Bellevue – Hometown of Standard Oil of Ohio

Bellevue – Where It All Began 

 
                Ralph H. Flynn        Former home of Amos Woodward, neighbor to Stephen Harkness

My name is Ralph Flynn and I live in the former home of Amos Woodward, just two blocks from the site where Stephen Harkness lived. Most people in Bellevue and even more who come to visit our small city do not know that Standard Oil of Ohio began with a financial deal in Bellevue, OH. As a young man, John D. Rockefeller, Sr. came to Bellevue and sold grain to both Stephen Harkness and Amos Woodward. These two men were neighbors and friends, but competitors in the distillery business.

 
                Stephen Harkness        Home of Stephen Harkness / Former Y.M.C.A. / Present site of the Railroad Museum

Henry Flagler [Nephew of Stephen Harkness]     Home of Dr. Amos Woodward / Present site of Faith Bible Church

When John D. Rockefeller came up with the idea of what would become Standard Oil Company, he came to Bellevue for backing. At that time Amos Woodward owned 60 acres which took up one-third of Bellevue. His business skills were matched by Stephen Harkness. They were the best of friends. When Mr. Rockefeller arrived in Bellevue he would have to pass the home of Mr. Harkness before reaching the home of Mr. Woodward. Here is how the story unfolded:

Rockefeller arrived at the home of Stephen Harkness and shared his concept for a new company that would change the life of all America. Harkness was so impressed with the possibility that he told Rockefeller, "You won't have to go down the street; we can handle everything right here." By "down the street" he meant to the home of Amos Woodward. He then gave Rockefeller $100,000 in cash to fund the adventure.

He told Rockefeller that he had three requests: (1) this is not a loan - he wanted stock; (2) since it was all his money to get things started, he wanted his nephew to be treasurer; and (3) since it was all his money to get things started, he also wanted his nephew to be the secretary of the business; he wanted to know what was going on. John D. Rockefeller agreed and Henry Flagler, the nephew of Stephen Harkness, returned to Cleveland with Rockefeller and Standard Oil of Ohio became a reality. It all started in Bellevue, Ohio. 

Later, Stephen Harkness would build The First Congregational Church next to his home in memory of his wife, Mary Harkness. However, the church board would not let Mr. Harkness attend because he promoted drinking by owning a distillery. Harkness therefore, had the church built with a large bell tower but would not let the church have a bell because he did not want to be awakened on Sunday mornings. The church, which is now a residence, is located next to the Mad River & NKP (Nickel Plate) Railroad Museum. This is one of the largest train museums in the world. Another reason we are called Historic Bellevue.

Bellevue – The Gateway to the West
The Tremont House
The Last Stagecoach Stop before
Venturing into Indian Territory
 
The Tremont House is listed on the National Register of Historical Places

The City of Bellevue, Ohio, is most unusual because it is located in four counties in Ohio; Huron, Erie, Sandusky, and Seneca. The Tremont House is in downtown Bellevue on the corner of Main and West Streets. West Street is the western boundary of the Firelands of the Connecticut Western Reserve. During the American Revolutionary War the farmers in Connecticut, whose farms were burned out, were given a total of 500,000 acres of land in the far western part of the Western Reserve that are now known as Erie and Huron counties. The other two counties, Sandusky and Seneca, were Indian Territory.

The Tremont House, built in 1846, is owned by the Bellevue Historical Society. It is under-going major restoration to bring it back to its original grandeur. Presently, it is not open to the public, but you can view it from the outside or peek in the windows on the first floor.  You may view it at www.historicbellevue.com  Last year the whole building was hand-measured by a group of architecture students from Kent State University. The drawings are in the Library of Congress. This was the second hotel in Bellevue. The first floor had small stores; the second floor was the hotel - but not like the hotels we know. This one was a few rooms with cots and one full bathroom that everyone shared. The third floor was the ballroom, where, in 1867 Stephen Harkness, Henry Flagler, and John D. Rockefeller celebrated the signing of the contract that financed the start-up of The Standard Oil Company. The second and third floors are mainly unchanged from 1846.