About Spring Hill Historic Home

Spring Hill Historic Home is a privately-funded 1820s farmhouse and grounds located in Massillon, Ohio. The home was inhabited from the 1810s to the 1970s, first by the Rotch family and then by three generations of the Wales family. Both the Rotches and the Wales were strong supporters of the abolitionist movement and even opened their home to freedom seekers on the Underground Railroad. Spring Hill began as a wool farm and converted to a dairy business in 1878. It was one of the last expansive farms in Massillon proper before part of the land was auctioned in 1963.

Our Mission

To preserve unimpaired for future generations the house, outbuildings and grounds known as Spring Hill; to interpret Spring Hill and the families who lived there in light of their historical importance; and to maintain Spring Hill as a historic site open to the public.

Thomas and Charity Rotch (pronounced Roach) moved to Ohio in 1811 and founded the village of Kendal (current Northeast Massillon), named after the Medieval woolen textile center of Kendall, Cumbria, England. They assisted settlements and settlers in Stark County, helped found libraries, and established schools. The Rotches also worked as members of the Quaker Indian Affairs Committee and were an active part of the abolitionist movement. Their home and property was used as a station on the Underground Railroad for several decades. After the Rotches passed away, Spring Hill was purchased from the Rotch heirs by the family’s long-time friend and farmhand Arvine Wales.

Spring Hill was passed down through the Wales family after Arvine passed away in the 1854. His son Arvine Chaffee Wales lived at Spring Hill with his family until his death in 1882. After Arvine Wales (III) built his home up the hill, the original Spring Hill home was occupied by Arvine Chaffee’s youngest son, Horatio, and his wife Irene McLain. It was at Irene’s request that many modern amenities were added to the house including a first floor kitchen, electricity, and indoor plumbing!

The Massillon Museum Foundation, Inc. was founded in 1966 to save property acreage from redevelopment, and was rebranded as Spring Hill Historic Home, Inc. in 2006. Irene McLain Wales helped purchase Spring Hill with a group of volunteers who desired the home and its history be preserved.

Spring Hill has been a historic home since Irene McLain Wales’ death in 1973, and continues Irene’s legacy of sharing our history with the community and the world.

Spring Hill Leadership

Staff

Board of Trustees