Hiram and Garrettsville voters appreciate small-town ideals

Just over 30 miles Northeast of Kent lie the villages of Garrettsville and Hiram — home to a coffee shop, Hiram College, small businesses and farm land. 

Garrettsville

Area residents place an emphasis on the hometown front. From the local pizza parlor, to the barber shop, to supporting the local schools’ G-Men, Garrettsville is a village filled with residents who feel loyal to the place they call home. 

With a population of 2,473, Garrettsville is home to residents who feel loyal to the place they call home.

“Everybody is nice. [It’s] a small community so you know everybody but I like that,” said Kristina Hodson, 37.  “I grew up in Garrettsville and Hiram … My daughter goes to Garrettsville. The school system’s amazing, I would never leave.”

With the idyllic small-town mindset, she said there’s nothing she would change about either of the villages given the opportunity.

Driving into Garrettsville, visitors are greeted with a view of the small town’s shops. Turning right off of South Street leads to The Main Street Barbershop of Garrettsville, located at 8106 Main St. 

Chris Blewitt, owner of the shop, said he’s drifted to different places around the world — Los Angeles, Tokyo, and more — but always finds himself back in Portage County.

Originally from Windham, the sense of safety and community is what drew Blewitt back to Portage County to raise his son with his wife. 

“I don’t have to lock my doors. I’m not worried about anything,” Blewitt said. “We have a tight knit community here, we look out for each other.” 

Being a local business owner has given Blewitt the opportunity to meet the new faces that call Garrettsville home.

“Being in this business lets me see how many people are moving here from the city,” he said. “That’s what they love about it. The small town feel and everything … it’s just a friendly place to live for sure.” 

Blewittt explained how he likes the way the small village is run, as well as how it gives him the opportunity to connect with local councilmen.  

“I am in contact with council members and the mayor and the zoning people and the tax people here, that collect the taxes for the village, and they’re all pretty wonderful people. This is a great area….Over two years. I’ve never heard one person come in here and complain about any of the administration in this village.”

In 2014, Garrettsville suffered a fire on the same street as Blewitt’s shop. The fire destroyed almost 13 businesses including a furniture shop, a craft shop, a clock repair business, a podiatrist and two attorney’s offices.

As a business owner on the same strip, Blewitt would like to see the damages from the fire rebuilt. 

“That whole side of [Main Street] used to look like this side of the street with all the old buildings and everything like that. But unfortunately, it was wood and not brick, so it burnt down,” Blewitt said. “That’d be the only thing …  Let’s rebuild that.”

Since opening his shop in December 2020, Blewitt has noticed a recent decline in customers due to the economy. 

“Even though the haircuts are $15, with the economic climate the way it is, some people treat it as a luxury,” Blewitt said.  “When they’re making their cuts on where they’re spending, sometimes like haircuts and face shaves and things like that become a luxury, so they tend to steer away from it, if they don’t have the extra money.”

Hiram

With a population of 914, the Village of Hiram houses extensive plots of farm land where local farmers can grow their business and feel connected to the community and land they call home.

Monroe’s Orchard and Farm Market, located at 6313 Pioneer Trail, has been in Angela Gingerich’s family for four generations. Gingerich said she likes living in a town where she knows everyone and sees them often. 

“My dad used to say ‘oh, the dirt runs through my veins here,’ and I definitely feel like there’s [something] calling my whole being to the land,” Gingerich said. “I like being a part of the community, we’re someplace fun to go for families and we’re a lot of kids’ first jobs.”

Kaitlyn Finchler and Jesse Khalil contributed to this project.