LAKEVILLE
Lakeville was laid out in 1839. It was situated near Round and Long or Bonnet's Lakes. When the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne, and Chicago Railroad was constructed, the town then slowly moved toward Odell's Lake. Two ice companies cut ice on Odell's Lake and the railroad carried as much as four railroad cars filled with ice every day to various towns as far away as Pittsburgh. In its heyday Lakeville was also known as the "Recreation Area of the Midwest". The train brought people in to enjoy the sparkling waters and parks along Odell's Lake. There were hotels, an amusement park, skating and roller rinks, music and dancing, and moonlit boat rides for families to enjoy. Lakeville was, indeed, a popular vacation spot in the summer and a great source of block ice in the winter.
Historical Towns
BECK'S MILLS
Beck's Mills had its start in 1822 when the Beck family arrived in Doughty Valley. A dam was built across Doughty Creek and a sawmill was constructed. Later a four-story gristmill for making wheat flour and corn meal was...
BENTON
Benton was laid out in 1829, and it was the first real town to develop commercially in the county. It had gristmills, a woolen mill, a factory to make windmills and spinning wheels and several distilleries where whiskey...
BERLIN
The village of Berlin is the oldest existing village in Holmes County. It was laid out in 1816 with 108 plots, and all plots were purchased by 1821. Gradually Berlin became a thriving village and the center of commerce for...
BIG PRAIRIE
Big Prairie was laid out in 1871. It was the Monitor Sadiron Company that put Big Prairie on the map. There was also a Monitor Hotel and a Monitor Theater where silent movies were shown, and various other business shops and...
BUNKER HILL
The small community of Bunker Hill was settled in Berlin Township. A major attraction for early settlers was good soil and ample water supplied by springs that dotted the area. Farming, therefore, supported most early...
CHARM
Charm began as a village called Stevenson around the 1860s. In 1886 the community made application for a post office. The government submitted a list of town names from which the patrons of the post office could choose. The...