Greenwich Township, Huron County

How Greenwich Township, Huron County began

Greenwich Township's first settler, Henry Carpenter, arrived from Ulster County, New York in 1817 and died the next year of over-exertion at a house raising; the township was carved out as its own civil unit in 1823, after several years joined with Fitchville and Hartland. It is named for Greenwich, Connecticut, one of the towns British forces burned during the Revolutionary War, whose displaced residents held Firelands land claims. A large Quaker population settled early and organized the Friends' Church in 1823, one of the township's oldest institutions. The village of Greenwich sits in the township's western portion as a separate municipality (covered separately).

Settled 1817 (Henry Carpenter, first settler), incorporated 1823 (organized as a separate township), by Settlers chiefly from Cayuga County, New York and Greenwich, Connecticut.

Where the name comes from

Greenwich Township is named after Greenwich, Connecticut, the hometown of many of its pioneer settlers -- one of the Connecticut towns burned by British forces in the Revolutionary War, whose displaced residents held Firelands land claims.

Before the town

No Native American village or earthwork specific to Greenwich Township is documented in the sources consulted, but the 1879 county history records that Native people used the area seasonally for maple sugar making rather than hunting, camping in the township each spring to tap trees and boil sap in small kettles, and that a well-worn trail, visible as a footpath depression as late as the 1870s, crossed the township's northern part; it was used by a nation whose people were said to have their headquarters around Upper Sandusky, consistent with the Wyandot. Local settlers reported no hostile encounters with Native people during the settlement period.

Nations recorded here: Wyandot.

Timeline

1. 1815 — The future Greenwich Township is attached to New Haven Township for civil purposes.
2. 1817 — Henry Carpenter, from Ulster County, New York, becomes the township's first settler, taking up land on lot twenty-two, section two; he dies the following fall of over-exertion at a house raising, the township's first death.
3. 1818 — Adna Carpenter, son of Henry Carpenter, is born the first white child in the township; the same year the first Quaker (Friends) settlers arrive.
4. 1819 — Greenwich, Fitchville and Hartland are united as one civil township, with officers elected at Thomas B. White's house; the first marriage in the future Greenwich Township, David W. Briggs to Alzina Barker, also takes place.
5. 1823 — Greenwich is separated from Fitchville and organized as its own township, with Jeremiah Rusco and Henry Washburne elected trustees; the Friends' Church is organized the same year, the first religious society in the township.
6. 1828 — A post office named Greenwich is established at the township's center, with Benjamin Kniffin as the first postmaster.
7. 1873 — The Greenwich Fair Association and the Greenwich land company and building association are both organized, the latter setting off the growth of Greenwich Station village in the township's west.
8. 1978 — The Mead-Zimmerman House, on State Route 13 east of Greenwich village, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 30.

Stories

The barn raised without whiskey

It was long the custom at a pioneer house or barn raising to supply the work crew with whiskey, and neighbors expected it. When Willis R. Smith needed help raising a log barn, he told the men beforehand that, contrary to custom, no liquor would be provided. They took hold and worked hard anyway, fed a substantial dinner and supper by Mrs. Smith instead. The test of Smith's principles came soon after, when a fine field of his grain ripened just as he was laid up with rheumatism and unable to work; for several days it looked as though the harvest could only be saved if he gave in and furnished whiskey to get help. He held to his position, and one morning the neighbors simply turned out on their own and brought in the grain regardless.

Local history sources: en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · archive.org

Every historic place in Huron County on the full map

Mostly private wells The water here

• Greenwich Village80% of residentsGroundwater wells (6 wells)
• Rural Lorain Co. Water A16% of residentsMostly Lake Erie (bought from Avon Lake); some New London Reservoir and Ashland wells
• Northern Ohio Rural Water - SE District4% of residentsLake Erie

Public schools (3)

Bridges rated poor (1)

Spills reported since 2021 (2)

Ballot issues

Elections for office

Winners in bold. Results from the county board of elections' official canvass unless marked.

Auditor of State record

• No fiscal caution, watch or emergency on the Auditor of State's lists.
• Financial Audit, 2023 to 2024, released 2026-02-10

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