Loveland, Ohio
In 1996, Loveland celebrated its bicentennial,
marking the 200th anniversary of the first settler families joining together in the area.
In 1796, women and children came to the Loveland area, reuniting with settlers arriving
the year before with Col. Thomas Paxton.
A moderate climate for agriculture, wooded
lands full of wild game, a river for fishing and transportation made the Little
Switzerland of the Miami Valley" a wonder source for Loveland's first setters.
The town got a permanent name thanks to
James Loveland, the first postmaster. The moniker evolved from the expression, "Leave
the mailbag off at Loveland's (store)." The area was incorporated in 1876, attained
city status in 1962, and today it bustles with over 11,000 residents in three Ohio
counties, Hamilton, Clermont, and Warren.
The first industry in the Loveland area was
a corn mill established by Peter Sears in 1820. Later owners of the mill included James
Loveland and a Paxton descendant. One of the two groceries was called Gretchell's after
its owner. The other was owned by Adam Lever. The Paxton house was the first hotel in
Loveland, later named the Valley House. There were two other hotels in East Loveland, the
American Hotel on Railroad Avenue and the National Hotel, owned by Gen Thomas T Heath.
Frederick Ballerd owned a dry goods store which was rebuilt after a fire to house Dr.
Anschutz's dental office and later McCoy's Pony Keg. Other early businesses include an
ironwork shop, a mercantile business in the DeGolyer building, and a drug store. Sam Rich
and the Rown brothers ran the first two meat markets in Loveland. William Wallace Brock
co-founded the first Loveland Building Association in 1875. Loveland homes
for sale.
