Bellville, Ohio is the stuff of fairytales. Located in North Central Ohio, along the banks of the Clearfork River, Bellville is a quaint, charming little village. What it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in its reverence for the past, its commitment to the present, and its dreams for the future.
In 1808, James McCluer and Jonathan Oldfield set out in a northerly direction from what is now Fredericktown, Ohio, following a path leveled by a tornado. Approximately ten miles later, they arrived at what seemed the perfect location to settle and together they built a cabin there. Seven years later, in 1815, McCluer sold the land to Robert Bell…and so began Bellville, Ohio. Under the careful planning of Bell, the village began to take shape. Three streets and 48 building lots came under development. The first business in town was a tavern, followed by the post office in 1824 and a church in 1834. The first school buildings, built in 1857, are still in use today.
By 1877, the village was home to an electric plant, a flour mill, two hotels, and a town hall that doubled as the jail. The village was also a stop on B&O railroad line. The bandstand that still graces the village square was built in 1879. Between 1879 and the turn of the century, Bellville was booming, boasting two blacksmith shops, two harness shops, a hardware store, a bakery, four grocery stores, two barber shops, multiple dentists, a doctor, and the Exchange Bank.
Bellville, Ohio even made a name for itself as a gold rush town, when gold was discovered at a place called Dead Man’s Run. While the gold was nearly pure, it soon ran out and took the dreams of wealth and fame with it.
Bellville, Ohio – Small Town Living At Its Best
Today, Bellville, Ohio, is much the same as it was. Quaint, Victorian storefronts grace the tree-lined streets of the business district and well-kept vintage homes give silent testimony to the town’s devotion to its history and traditions. The historic bandstand in the center of town stands like a benevolent grandmother, overseeing holiday parades led by a color guard from local Veteran’s groups, concerts on the square, Trick or Treat sponsored by the local merchants, and the Yule Log Lighting which officially opens the Christmas holiday season.
The golden rule is alive and well in Bellville, Ohio. Friendly faces greet passers-by. Neighbors help neighbors in need. Families come together to share good times and bad, cheer for the local sports teams, and take time to worship according to personal beliefs. As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child. Bellville, Ohio, is that village for children of all ages.
Why Visit Bellville, Ohio? – Why Not?
A visit to Bellville is a one-tank trip from nearly everywhere in Ohio. Conveniently located 3 miles southeast of I-71 exit 166 on State Route 97 or 5 miles south of I-71 exit 169 on State Route 13, Bellville, Ohio, is waiting for you. Shopping venues include antiques, gifts and novelties, textiles, and furniture. For more mundane needs, Bellville has a hardware store, a grocery store, health food store, and bulk food store. Hungry? Try one of the local eateries.
Health and wellness issues are professionally managed at the downtown medical complex, with prescription and non-prescription medication and health and beauty aids available at the local drug store as well as natural options at our local health food store including natural practitioner services, Check out our local gyms, bike bath, and much more. The post office, public library, and three banks round out the amenities offered here.
Enjoy events with a local flair? A Saturday farmer’s market offers homegrown produce throughout the summer. During the week-end after the 4th of July, a Street Mart with vendors of all sorts covers the length Main St. The second week after Labor Day, the Great Bellville World’s Fair comes to town. This four-day street fair has been a Bellville tradition for more than 150 years. Hundreds come to stroll through agricultural displays and vendor booths, ride the carnival rides, and enjoy a variety of great food.
Bellville, Ohio, also has two golf courses within its corporation limits, and is just a short drive from numerous campgrounds, two ski areas, a canoe livery, two lakes for boating and fishing, and the charm of Amish Country.
If you long for a place where the values of the past still exist, where people walk to stores, parks, and church, where neighbors are truly neighbors, then Bellville, Ohio, population 1,900, is just what you’re looking for.
Contact us today for more information about the village of Bellville, Ohio.