Fredericktown, Columbiana County, Ohio

Fredericktown is a historic unincorporated community at the confluence of the north and middle forks of Little Beaver Creek in northeastern St. Clair Township, Columbiana County, Ohio, United States. It lies about six miles north of nearby East Liverpool and about 50 miles west of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is known for its numerous historic buildings and its abundant natural beauty.

Beginnings

Given its physical location at the confluence of a river system, the area was looked on as a place of holy or mystical significance to Native American tribes in the area. The Delaware, Wyandot and Seneca tribes all roamed the area at one time, and all variously claimed tribal ownership of the land.

The first known white settler was one Timothy Sheerer, who built a log cabin in the area sometime before 1795.

Pennsylvania native George Frederick (1775 - 1840) married Barbara Smith (1778 - 1866) and moved to Columbiana County in 1801. There they reared nine children. Frederick, interested in becoming a miller, bought the former Jackman gristmill and sawmill alongside the banks of the north fork of Little Beaver Creek. The town is named for George Frederick.

Early families

In addition to George Frederick and his family, other families who have dwelt in the area for close to two centuries include the Culbertson, Dailey, Gaston, Green, Hambleton, Hamilton, Jackman, Stockdale and Vodrey families.

Historic buildings

Despite its tiny size, Fredericktown boasts a wealth of historic buildings. These include an unusual octagonal building which was used variously over the years as a general store, a school and the village post office; two churches (one of which was deconsecrated and is now privately owned); several private homes constructed of locally-quarried sandstone; several log cabins; a one-room schoolhouse; a handful of barns; and the former Stagecoach Inn, which has been a private home for many years.

Little Beaver Creek

Little Beaver Creek is the only major river in Ohio to have been granted both State Wild and Scenic and National Scenic River designations. Just east of East Liverpool, the creek drains into the Ohio River. The now-defunct Sandy & Beaver Canal runs parallel to the creek.

According to a Department of the Interior study conducted in April 1975, Little Beaver Creek supports 63 species of fish, 49 mammal species, 140 types of birds and 46 species of reptiles and amphibians, including the rare and protected salamander known as the hellbender. It is an exceptionally clean riparian corridor with a highly diverse ecosystem. The Little Beaver Creek corridor was long thought to be the only river valley in the entire United States to feature geologic evidence of all four Ice Ages, although this is now disputed.

References

*The Enchanted Village: The History of Fredericktown, Ohio by Regis Scharf and Gary Winterburn was privately published in 1992. It has long been out of print, although a new edition is being planned.
* [http://stclairtwptourism.com/index.php?topic=LocalAttractions St. Clair Township Travel & Tourism Bureau]
* [http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=6266 February 10, 1976 letter from President Gerald R. Ford entitled "Message to the Congress Transmitting Report on Little Beaver Creek, Ohio"]
* [http://ohiohistory.org The Ohio Historical Society]