About Us

The Mission of the Rocky River Historical Society is to preserve, interpret, & celebrate the unique heritage of the city and its people.

The Rocky River Historical Society Vision includes finding a permanent home for the Society; increasing membership; expanding our archives; developing new services for the community; and preserving our history through such activities as conducting an oral history program and documenting current changes in Rocky River.

How 34 history-loving neighbors made history themselves…

On July 18, 1968, a group of 34 Rocky River residents gathered with a shared idea: let’s start a historical society! That night, Don Macbeth took the lead as president pro tem, and George A. “Sunny” Christensen chaired the by-laws committee. Among the founding members was Don L. Harbaugh, who’d go on to help shape the group’s future.

Over the next few months, this passionate crew met regularly—usually at the Rocky River Public Library, where the past met the present in the most literal way.

A Few Key Dates:

📍 August 29 & September 5, 1968
The by-laws committee rolled up their sleeves (figuratively, we assume) to draft the guiding rules. Four trustees were named to serve until elections: Harbaugh, Christensen, S.F. Stein, and Macbeth. James M. Siedel was named agent of the group.

📍 September 12, 1968
At the second general meeting, the excitement was real—84 people signed up and 81 paid dues. (Not bad for pre-PayPal days!)

📍 November 14, 1968
It became official:
The Articles of Incorporation for The Rocky River Historical Society were filed with the Ohio Secretary of State. The purpose? Nothing less than:

“...to preserve, discover, and share all that relates to the history, genealogy, geology, folklore, and commerce of Rocky River.”

The same evening, the Society held elections for its first officers:

President: George A. Christensen

Vice President: James M. Siedel

Recording Secretary: Donald L. Harbaugh

Corresponding Secretary: Eleanor F. Kenney

Treasurer: Harlow Eichler

Auditor: Donald D. Macbeth

Trustees: Laura L. Dean, Mrs. Earl M. Gibbs, Helen Sheppard, S.F. Stein, Jack Clowser

Historian: Elizabeth Danielson

And just like that, the Rocky River Historical Society was born—rooted in curiosity, fueled by community spirit, and ready to honor the past for generations to come.

Members of the Board of Trustees as of May, 2025

Ginni Going- President

Michael P. Harvey- Vice President

Jeanette Lewis - Recording Secretary

Sue Gragel - Treasurer

Trustees

JIm Chillemi

Susan Crane

Vic Erml

Betsey Heil

Heather McCrea

Jay Rounds

Stacey Staub

Roberta Trutko

Trustees Emeritus

Gay Christensen-Dean

Tom Barrett

Honorary Member

Dr. Michael Shoaf

Elizabeth Anderson