Charlemont Reservation

48600 New London Eastern Road, New London, Ohio 44851

Charlemont is a 785-acre undeveloped park located in the main farming region of southern Lorain County and is the only reservation in the Lorain County Metro Parks system that allows hunting (rabbit and pheasant). The park is also a favorite of horseback riders (park closed to horseback riding from third week of October to December 31st for hunting season), who are free to enjoy the equestrian trails built and maintained by the Lorain County chapter of the Ohio Horse Council.

NATURAL HISTORY

Mostly Forest & Field

Charlemont Reservation is a large tract of natural land in rural, southern Lorain County. Two small headwater streams, Buck and Charlemont Creeks, run roughly south to north through the reservation. Charlemont’s forested acreage is centered on these streams. Extensive managed field habitats, the former sites of agricultural fields, occupy much of the area’s more level ground.

Charlemont is noteworthy for having perhaps more managed field habitat than any other site in Lorain County. The Park District both mows and burns fields on a rotational basis to maintain habitat for field-loving birds and other wildlife. Many bird species have nested here including Meadowlark, Bobolink, Sedge Wren, Dickcissel, Vesper, Grasshopper, and Henslow’s Sparrows. Charlemont is a great place to see raptors in winter as well.

Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive beetle from Asia, has been particularly damaging to Charlemont. Ash was formerly abundant here but is now (at least as far as mature trees are concerned) essentially gone. Elm and Maple remain abundant in many of the areas formerly occupied by ash. Impressively mature upland woods with oak, hickory, beech etc. are in places seen in association with the park’s streams.

Habitat enhancements at Charlemont have included the construction of both 11 wildlife ponds (ranging in size from 0.5 to 2.1 acres) and an extensive wetland complex south of New London Eastern Rd. Together they provide exceptional habitat for waterfowl, marsh birds, and amphibians.

The impression Charlemont gives is more “Wildlife Management Area” than “Park”. If a large tract of rural land, rich in wildlife, where you’re free to roam widely, sounds appealing; then Charlemont may be the place for you.

HISTORY

The Beckley Family

One of the earliest landowners of what is now Charlemont Reservation was the Elnathan Beckley family, who moved to the area in 1863 and established a dairy operation. Lyman Beckley, Mr. Beckley's son, joined with a neighbor and built what became known as the Beckley Cheese Factory on the eastern bank of Charlemont Creek in 1869. Lyman later assumed control of the family dairy business when his father died (1872).

In 1876 the dairy operation was sold to Harley O. Beckley, the eldest son of Lyman and Mary Beckley, and under his leadership became one of the more successful farming operations in Lorain County. In 1892, Harley built one of the more substantial barns in the county for $2000. This barn burned to the ground in the mid 1930's. A replacement barn was built in 1937 north of New London-Eastern Road. It was razed in 2001. The cheese factory was dismantled in the 1960's.

The Beckley School House was built on the northeast corner of Quarry Road and New London-Eastern Road in the mid 1800's. The school served surrounding homesteads until 1919 when the county's school systems were reformed. At this time the modest structure was moved to the southeast corner of the intersection and saw use as a granary. The building still stands today.

The Ramesy Road

The abandoned railroad corridor traversing Charlemont was a part of the 66 - mile long Lorain, Ashland, and Southern Railroad. Nicknamed the "Ramsey Road" for early financier Joseph Ramsey, Jr., the line began operation in 1914. The line was soon thereafter (1914) sold to the Pennsylvania Line which subsequently sold half interest to the Erie Line. Competition for Lorain's commerce with the Baltimore and Ohio and the Wheeling and Lake Erie proved too strong and operations were ceased in 1925. Steel from the track saw use as scrap during World War II.

A small cemetery is located along Charlemont Creek on the south side of New London-Eastern Road, across the road from the old cheese factory site, The cemetery is maintained by the township and represents perhaps the most noteworthy reminder of Charlemont's past.