Exploring where we’ve been, where we are…and where we are going
As Mentor residents know, our ever-evolving lakeside community is a patchwork of old and new, with a unique blend of historic homes, contemporary structures, thriving businesses, and picturesque natural spaces.
A number of changes have taken place since Mentor was first settled in 1797 as a part of the Connecticut Western Reserve. What was once a sleepy little farm town has become an important manufacturing and retail center in the state of Ohio. Let’s explore where our town has been, what we enjoy today, and where we are headed in the future.
Nothing is certain but change
Like much of northeast Ohio, Mentor began as a farming community and much of that remained unchanged through the 1950s – but change it most certainly did! Take a drive down Mentor Avenue today and it’s hard to imagine that just 60 years ago, this was a collection of nurseries and crossroads.
Mentor first rose to national prominence during James A. Garfield’s successful front porch presidential campaign in 1880. The Hiram native purchased his 160-acre farm in 1876 to relocate his large family. One of the major reasons he chose the property was that he wanted his sons to learn about farming. A congressman at the time, Garfield was a self-made man in every respect whose reputation as an abolitionist, Civil War hero, and thoughtful legislator put him on the path to the presidency.
After securing the Republican nomination, Garfield retired to the comforts of his family farm which was dubbed “Lawnfield” by the cadre of reporters who camped out on his property to report on the campaign. It was frowned upon in those days for a candidate to actively seek office, so instead, he addressed his supporters from his front porch. Over 15,000 well-wishers came to tiny Mentor, with its population of just 540, to see and hear Garfield that year.
By the turn of the 20th century, Lake County was becoming an attractive and convenient getaway for nearby Clevelanders thanks in large part to the Interurban electric railway which cut an eight-hour carriage ride into a one-hour trip. Many wealthy Cleveland industrialists chose to call our area home, even if it was just for the summer.
Among them was John J. Oliver, whose Tudor-inspired summer estate on Little Mountain Road was designed by President Garfield’s son, Abram. The home and grounds are now known as the Wildwood Cultural Center.
Nurseries became big business in Mentor through the 20th century. The “Rose Capital of the Nation” held its crown from the 1920s through the 1970s when over a dozen producers raised approximately five million plants a year from their Mentor fields. Famous growers included Gerard K. Klyn, the largest rose grower in the Midwest; Joseph Kallay, who in 1932 received U.S. patent No. 10 for “Blaze;” Melvin Wyant, accredited rose grower, judge, and lecturer; Joseph J. Kern, nationally recognized expert on old fashioned roses; and Paul R. Bosley, who specialized in hybrid tea roses. In fact, mail order nursery giant, Wayside Gardens, was founded here in 1920 and operated in Mentor prior to moving to South Carolina in the mid-70s.
Mentor has had its share of influential citizens over the years. Among them was Garfield’s granddaughter-in-law, Eleanor, who became Mentor village mayor in 1952 and whose vision and persistence helped make Mentor what it is today.
After World War II, Mentor started seeing a shift in its way of life. This sleepy little town was starting to grow as families and businesses made their way east from Cleveland. Lake County was the fastest growing County in the state in those days because of affordable housing opportunities as well as newfound accessibility due to improving roadways and the growing highway system.
Thanks to Garfield and likeminded civic leaders, what was once a waypoint was about to become an economic powerhouse.
“Mentor’s leaders were ahead of their time when they planned our community. Sound municipal planning integrates residential, commercial, and industrial areas so that growth can occur in harmony instead of conflict,” says Mentor city manager, Kenneth J. Filipiak.
The establishment of the industrial corridor and rerouting of the Lakeland freeway in the late-50s helped launch Mentor’s growth and is the bedrock upon which the City of today was built.
“The vision they articulated ensured that Mentor had allocated areas well-positioned for smart growth in manufacturing, retail, and professional services, while securing areas for greenspace and residential development,” adds director of economic development, Kevin Malecek.
As a result, Mentor underwent explosive growth. In 1960, 4,354 people called Mentor home. By the end of the decade, that number would grow nine-fold!
Today, Mentor is the largest city in Lake County with a population of just under 50,000. The City is home to over 1,700 businesses, including over 300 manufacturers, 300 retailers, and 170 eateries, and these businesses constitute nearly 40% of Lake County’s economy.
Early business investment in the industrial corridor, as well as along Mentor’s commercial sector helped pave the way (as well as the roads) for the Mentor of today. Income taxes generated by business enabled the expansion of city services, establishment of full-time safety forces, purchase of land for parks and recreational opportunities, as well as many of the other amenities that we enjoy today.
“The city of Mentor has always been about balance, and that balance has assured prosperity and growth over our last 60 years,” says Filipiak, “In our time as an incorporated city, Mentor kept pace with innovation and evolution in commercial and industrial markets, providing the core employment that has guaranteed a vibrant and dynamic economy.”
That tradition continues today as the City welcomes new investment from international firms, including ACO, DeNora Tech, and Heilind Electronics as well as expansions from home-grown companies like STERIS, Avery Dennison, and Polychem.
One of the most exciting upcoming additions is the Cleveland Clinic’s new state-of-the-art hospital which will include emergency care, in/outpatient services, and specialty disciplines to be built at I-90 and SR-615.
There’s no place like home
Mentor isn’t just a great place to do business, it’s also a great place to live. Mentor homes are typically on the market for a shorter period of time and sell for more than those in other communities in Lake County. Highly-rated schools, high-quality city services, and low overall taxes are just a few of the reasons why people love to call Mentor home.
Another major incentive is that recreational activities abound for Mentor residents. With over 1,200 acres of parkland, miles of bike and multi-purpose trails, ball courts, pools, and more, there is always something to do no matter what the season.
Living on the shores of Lake Erie provides the perfect backdrop to boat, fish, bird watch, or simply lounge in the sun. Headlands Beach State Park’s mile-long stretch of sand makes it the
longest natural beach in Ohio and attracts over two million visitors each year. The adjoining Nature Preserve features an all-access boardwalk that guides you through the natural splendor of sand dunes and native vegetation that extends to the water’s edge and offers a commanding view of the famous lighthouse.
The nearby 800-acre Mentor Marsh State Park and the city-owned 450-acre Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve & Marina are birding havens. Over 260 species of birds have been recorded in the area in the past year alone.
Mentor Civic Center Park, adjacent to the Mentor Municipal Center, features ball fields, a pool/waterpark, ice arena, skate park, pickleball courts, picnic ground and shelter, playground, and an impressive state-of-the-art amphitheater. The facility is home to a number of events, including the City’s popular Mentor Rocks concert series which draws an average of over 6,000 music-lovers per week during summer months.
Veterans Park, located on Hopkins Road, is a popular place for family fishing, dog walking and hiking. And, Eleanor B. Garfield Park, on Mentor Avenue, offers a fishing pond, soccer field, basketball and tennis courts and baseball diamond, outdoor pool, picnic pavilion, and playground.
Springbrook Gardens is Mentor’s newest permanent greenspace. Dedicated in 2019, this 52-acre park occupies the former Springbrook Gardens nursery property. Park improvements and addition of amenities are ongoing, but residents are already enjoying the pond, boardwalk, and 1.7 miles of paved walking paths.
Black Brook Golf Course has been a local favorite for over 90 years. Established in 1927, Black Brook was designed by the legendary Bertie Way – who also designed the Country Club of Detroit, the Mayfield County Club, and the famous South Course at Firestone Country Club in Akron. The facility has been owned and operated by the city of Mentor since 2005 with a number of improvements made to the course.
For those 55+, the Mentor Senior Center is a favorite place to spend time with dear friends as well as make new ones. It is the largest senior center in Lake County with over 5,000 members. They offer wide assortment of programs including fitness classes, arts and crafts, health service information, and more. The home-cooked lunches are a particular standout for the community. The 22,000-squarefoot facility features a library, double-faced fireplace, billiards room, computer room, fitness center with aerobic and strength training equipment, and meeting rooms.
Aside from the parks and facilities, Mentor Recreation offers more than 1,200 ways to enjoy life every season of the year through a multitude of athletic, cultural, arts, and nature programs for all ages and levels to choose from.
Keeping in mind all of the great things that Mentor has to offer today is something that wouldn’t have been possible had the people in the “little village that could” not had the persistence to forge ahead with their vision. It’s clear that Mentor has changed a lot in just the past 60 years, we can’t wait to see what the next 60 years bring. What’s also clear is that despite the downturns of 2020, this northeast Ohio city has never been better.
So, if anyone asks, “What’s so good about Mentor?”
The answer is simple: Pretty much everything.
This article originally appeared in Mentor City Magazine 2020.