• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

BOYS BASKETBALL Highland falls in division title game D1 Today’s weather Serving HIGH: 27 Medina County LOW: 15 since 1832 n n n Sunrise: 7:23 For home delivery, call (330) 725-4166 Sunset: 5:59 T HEHE G AZAZ E TTETTE SATURDAY, February 13, 2021 $1.75 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC ‘How many people are out there?’ County death toll continues to climb State reconciling missed deaths from as far back as October The Gazette Medina County’s cumulative death total related to the coronavirus stands at 204. This is an increase of 14 deaths in the last 24 hours, but the state continues to add missed COVID-19 deaths from as far back as October — a glaring error in data collection that has already caused one state employee to resign. AARON JOSEFCZYK / GAZETTE The Ohio Department of Health said 63 per- Deb Holcomb, left, and Michelle Waugh talk as they walk the grounds of the Woodlawn Cemetery in Wadsworth. Waugh has cent of all the people who have died in Medina been researching the oldest available cemetery ledger records for information on Black city residents of more than a century ago County died in November and December. who were buried without a proper headstone or further specifics. The ODH said on the coronavirus website it is reconciling COVID-19 deaths, includ- ing about 2,500 in Ohio today. It said newly reported deaths will be higher in the next few Wadsworth woman aims to uncover details days as the ODH completes its reconciliation. There have been 12,783 cases of the virus in Medina County and 612 hospitalizations. of Black residents buried in unmarked graves The ODH said 11,566 have recovered from Jonathan Delozier “At our first club meetings, the COVID-19 in the county. The Gazette Statewide, there have been 934,742 cases subject kept coming up about of COVID-19. A total of 48,411 people have WADSWORTH — Block 4, colored. these areas of the cemetery been hospitalized around Ohio, including In place of full ledger markings used to doc- with no headstones. We had all 6,917 in ICUs. There have been 15,136 total ument grave locations for most Wadsworth death. The age range for those who have residents buried on some of Woodlawn Cem- noticed these areas and how contacted coronavirus is 1-111. Fifty-three etery’s older plots, Black city dwellers of more much of it centered on Block percent of the patients are males. than a century ago received the above classifi- cation when time came to find their final rest- 4. Sure enough, the research ing place. began and they’re all labeled 71-YEAR-OLD That ledger tag came with no proper that way, as colored. It doesn’t headstone or further specifics to pinpoint a ACCUSED OF RAPE gravesite, simply pointing cemetery visitors to say anything else like it does for a barren area that, today, is filled with numer- other people. That’s it.” IN MEDINA COUNTY ous ground depressions — although currently snow covered. Michelle Waugh, Wadsworth resident Michelle Waugh has member of Friends Man shoots taken up the challenge of trying to fill in his- of Woodlawn Cemetery torical gaps never made available to countless families and descendants. She is a member of That decision stemmed from the death of himself with Friends of Woodlawn Cemetery, a club formed relative Frederick Brown’s daughter, who is still in 2019 to help preserve the site as well as edu- buried at the cemetery. cate the community on its more than 200-year PHOTO PROVIDED Frederick Brown was a Wadsworth judge and police at door history. Julia Williams, a former slave from in 1816 purchased land two miles west of the “At our first club meetings, the subject kept Virginia who moved to Wadsworth first settlers on East-West Road. Construction Bob Finnan and Laina Yost coming up about these areas of the cemetery around 1880, is one of many Black city of a log cabin there is credited by historians The Gazette with no headstones,” she said. “We had all residents buried at Woodlawn Cemetery as the initial spark that led to development of WELLINGTON — A 71-year-old man who noticed these areas and how much of it cen- with no headstone or proper gravesite downtown Wadsworth. was being served a four-count indictment for tered on Block 4. Sure enough, the research documentation. Over ensuing years, the cemetery has grown rape out of Medina County shot and killed him- began and they’re all labeled that way, as col- to envelop 34 acres and is owned jointly by the self Friday in his Wellington home, police said. ored. It doesn’t say anything else like it does for available cemetery ledger records, which are city of Wadsworth and Wadsworth Township. Four Medina police detectives, with support other people. That’s it.” held at the Wadsworth Public Library. She More than 13,000 gravesites are now housed at from Wellington police, tried to serve an arrest “I think of the people buried being treated began at 1880 and is up to 1908 with a lot more Woodlawn. warrant on Frederick J. Miller, of 216½ Dixon like that but also their families,” Waugh added. to go, she said. St., when he took his own life, police said. “How many people are out there, many of “This is going to be a lengthy project but I A forgotten Wadsworth pioneer Wellington police Lt. Josh Poling said whom have lived in Wadsworth at some point, feel it has to be done,” she said. “Our fellow res- Research by Waugh also has turned up the Miller shot himself while police were trying who never got to go to a loved one’s gravesite idents deserve this.” life story of a Black Wadsworth resident and to make contact. because of this? I hope there are people out Oldest portions of the cemetery, located former slave, Julia Williams, who is buried at Miller, formerly of Medina, was indicted there who read this and can help us find out just off College Street, were donated in 1817 Woodlawn without an exact known location on four counts of first-degree felony rape more.” by Owen Brown, father of abolitionist John for her gravesite. by a Medina County grand jury. The alleged Waugh has been researching the oldest Brown. See PEOPLE, A6 crimes date back to 1998 and 1999. The victim of the four alleged assaults was a juvenile girl at the time. Miller was a neigh- bor and a family friend. He had since moved to Wellington. PROJECT WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY WILL HELP LOCAL FAMILY Now an adult, the victim “came forward and reported the crimes,” Medina police Chief Ed Kinney said. Career center students assist with home build A Medina detective uncovered a pattern of Jack Kopanski talking with the members of Hab- activity by Miller through an investigation in The Gazette itat this week to learn more about Lorain County. the job, construction officially “It was the same pattern and the same MEDINA — The hands-on expe- began Thursday. M.O.,” he said. “The behavior continued in rience gained by students in the Todd Mason, the program’s main Lorain County with a different victim. Medina County Career Center’s instructor, said this type of project “(The detective) used different methods to Construction Trades program will is nothing new to his students. corroborate her story. He talked to a Lorain soon benefit one Brunswick family. “The kids could not wait to get County woman and put the pieces together. As part of a joint effort with Habi- started on it. They were chomping He did a good job of tracking it down.” tat for Humanity of Medina County, at the bit,” Mason said. “These kids The indictments were to be served around several students are in the process have done framing before. They’re noon Friday at Miller’s house. The detectives of prebuilding the exterior walls of already good at it. I imagine it wanted to arrest him and bring him to Medina a home that Habitat will soon con- would take us, considering we only County Jail, pending an arraignment. struct in Brunswick and provide to have a couple hours a day in here In 2010, Miller appeared in the Oberlin a family in need. to work on them, we should have it Municipal Court for violating a protection Tom O’Connell, Habitat’s execu- done in a matter of two weeks.” order, resisting arrest and disorderly con- tive director, said working with the As far as core construction of the duct. He worked a plea bargain in court. He students is not only beneficial for house — located on Byron Drive also had a handful of traffic violations across down the road from Applewood Ele- the organization but also rewarding JACK KOPANSKI / GAZETTE Lorain County and Medina County courts. for himself and the students to take mentary School — O’Connell said The Southern Lorain County Ambulance Dis- A Medina County Career Center student works with an instructor part in the home-building mission. he expects to begin in March, add- trict responded, but were unable to revive Miller. on the exterior walls of a house that will be used as part of a “The original plan, back in ing that April remains a possibility The Lorain County coroner also responded Habitat for Humanity of Medina County home. December, was that we were going if the weather does not cooperate. to the scene and is investigating the death. to have them come on site and help said.

Load more

  20

Copy Link