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Our free public programs begin in March! Please check out our Program page for our offerings in 2026..
South Newbury Union Chapel
South Newbury Union Chapel is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
South Newbury Union Chapel is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Our Mission
To preserve the South Newbury Union Chapel and to awaken public knowledge about the nationally important historical events which occurred within its walls.
Our Vision
To educate and preserve public awareness of the South Newbury Union Chapel as being a nationally significant site for freedom of speech on such issues as women's suffrage rights, workers' rights, and other social welfare initiatives. The ideas witnessed by the Chapel later grew into topics of national importance throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.
Our Trustees
Bari Oyler Stith, Ph.D.
Bari is a native Buckeye who enjoys living on an 1847 farm in Geauga County and investigating the built environment, natural landscapes, and personal stories of historic Ohio, but most especially Geauga. In addition to her service as a trustee for the South Newbury Union Chapel National Register Historic Site, she volunteers with Geauga Park District and Leadership Geauga.
From 2008 to 2025 Bari was Director of Ursuline College’s Historic Preservation program (M.A. and B.A.) where she nurtured a tremendous group of emerging Historic Preservation professionals who are making stunning contributions to the protection of our heritage as they use it to revitalize community pride and economies. From 1993-2017 she was fortunate to be adjunct faculty in History at John Carroll University. Previously, Bari was privileged to serve as Geauga County Archivist and Records Manager for 18 years, as well as the President of the Geauga County Bicentennial Board of Managers for 9 years.
She earned her Ph. D. in American Studies, as well as her M.A. in American Studies and Museum Studies, from Case Western Reserve University, with a Fenn Fellowship in Archival Administration at Western Reserve Historical Society. Her master’s thesis was “Blest Be the Tie that Binds: ‘True’ Education, Mary Evans, and the Young Ladies of the Lake Erie Female Seminary” and her doctoral dissertation was “Visions of Community: Rural Culture in 19th century Geauga and Lake Counties.” Since then, Dr. Stith has worked actively in all avenues of public/applied history with specialties in 19th century American women, family, community, and education.
Bill Ward
Bill Ward was born at Cory Hospital in Chardon, Ohio in 1950 and raised on an 80 acre farm in Newbury Township. In the fall of 1968, Bill enrolled at Kent State University with his sights set on becoming an American history teacher. That all changed when he was given an opportunity to spin records on Sunday afternoons at a small 1000 watt radio station in Painesville, Ohio. He had found his calling.
After a brief stint in the military, he returned to broadcasting and kicked around the small market grind learning the business. Early in 1975, Bill made the leap to the top of the Cleveland airwaves when he became the image voice and fill-in weatherman for WEWS TV5. On the week-ends, he could be heard 'playin' the hits' on the legendary Big 1220 WGAR, recognized at the time by Billboard Magazine as the #1 adult contemporary radio station in America.
In 1978, Bill was named WGAR's Director of Production. His creative studio wizardry eventually caught the attention of the powers that be in faraway Los Angeles. It wasn't long until he was plying his craft at another legendary radio station, the Big 1110 KRLA. His presence in the market eventually led to his signing with LA's renown Herb Tannen and Associates Talent Agency, launching a successful freelance career that he still enjoys today.
Over the past 50-plus years, Bill has been lending his amazingly versatile voice to countless scripts including Pfizer Pharma-ceuticals, Sherwin-Williams Paint, American Greetings, Goodyear, NASA, Morton Salt, Subway Restaurants, Ohio Lottery, Smiths's Dairy, Pizza Hut, Cleveland RTA, Playhouse Square, the Cleveland Browns and literally hundreds of others. He was heard regularly as the announcer on the PBS Network's critically acclaimed program, "Talking with David Frost." He was the familiar voice of WJW Fox 8 television in Cleveland for 30 years.
But his talents aren't limited to his work behind the mic. When Cleveland Magazine selected him as one of Cleveland's 50 Most Interesting People, writer Jill Sell wrote, "You'll recognize his voice first, but you'll also know his face." His work in front of the camera includes speaking roles in motion pictures such as "Unstoppable" starring Denzel Washington, "Hostile Witness" with Sam Waterston, and Blake Edward's "Sunset" featuring Bruce Willis and James Garner. Bill can also list "Moonlighting", "Highway to Heaven" and "Matlock" as network television credits, as well as scores of commercials, industrial training films, documentaries and print work His many alter-egos earned him four local Emmy Awards as a long-time contributor to the Big Chuck and L'il John Show, one of the longest running sketch comedy shows of its kind in America.
Bill's many outside interests include photography, pottery, gardening, maple syrup production, and writing. As his career winds down, he's found more time to return to his American history roots as a trustee of the South Newbury Union Chapel, considered by many the most historically significant building in Geauga County.
Carole Drabek
Thank you to the former trustees of South Newbury Union Chapel for preserving its history
and paving the way for future generations:
Sandy Wolfe
Mike Fath
Beverly Ash
Richard Ford
Lloyd Ash
William Carr
Sandy Wolfe
Mike Fath
Beverly Ash
Richard Ford
Lloyd Ash
William Carr
Milan Savage
Ray Munn
Etta Colvin
Calvin Phelps
Eleazar Punderson
Darius Allen
Milan Savage
Ray Munn
Etta Colvin
Calvin Phelps
Eleazar Punderson
Darius Allen
Preserving the History
Preserving the History
An Ohio Historical Marker was erected on the site of the South Newbury Union Chapel in 2010 in collaboration with the Ohio Historical Society (now Ohio History Connection) and Geauga Park District. The site was listed to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012 through the efforts of Rachael Sharpnack Toth, Master of Arts candidate in Historic Preservation, Ursuline College.
The Trustees continue to preserve and share the history of the Chapel by enlisting the site on the National Votes for Women Trail of the National Collaborative for Women's History Sites in 2020.
South Newbury Union Chapel
2025 Annual Report
PROGRAMS
Over 420 people attended at least 16 different presentations at:
Burton Public Library
Educational Service Center of the Western Reserve
Geauga County Genealogical Society/Chardon Library
Geauga West Library/Geauga Library America 250 series
Jennings at Notre Dame Village/Geauga Dept. on Aging
KSU/Geauga, Department on Aging Learning for Lifetime, three programs
Leadership Geauga Heritage/Retiree Class History Day Bus Tour
Leadership Geauga Signature Adult Class History Day Bus Tour
Mentor on the Lake Library, Lake County Daughters of the American Revolution
Northern Portage County League of Women Voters and Aurora Historical Society Annual Dinner
PLUS over 75 people participated in GPD’s Archaeological Digs at South Newbury Union Chapel
And for 2026 – 11 presentations have already been scheduled at:
Bainbridge Library
Burton Public Library
Clio Club/Burton
Fairmount Performing Arts/ Geauga Theatre for Chardon’s 250th celebration
Foundation for Geauga Parks/Explorer Series
Geauga Park District/West Woods
Middlefield Library
Thompson Library
Tuesday Club/Burton
In addition, for 2026, the following events are scheduled:
March 26, 2026 Film showing of Victoria Woodhull: Shattering Glass Ceilings and travelling exhibit Rughfully Hers: American Women and the Vote from the National Archives
To be held at Kent State University/Geauga Campus
May 2, 2026 Geauga and It's Union Chapel in Art, Poetry, and Song
To be held at Claridon Town Hall
May 16, 2026 Open House at South Newbury Union Chapel for Destination Geauga's Spring Drive it Yourself Tour
Augsut 26, 2026 Centennial Oak dedication of Ohio Historical Marker for Women's Equality Day TENTATIVE
To be held at South Newbury Union Chapel
September 19, 2026 Drop In Open House at South Newbury Union Chapel for "Geauga History Around the County" and "Ohio Open Doors"
For details on the above programs and events, please see our Programs page.
VOLUNTEERS
Aided in event planning and archaeology
COMMUNICATIONS
Union Chapel website – expanded to include pages for archaeology, associated suffrage sites, blogs, and trustee biographies with an update banner inserted into the top
Union Chapel email –checked daily Monday – Friday
Union Chapel Facebook page – sporadic posts with weekly review
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
In 2025 Union Chapel trustees participated in community initiatives through the:
America250-Ohio-Geauga Committee
Coffee, Conversation, Collaboration at Century Village
Destination Geauga
Historical Society Consortium, Chesterland Historical Foundation in partnership with Huntsburg
Historical Society
IN THE NEWS
Mar. 20, Geauga Times Courier
May issue, Southeast Geauga Quarterly, “The Bell in the Chapel Belfry” by Bill Ward
August issue, Southeast Geauga Quarterly, “The Remarkable Allens” by Bill Ward
Oct. 2, Geauga Times Courier
Oct. 9, Geauga Maple Leaf
Oct. 23 Geauga Maple Leaf
Nov. 20, Geauga Times Courier
2026 Destination Geauga magazine
MERCHANDISE
Cats Meow Village - Oak Trees and Union Chapel were designed and ordered for sale in 2026. Merchandise should arrive in February 2026.
FINANCIALS
Our only revenue stream is through generous donations, both cash and in-kind, from the community.
Budgets: For 2025, 2026, and 2027 were constructed and reviewed.
Typical annual budget - $1,500.00
Regular operating expenses for 2025 included:
Storage for furniture and artifacts – ½ of the cost was donated
Accountant for annual filing of non-profit status
USPS box rental - donated
Safety deposit box rental for most precious small artifacts and documents
Bank statements
Website domain hosting – donated
Web master for major website revisions
Lawn maintenance – donated by Geauga Park District
Additional 2025 expenses included:
Historic American Building Survey phase 1 documentation for restoration architecture by
Preservation Toolbox LLC
Centennial Oak historical marker – 85% was paid by William Pomeroy grant – nomination
research and writing with grant application were donated by Ursuline College Historic
Preservation students
Cats Meow Village fundraiser initial expenses for design and production of Union Chapel and
Centennial Oak custom 2D house portraits
Program expenses for March 2026 for Victoria Woodhull: Shattering Glass Ceilings film showing
– 50% of cost was paid by donations from Chapel presentations for the Geauga County
Genealogical Society and DAR/New Connecticut Chapter/Lake County.
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