Archeological Investigations at Boston Village, Boston Township, Summit County, Ohio, Part II: Inventory and Evaluation of the Grounds Surrounding the Boston General Store, 1993

Summary

This report summarizes the results of a three-week archeological survey and testing program within a National Park Service-owned parcel of land in Boston Village, Summit County, Ohio. This small, historic community straddles the Cuyahoga River and the Ohio and Erie Canal between the cities of Cleveland and Akron. The archeological project is part of the ongoing planning for restoration of an early 1830s historic structure, the Boston General Store, and development of visitor services related to the restoration program.

Shovel testing and limited test excavations were combined to inventory and evaluate the grounds adjacent to the Store. The small parcel is bounded on the north by Boston Mills Road, on the east by the canal, and on the south and west by the Cuyahoga River. Historically, this area was divided into nine small Boston Village Lots. Historical research has revealed that at least seven structures, in addition to the Store and an attached warehouse, stood on these lots in the mid-nineteenth century. Only the Store remains today.

The archeological work is integrated with historical background research in this report to provide an overview of the tangible resources remaining from the construction and use of the seven former structures. In addition, limited excavation at the Store has provided new information on architectural features related to that building. A very large artifact assemblage was recovered through the limited field procedures in 1993, indicating that several specific areas of the site were very intensively used in the nineteenth century. In most instances, it was possible to directly link the archeological scatters and features recorded in the survey area to structures documented in the historical record. The methods and rationale for determining those connections form an important part of the report.

Significant archeological deposits were recorded on six of the nine lots that were investigated. The report discusses those deposits and relates them to the history of Boston Village and the existing National Register Nomination for the community.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Midwest Archeological Center Technical Reports

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