Local events in Groton Township, Erie County
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Checked October 20; the events page is refreshed daily.
How Groton Township, Erie County began
Groton Township, in southwestern Erie County and the only township of that name in Ohio, was first known as Wheatsborough after a Mr. Wheat who owned most of it; the name was changed at the request of settlers including Nathan Strong. Jonathan Sprague and Squire Richey made the first settlement on Pipe Creek in 1809, and the township was organized on June 2, 1834. Half prairie and half scrubby timber over limestone, it remained a farm township with no village; its centers were the Seven-Mile House, the Sand Hill union church and, for a time, a hamlet at Pipe Creek. A small part of the city of Bellevue now reaches into it.
Settled 1809, incorporated 1834 (township organized June 2, 1834), by Jonathan Sprague, Squire Richey and others, on Pipe Creek.
Where the name comes from
The township was first called Wheatsborough, for a Mr. Wheat who owned the greater part of it, and was renamed at the request of some of the inhabitants, among them the pioneer Nathan Strong. The county histories do not say why Groton was chosen. Groton, Connecticut was one of the towns whose Revolutionary War fire losses the Firelands compensated, which may explain the choice, but no source ties the name to it.
Before the town
The 1889 county history says the Native people of this township were mostly Seneca. Pipe Creek, which rises in Lyme Township and flows northeast through Groton into Oxford, was named by Native people for the soft clay or stone along its banks that they used for making pipes. The pioneer Charles Rash described watching about a hundred Native hunters try to surround a flock of wild turkeys. When Amos McClouth's party arrived in 1817 there were Native people near the settlement, but no hostilities were known. The land lies in the Firelands, ceded under the 1805 Treaty of Fort Industry.
Nations recorded here: Seneca.
- Pipe Creek (other) — flows northeast through Groton Township from Lyme Township into Oxford Township, named before settlement (archive.org)
Timeline
- — British forces under Benedict Arnold stormed Fort Griswold in Groton, Connecticut, and burned New London across the river -- the destruction that led Connecticut to compensate its residents with Ohio Firelands grants, the tract this township sits within.
- — Jonathan Sprague, Squire Richey and others made the first settlement on Pipe Creek; Richey felled the first tree and built the first log house.
- — Dr. W. Hastings began practicing medicine, the first physician in the township.
- — Captain Seth Harrington, originally from Rhode Island, moved in from Conneaut with his family of ten children.
- — John Paxton carried the mail on the new Cleveland-to-Detroit route through Groton.
- — Charles Rash arrived on horseback from Ontario County, New York, a nine-day ride; he was a justice of the peace for eighteen years from 1820.
- — Seth Harrington built the first frame house in the township.
- — Amos McClouth arrived from the Berkshire hills of Massachusetts with three other families; he later served as clerk of the Court of Common Pleas.
- — Elijah Fleming taught the first school, paid by subscriptions of fourteen dollars a month.
- — John Wheeler of Sandusky opened the first store at Pipe Creek, then a small village.
- — Groton Township was organized at an election at William McCord's house; Nathaniel Chapman, Bishop Stebbins and Nathan Strong were the first trustees.
- — A Groton post office opened with the Methodist preacher Zar Patch as postmaster; residents had used the Bloomingville office before.
- — Bellevue's municipal water system began, drawing untreated deep well water; part of Bellevue and its water customer base extends into Groton Township.
Stories
A wagon box for a coffin
The first death in the Groton settlement was that of a man named Standish Wood, and there was no one on the Firelands to make a coffin. His neighbors built one from the boards of a wagon box and saved the leftover boards for the next death. When the wagon box was used up, Seth Harrington and George Sprague split oak trees into puncheons and dressed them down to look like boards. The 1889 county history gives the story as a measure of how little the first settlers had. Small change was so scarce that a silver dollar was cut into four or more pieces, and for years after the War of 1812 people wore deerskin trousers and raccoon caps that dried as stiff as stovepipe after a rain.
Married on the prairie
Squire Richey, elected the first magistrate in 1816, was riding across the prairie when he met a young couple on their way to his house to be married. He got down from his horse and married them where they stood. Richey had also felled the first tree and built the first log house in the township in 1809. The earliest shelters on the Firelands, built by squatters before him, were bark huts on four posts and a ridge pole.
Local history sources: en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · archive.org · archive.org · archive.org · archive.org · archive.org · archive.org · archive.org
Water
Lake Erie, drawn through a 42-inch gravity pipe about three-quarters of a mile offshore near Cedar Point Chaussee, with a Sandusky Bay intake used as backup The water here
- Bellevue City39% of residentsFrink Run & Berry Creek/Big Ditch runoff (own reservoirs); backup Lake Erie via Erie Co.
- Erie Co. Margaretta District37% of residentsLake Erie (Sandusky Bay backup intake)
- Sandusky City15% of residentsLake Erie (Sandusky Bay backup intake)
- Erie Co. Perkins District8% of residentsLake Erie (Sandusky Bay backup intake)
- Monroeville Village1% of residentsWest Branch Huron River, stored in Monroeville's reservoir
Hospitals, fire stations and more
Inside Groton Township, Erie County's boundary: 1 fire or EMS station and 16 spill cases. Press a pin or a name for its whole record and its source.
Fire and EMS stations (1)
-
Groton Township Fire DepartmentCastalia
- Address
- 9414 Portland Road, Castalia, OH 44824
- Coordinates
- 41.34214, -82.79014
USGS National Map structures (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
Source: USGS National Map structures (most Ohio records last updated 2019 to 2022), checked against the Columbus and Cleveland station lists. The department that answers a call is set by jurisdiction and mutual aid, not by distance.
Spills reported since 2021 (16)
-
Fuel Diesel / Diesel Fuel (Vehicle On Or Off Road)2025-08-19 · Groton Twp
- Reported
- 2025-08-19
- What spilled
- Fuel Diesel / Diesel Fuel (Vehicle On Or Off Road)
- Largest amount reported
- 200 gallons
- Where
- Groton Twp, Erie County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NWDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2508EPA0001408
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Food Grade Product Solid2024-12-29 · Groton Twp
- Reported
- 2024-12-29
- What spilled
- Food Grade Product Solid
- Largest amount reported
- 400 gallons
- Where
- Groton Twp, Erie County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NWDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2412EPA0002089
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Oil Motor / Lube Oil / Vehicle2024-12-12 · Groton Twp
- Reported
- 2024-12-12
- What spilled
- Oil Motor / Lube Oil / Vehicle
- Largest amount reported
- 1 gallons
- Where
- Groton Twp, Erie County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NWDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2412EPA0002004
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Fuel Diesel / Diesel Fuel (Vehicle On Or Off Road)2024-09-16 · Groton Twp
- Reported
- 2024-09-16
- What spilled
- Fuel Diesel / Diesel Fuel (Vehicle On Or Off Road)
- Largest amount reported
- 2,400 gallons
- Where
- Groton Twp, Huron County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NWDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2409EPA0001584
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Alcohol / Ethanol / (Not E85 Fuel) (C2H6O)2024-09-13 · Groton Twp
- Reported
- 2024-09-13
- What spilled
- Alcohol / Ethanol / (Not E85 Fuel) (C2H6O)
- Largest amount reported
- 1 gallons
- Where
- Groton Twp, Erie County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NWDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2409EPA0001578
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Hydrochloric Acid / Muriatic Acid (Hcl)2024-05-13 · Groton Twp
- Reported
- 2024-05-13
- What spilled
- Hydrochloric Acid / Muriatic Acid (Hcl)
- Largest amount reported
- 2 gallons
- Where
- Groton Twp, Erie County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NWDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2405EPA0000789
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Fuel Diesel / Diesel Fuel (Vehicle On Or Off Road)2023-10-20 · Groton Twp
- Reported
- 2023-10-20
- What spilled
- Fuel Diesel / Diesel Fuel (Vehicle On Or Off Road)
- Largest amount reported
- 100 gallons
- Where
- Groton Twp, Erie County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NWDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2310EPA0001809
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Fuel Diesel / Diesel Fuel (Vehicle On Or Off Road) Reached water2023-08-03 · Groton Twp
- Reported
- 2023-08-03
- What spilled
- Fuel Diesel / Diesel Fuel (Vehicle On Or Off Road)
- Largest amount reported
- 20 gallons
- Reached a waterway
- 22 - Pipe Creek
- Where
- Groton Twp, Erie County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NWDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2308EPA0001326
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Grain (All Types) Agricultural2023-02-11 · Groton Twp
- Reported
- 2023-02-11
- What spilled
- Grain (All Types) Agricultural
- Largest amount reported
- 50 gallons
- Where
- Groton Twp, Huron County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NWDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2302EPA0000217
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Grain (All Types) Agricultural2023-01-10 · Groton Twp
- Reported
- 2023-01-10
- What spilled
- Grain (All Types) Agricultural
- Where
- Groton Twp, Erie County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NWDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2301EPA0000053
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Fuel Diesel / Diesel Fuel (Vehicle On Or Off Road)2022-07-07 · Groton Twp
- Reported
- 2022-07-07
- What spilled
- Fuel Diesel / Diesel Fuel (Vehicle On Or Off Road); Oil Motor / Lube Oil / Vehicle
- Largest amount reported
- 50 gallons
- Where
- Groton Twp, Erie County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NWDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2207EPA0001026
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Grain (All Types) Agricultural2022-05-07 · Groton Twp
- Reported
- 2022-05-07
- What spilled
- Grain (All Types) Agricultural
- Where
- Groton Twp, Erie County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NWDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2205EPA0000649
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Fuel Diesel / Diesel Fuel (Vehicle On Or Off Road)2022-02-07 · Groton Twp
- Reported
- 2022-02-07
- What spilled
- Fuel Diesel / Diesel Fuel (Vehicle On Or Off Road)
- Where
- Groton Twp, Erie County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NWDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2202EPA0000142
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Fuel Diesel / Diesel Fuel (Vehicle On Or Off Road)2021-09-06 · Groton Twp
- Reported
- 2021-09-06
- What spilled
- Fuel Diesel / Diesel Fuel (Vehicle On Or Off Road)
- Largest amount reported
- 100 gallons
- Where
- Groton Twp, Erie County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NWDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2109EPA0001412
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Fuel Gasoline ( 25% Ethanol Not E85)2021-05-27 · Groton Twp
- Reported
- 2021-05-27
- What spilled
- Fuel Gasoline ( 25% Ethanol Not E85); Fuel Diesel / Diesel Fuel (Vehicle On Or Off Road); Oil Motor / Lube Oil / Vehicle
- Where
- Groton Twp, Erie County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NWDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2105EPA0000743
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Fuel Diesel / Diesel Fuel (Vehicle On Or Off Road)2026-07-22 · Groton Twp
- Reported
- 2026-07-22
- What spilled
- Fuel Diesel / Diesel Fuel (Vehicle On Or Off Road)
- Largest amount reported
- 100 gallons
- Where
- Groton Twp, Erie County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NWDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2607EPA0001337
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
Source: Ohio EPA emergency response spill reports, 2021 to September 2026, one point per case where Ohio EPA placed it. A report is what the caller or responder recorded; amounts are often blank or estimated.
Its ZIP codes
Each ZIP code that touches Groton Township, Erie County, with the share of its residents who live here and the same headline figures as the ZIP page.
Local government
Who holds office in Groton Township, Erie County, how its elections and ballot issues came out, and the state auditor's record.
Money issues on the ballot since 2020: 1 of 1 passed.
Ballot issues
| Date | Issue | For | Against | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-11-03 | 9: #9 Groton Twp Tax Levy (Fire) | 573 | 156 | Passed (78.6% for) |
Elections for office
| Date | Office | Candidates and votes |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-11-02 | Township Trustee | Keith D. Edwards 155, 23.31%; Roger L. Rowland 121, 18.2%; Renee Schoen 197, 29.62%; Dennis W. Schreiner 192, 28.87% |
| 2021-11-02 | Township Fiscal Officer | Nancy Funni 251, 100.0% |
| 2019-11-05 | Township Trustee | Ron Brown 206, 100.0% |
| 2019-11-05 | Township Fiscal Officer | Linda S. Jett 221, 100.0% |
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 2026-01-15
The county
Erie County: 7 ZIP codes, 15 cities, villages and townships, 78,997 people.
Nearby places
Quick answers
What county is Groton Township, Ohio in?
Groton Township, Erie County is a township in Erie County, Ohio, with 1,379 residents.
When was Groton Township, Ohio founded?
Groton Township, Erie County was settled 1809; incorporated 1834 (township organized June 2, 1834). Founders on record: Jonathan Sprague, Squire Richey and others, on Pipe Creek. Source
How did Groton Township, Ohio get its name?
The township was first called Wheatsborough, for a Mr. Source
What ZIP code is Groton Township, Ohio?
Groton Township, Erie County is served by ZIP codes 44824 and 44811; 44824 holds the largest share of its residents.
Where does Groton Township, Ohio get its water?
The main water source for Groton Township, Erie County (Bellevue City): Lake Erie, drawn through a 42-inch gravity pipe about three-quarters of a mile offshore near Cedar Point Chaussee, with a Sandusky Bay intake used as backup.
Cite this page
Cite this page as:
Cracked Buckeye, "Groton Township, Erie County", https://crackedbuckeye.com/place/groton-township-erie-county/, built 2026-10-31, accessed [date].
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