South Newbury Union Chapel

The Cradle of Equal Suffrage in Ohio

Plan Your Visit to South Newbury Union Chapel

Exterior tours of South Newbury Union Chapel can be provided by the Trustees by appointment. The interior of the Chapel is currently closed to visitors due to ongoing restoration efforts.

Directions

South Newbury Union Chapel is located off of St. Route 44 (Ravenna Road) in Newbury Township, Ohio, though the GPS address of the site is 15829 Ravenna Road, Burton, Ohio 44021 (see map to the left).

From the Cleveland metropolitan area: Take I-77 South to the I-480 East exit. Exit I-480 East onto US-422 East to exit 29. Turn left from exit 29 to OH-44 North.

From the Akron metropolitan area: Follow OH-8 North to I-271 North. Exit I-271 North onto US-422 East to exit 29. Turn left from exit 29 to OH-44 North.

From the Youngstown metropolitan area: Take OH-11 North to OH-82 West. Exit OH-82 West onto US-422 West to exit 29. Turn right from exit 29 to OH-44 North.

Please note that our historic building is not ADA accessible, and contains no restroom. There is a short step up at the entrance to the Chapel. There is currently no electricity or seating available in the building, so plan your tour accordingly.

Parking is available at the end of the drive, behind the Chapel.

For further questions on accessing the site, please contact newburyunionchapel@gmail.com.

Accessibility

Little Free Lending Library

Newbury Township Troop 99 Eagle Scout Will Brooker, of Chardon, installed a Little Free Library he constructed on the land adjacent to the north side of the chapel as his Eagle Scout project. “It was indeed modeled after the chapel itself, which was where many of the obstacles to overcome came up in the design process, when putting in all those little details to make it as true to the historic site as possible,” Will said, adding he stocked the library with books.

Local lore is that a public library was established at the chapel in the 19th century.

As reported in the Geauga Republican on Jan. 21, 1874, “the South Newbury Aid Society are about to organize a literary society and propose to give one or more exhibitions this winter, and the proceeds are to go towards establishing a public library.”

The History of Woman Suffrage (Stanton, Anthony and Gage) held by the Trustees below is said to be the last surviving book of the library at the Union Chapel.