Cantonology

06/19/2026

Day 162 - Schwebel’s

Today I read that Schwebel’s bakery is closing. Joseph and Dora Schwebel started in the business of baking bread back in 1906, selling fresh loaves of bread daily to their neighbors in Youngstown. Although not a Canton-based business, I feel like all of us have enjoyed Schwebels bread at some point. I remember the thrift shop in Canton on 13th Street off of Raff, although in recent years I think the closest one was North Canton.

Although they had started small in a home kitchen, their little bread baking business grew, and by 1914 they had started distribution of their bread via mom-and-pop style stores.

1923 brought a new bakery and storefront, and delivery trucks.

Sadly, in 1928, Joseph Schwebel died suddenly at age 46. He left behind Dora and their six children, but she took control of the business and got it through the Great Depression. In fact, it was during the depression when their mascot “Happy the Clown” was introduced.

The business continued to grow. A new bakery was opened in 1936, and then a large production plant was built in Youngstown in 1951.

Dora passed away in 1964, and the company’s leadership passed down to subsequent generations. Dora was inducted into the Baking Hall of Fame in 2009.

Over the years, Schwebel’s acquired a few additional brands, and we knew them for their Schwebel's, 'taliano, Millbrook, Country Hearth and Sun-Maid brand names.

Today’s news of their plans to close stated rising costs and aging infrastructure, among other challenges.

They plan to run the bakeries and facilities through the weekend of July 4, 2026, after which they will be winding down operations throughout the summer.

120 years of providing Youngstown and the surrounding communities with bread is a pretty good run. Thanks for all the delicious baked goods throughout our entire lives, Schwebel’s!

06/16/2026

Day 161 - Chanticleer

I have a tire on my car currently that has a leak… once a day I end up having to put air in it. I suspect I ran over a nail or something and I just keep not having time to go deal with it. My favorite place to put air in is at Giant Eagle Get-Go station because 1) it’s free, and 2) it shows the pressure on the pump. I usually go to the one at the corner of Tusc and Raff because I can pass by there on my way downtown.

I remember a time before Giant Eagle when the grocery store was Apples. And before that when it was an IGA. But that’s where my memory of that corner ends. I do seem to remember a Schuman’s drug store, also close to that corner, but I do not remember the Chanticleer restaurant. It once stood on the southeast corner of Tusc and Raff, where the Get Go gas station is today.

From what I found, it opened in 1957. It was both a restaurant and a drive-in. Ads I found show that it stayed open until 1:00 am. So it must have been one of the cruise-in places?

For some reason when I see the sign, way back in my memory bank I seem to remember the rooster on the sign, which is what “Chanticleer” means… rooster.

Who remembers more about the Chanticleer… how long was it there, when did it close? Was it right beside Schuman’s drug store? I couldn’t find much info on it, but I was thinking about it lately because I’ve been visiting the corner where it once stood so often because of needing to put air in my tire.

06/14/2026

Day 160 - Kurt’s Inn

Today let’s look back at a great restaurant from the Canton area’s past… Kurt’s Inn. I remember it as a “special occasion” type of restaurant.

I don’t remember when Kurt’s first opened. During my adult life, I don’t remember a time before when Kurt’s stood at 4104 Lincoln Way. Today, the credit union is located in that spot, across from El Campesino’s. I think Kurt’s Inn closed sometime in the 1990s.

It was a restaurant that I don’t remember from my childhood, maybe because it didn’t exist yet but more likely because it was a “fancy” restaurant, and we didn’t really go to fancy restaurants as a family when I was young.

I did go a couple times as an adult though, probably in the late 1970s or early 1980s. It was a fun place to go, because it was so interesting with a lot of “table side” food preparation going on, and it just felt to me like such a fancy place. I had never really been to a restaurant like that before.

It was owned and operated by Kurt Seebacher and his wife Susan, and you could just tell from the overall restaurant atmosphere that creating that “fine dining” experience was his passion. I read that his parents had been in the hotel business for 24 years, so he probably grew up immersed in the atmosphere.

Kurt’s Inn had a piano bar, which made the whole experience seem even more special. There were no restaurants that I had ever been to before that had a piano bar.

Oddly, I don’t exactly remember what I had for dinner the times that I was there, although for some reason I think one time I got Beef Wellington, which I had never had before. I remember the salad that was prepared tableside and I know at least once I had cherries jubilee, which I had also never had before and I don’t think I’ve had since. I guess when I grew up I didn’t go to “fancy” restaurants very often either lol.

I think they were the restaurant that hung an upside down Christmas tree during the holidays but that’s not the time of year I was there, so I’m not sure.

I seem to recall they tried opening another restaurant in the Belden Village area and then both the new one and Kurt’s Inn suddenly closed.

Who remembers going to Kurt’s Inn? What were your memories? Also does anyone have a photo of Kurt’s Inn? I looked and looked and couldn’t find one.

06/13/2026

A public service announcement for those who will be downtown for today’s events… you might hear a 21 gun salute taking place around 2:00 pm.

This afternoon, a Celebration of Life will be taking place at the Masonic Temple on Market Ave. N. As part of the ceremony there will be a 21 gun salute.

Since the Masonic Temple is only several blocks north of the central downtown area, it is possible that the sound of the 21 gun salute will be audible downtown, including in the area of today’s Stark Pride Festival.

So, just a heads up in case anyone hears gun shots during that time period… it’s a 21 gun salute taking place at the Masonic Temple.

06/13/2026

Day 159 - The Many Careers of Zebulon Davis

So, after my little hiatus to get all the maps for the season done… it’s time to get back to The Freeda Project.

We were previously discussing Zebulon Davis and the Diamond Portland Cement Company.

Which sounds like a very big and successful accomplishment for one man… but Zebulon did so much more!

His family moved to Canton from Chester County, Pennsylvania. Zebulon’s father, after they moved to Canton, was a locomotive engineer.

His father then leased a flour mill in the Middlebranch area, eventually moving on to manage the Saxton flour mill, which was located south of Canton. He then went on to build the Buckeye Mill in Canton, along with his business partner Peter Lind. After selling his share in that mill, he went on to build the Snow Flake Mill, which was steam powered. Apparently Zebulon’s father was a pretty prolific entrepreneur as well.

Zebulon’s job at the mill was making sure the boilers had coal. This job must have given him plenty of time to think, because during this time developed and patented a gasoline engine. It was also during his time at Snow Flake that he studied chemistry and developed a formula for cement. Which of course was knowledge he’d go on to put to good use later.

He designed a carburetor for the Winston Automobile Company of Cleveland.

He designed and patented a gasoline burner lamp, ultimately selling the patent to the Dangler Stove Company in Cleveland.

Along with William Blake, he invented a gasoline stove, which also ended up being manufactured by the Dangler Stove Company.

In 1899, Davis became the manager of the Winton Motor Carriage Company. He later owned and drove the first Winton automobile in Canton.

Of course we’ve already discussed the Diamond Portland Cement Company that he founded in Middlebranch along with F.L Alcott, R.F. Boardman and L.A. Reed. And of course the mansion he built at 1362 Market Street in Canton.

And if all that wasn’t enough, Zebulon was one of the founders of the Ohio Aero Club.

And then there was the railroad. We talked a little bit about how he started the Akron Transfer Railroad to solve his Diamond Portland Cement shipping challenges. But then later, he also used his financial backing to get other dormant railroad lines to sell.

In 1907, along with William Simpson, H. B. Stewart, Isaac H Taylor, and others, Zebulon incorporated the Akron Canton & Youngstown Railway.

The objective was to build a railroad line connecting Akron with Canton and Youngstown. The first shareholder's meeting was held on June 17, 1907, and Zebulon was elected the president, a position he held until 1910.

He passed away on May 2, 1931 at the age of 86, and was buried in the Westlawn Cemetery. As we discussed previously, he remained a bachelor his entire life.

But what a life it was. He had more careers during his life than even seems possible. I’m always amazed at how many things some of these early entrepreneurs did during a single lifetime.

06/12/2026

Tomorrow is a big day in Downtown Canton! In the morning, from 10:00am - 1:00pm, the Canton Farmers' Market will be on 4th St NW

And then from 1:15pm - 9:00pm, the Stark Pride Festival will be happening.

You can visit both event pages for more info, but here’s a combined map that shows the basic footprint of both events. Keep in mind that roads will be closed to vehicle traffic in the areas where the events are taking place.

We hope you stop in to see us when you come downtown for these events. As always, there will be a free make and take craft project for anyone to enjoy!

06/12/2026

You might be wondering, “Where have The Freeda Project posts been?”

They will be returning tonight and I’ll get caught back up. The last of the map work has been finally completed so we will be getting back to our regularly scheduled “Freeda Project” Canton area history series tonight! :)

06/06/2026

Today is the first day of the Canton Farmers Market in downtown Canton, from 10:00am - 1:00pm.

We hope you stop down to enjoy and shop the market, and stop in to see us as well. As always, we will have a free make and take craft project available.

We are also restocked with fresh summer reads, so grab a Blind Date with a Book and book pouch for $15.

SHOP, DINE & UNWIND. Local farmers, makers, bakers, food trucks, musicians & more!
SATURDAYS. 10am-1pm.
FREE PARKING
OUTDOOR SEASON: Weekly, JUNE- early OCT
INDOOR SEASON: 3rd Saturdays, OCT - MAY

06/05/2026

Every First Friday when I make the event maps, I put dots in the YMCA parking lot for the food truck locations.

Well, this morning I decided to give all the food trucks a bigger shout out than just their usual numbered dots. 🙂

We all know downtown Canton has AWESOME restaurants… but during First Fridays and other events, we get some help from area food trucks as well.

Here’s the list of food trucks for “Chalk the Walk” First Friday tonight… hopefully I didn’t miss anyone! You can check out their pages and follow your favs so that you always know where and when to go to get your food truck fix.

Cheezylicious Food Truck
https://www.facebook.com/share/14bLfGUwAkk/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Stachia’s Almost Famous Wings
https://www.facebook.com/share/1EGN6ThLqv/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Yummy Pita Food Truck
https://www.facebook.com/share/14f5NHnq2zT/?mibextid=wwXIfr

MJS Tasty Eats
https://www.facebook.com/share/18h19FGqqJ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The Flaming Marshmallow
https://www.facebook.com/share/1Dgus7TKU1/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Wheely Good Food
https://www.facebook.com/share/14gX2CKBSgH/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The Cookery
https://www.facebook.com/share/1EyWTPvCh6/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Doanville’s Finest Foods
https://www.facebook.com/share/1ESBUcjJwK/?mibextid=wwXIfr

06/05/2026

Yay tonight is First Friday! Chalk the Walk!

We hope you stop in to see us tonight. We will be putting chalk out on the sidewalk for all the aspiring sidewalk chalk artists.

We have lots of fun Canton and Ohio-themed items and of course plenty of “Blind Date with a Books” to set yourself up for summer reading fun. Plus as always, a free make and take craft project.

You can check out the Canton First Friday page for maps and featured posts about tonight’s event. Plus, for easy “at a glance” reference, here’s a list (complete to the best of my ability) and I’ll keep it updated as the day goes on.

The weather is great, the chalk is ready, we and First Friday is gearing up for tonight’s fun… hope to see you there!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ChUADzU2y/?mibextid=wwXIfr