In the spring of 1816 Herman Ely of West Springfield, Massachusetts came to Ohio to look after his estate. He had a dam built and erected a grist and sawmill on the East Branch of the Black River. He returned to Massachusetts in the fall, married and returned with his wife living in a log cabin until his house was built, the first permanent structure of the settlement.

The City of Elyria, Ohio is a city in the Greater Cleveland metropolitan area and the county seat of Lorain County, Ohio. Elyria’s population is around 54,000 people living in 20.84 square miles. Elyria is currently heavily investing in its schools and infrastructure.