acreOhio Department of Natural Resources12305
12 November 2016Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreOhio Department of Natural Resources6465

Every fire recorded in Richland County

Specimens collected near this property

12 of 656 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. Museums hold 656 specimens collected within 10 miles of Bellville Bandstand between 1835 and 1973: 470 Plantae, 178 Animalia, 8 Fungi. 12 distinct Species records are shown. Collected by A.M.H., Aknown, Berra, T. M. (Tim M.) & Berra, T. M. (Tim M.) and others. Each is a physical object with a catalogue number, and each entry opens the museum's record. This is what was collected and kept, not a survey of what lives here - nothing can be concluded from a species being absent.

Image SpeciesYear Collected by Where, as recorded
Specimen of Molothrus ater ater (Boddaert, 1783)Molothrus ater ater (Boddaert, 1783)1892not recordedMansfield
Specimen of Spizella passerina passerina (Bechstein, 1798)Spizella passerina passerina (Bechstein, 1798)1892not recordedMansfield
Specimen of Athyrium angustum (Willd.) C.PreslAthyrium angustum (Willd.) C.Presl1895Wilkinson, E.Mansfield.
A photograph of the species Alisma subcordatum, not of this specimenAlisma subcordatum Raf.1835Wilkinson, E.Mansfield
A photograph of the species Carex scoparia, not of this specimenCarex scoparia Schkuhr ex Willd.1835Wilkinson, E.Mansfield
A photograph of the species Carex stricta, not of this specimenCarex stricta Lam.1835Herb. of E. WilkinsonMansfield
A photograph of the species Erigeron bellidifolius, not of this specimenErigeron bellidifolius Muhl. ex Willd.1835Wilkinson,E. 5229[USA, Ohio] Mansfield, Ohio.
A photograph of the species Penthorum sedoides, not of this specimenPenthorum sedoides L.1835E. WilkinsonMansfield
A photograph of the species Verbascum thapsus, not of this specimenVerbascum thapsus L.1835Wilkinson, E.Mansfield
A photograph of the species Achillea millefolium, not of this specimenAchillea millefolium L.1836Wilkinson, E.Mansfield
A photograph of the species Angelica atropurpurea, not of this specimenAngelica atropurpurea L.1836Wilkinson, E.Mansfield
A photograph of the species Apocynum androsaemifolium, not of this specimenApocynum androsaemifolium L.1836Wilkinson, E.Mansfield

All 656 specimens within 10 miles, at the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Mines and quarries near this property

4 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 4 workings within 5 miles of Bellville Bandstand: 2 past producers, 2 producers. 2 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Bellville PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast ProducerSedimentary
Bellville PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast ProducerSedimentary
Derwacter S & G Belleville PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Dh Bowman & Sons Bellville PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every working recorded in Richland County

Map coverage status

No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.

From the nomination file

2,243 words on record

When this property was proposed for the National Register, someone wrote the case for it: what the building is, and why it matters. That document is a federal record in the public domain. It is quoted below word for word, never summarised. The text was read off the scanned case file by machine, so the occasional stray character is the recogniser's and the 1970s typewriter's.

Description of the property

block foundation, and slab floor were placed beneath the frame- architect, which no doubt accounts for the gazebo-like appearance each of the eight sides, the roof line is arched, forming decorative is paneled, and extends approximately three feet above the peak of the roof. The roof of the cupola is flat, and eight brackets preservation of the structure, and it is used in many public SEP 1 B 1973 CONDITION functions. REGISTER NATIONAL conical in shape.

Ruins The Bellville Bandstand is an octagonal structure measuring Detailing on the structure is excellent.This High Victorian work is employed in the space above the arch.In the center of Gothic bandstand was designed by a carpenter-gardener turned Originally painted in some unknown constrasting colors, the bandstand now sports glossy white on the frame, and green on side of the bandstand, and is reached with four concrete steps. of the bandstand.An eighteen inch high railing is constructed in height at the peak of its roof.The bandstand is constructed The bandstand is in excellent condition, and is considered to extend to a pointed finial supporting an eagle.

work of the bandstand.The entrance is located on the east In the center of the roof is an octagonal cupola.The cupola be the architectural focal point of Bellville by the town's (Check One) of wood, and was built in July and August, 1879. RECEIVED X Excellent the roof. The eight openings are arched, and gingerbread lattice the eaves.

Read the complete 2,243-word case file.

Statement of significance

10, 1879. Since it was dedicated, the bandstand has been in constant Even today, during the summer, an ice cream social Conservation Commerce losophy Communications Architecture Landscape Engineering Transportation Military REGISTER NATIONAL Science Theater Education SIGNIFICANCE Literature Aboriginal Industry Agriculture Music design the structure. Social/Human- came from the citizens and town council of Bellville late Invention It is likely that Lash participated in the construction Sculpture William Lash worked for the Harris James Family in Cleveland. The impetus for the construction of the Bellville Bandstand appears in a Bellville city directory from this period.

of the bandstand which took place during July and August Bandstand is thought by most people to be the finest extant bandstand in the state of Ohio. Empire mansion of Euclid Avenue.Lash was the gardener for the James, and was also a carpenter.His mixed backround Religion/Phi. likely accounted for the appearance of the bandstand. or how he was contracted, but a man name William Lash did Lash was originally from Bellville, as at least one Lash in the 1870s.It is unknown how the architect was paid The James were florists in Cleveland, and had a large Second Prehistoric Political Other (Specify) PERIOD (Check One or More as Appropriate) SEP 19 1973 itarian Art RECEIVED AREAs OF SIGNIFICANCE (Check One or More as Appropriate)

The whole case file for this property - 2,243 words, 16 pages, reproduced complete.

Quoted from the National Register nomination for reference 73001519, 16 pages, held by the National Archives in Record Group 79. See the catalogue record.

Listed places nearby

6 within 8 miles

Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.

Photograph PropertyDistance Listed
Gurney-Kochheiser House0.2 miles1976
Bellville Village Hall0.2 miles1976
All Souls Unitarian-Universalist Church0.2 miles1976
Bellville Cemetery Chapel0.6 miles2010
Rummell Mill5.4 miles1982
First Congregational Church And Lexington School5.7 miles1979

Sources for this property

National Archives recordThe nomination case file for reference 73001519 in Record Group 79.
Richland CountyAll 61 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

  • Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
  • Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
  • How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Specimens. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), https://www.gbif.org/. Only records licensed CC0 or CC BY are used. Records licensed CC BY-NC are excluded because this site carries advertising. Images are checked individually and any whose licence is non-commercial, no-derivatives or unreadable is refused.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.