Quail Hollow to celebrate 50 years as a public park with special event

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Quail Hollow’s designation as a public park, and to celebrate, Stark Parks is planning a special event on June 22 called Country Day at the Hollow: 50th Anniversary.

The public is invited to stop by to learn about Quail Hollow’s history, walk the trails, and witness the unveiling of a new Manor House sign during the celebration. The sign was created by Stark Parks’ education department in collaboration with the Quail Hollow Volunteer Association’s archivist. It will be placed next to the Manor House near the driveway.

The event will feature live music, hayrides, homesteading activities, and games. Homesteading demonstrations will include croquet, walking stilts, candle-dipping, quill pen writing, a hayride shuttle, live animals, and a station with cairn terrier dogs in honor of Cate Seiberling, a former owner of the house who loved the breed.

Volunteers will be stationed throughout the first and second floors of the Manor House to assist visitors with self-guided tours. All other activities will take place on the grounds surrounding the house. The Canton Symphony is scheduled to perform around 3:30 p.m. in the garden area near the gazebo.

“Quail Hollow Park has been a staple for northeast Ohio and a favorite for patrons to experience the outdoors, connect with nature, and enjoy its many recreation opportunities, including hiking, biking and horseback riding on the nature trails,” said Angela Palomba, community engagement manager for Stark Parks. “Its land has much to offer in natural history, and cultural and historical resources. We want to celebrate the many groups who were instrumental in the park’s growth and existence, such as the Quail Hollow Volunteer Association, which was formed in 1982, the State of Ohio and Stark Parks.”

Palomba also emphasized the importance of honoring the Stewart family.

“It’s also important to celebrate the Stewart family, who sold the property for half its value to the State of Ohio to use as a state park,” she said. “Plus, celebrating the anniversary is a good way to connect and celebrate the past with the present.”

Food and drink will be available for purchase throughout the day, including cold water, soft drinks, hot dogs, peanuts, cotton candy, and ice cream.

“Based on the interest that we receive, Quail Hollow is one of the most popular Stark Parks locations,” Palomba said. “Quail Hollow is a success story that has gone through many owners and has supported families for the past 200 years.”

No registration is required. Visitors are welcome to drop in for the festivities at Country Day at the Hollow: 50th Anniversary and help celebrate this longtime Hartville landmark.

For more information, visit the Quail Hollow Volunteer Association’s event page.

The history of Quail Hollow

Quail Hollow Park offers a glimpse into the lives of the earliest inhabitants of Ohio, Stark County and the Village of Hartville. Its preserved structures provide insight into the history of the Brumbaugh, Rubright and Stewart families.

Ongoing preservation efforts at Quail Hollow not only educate the public, but also foster respect for the legacy and hard work of those who helped shape Stark County. The park and its history are vital to the community’s identity and contribute to the region’s quality of life.

Partial Historic Timeline

1807–1842 – Conrad Brumbaugh and his family settle on the land that is now Quail Hollow and build a small, two-story cabin just east of the present-day Brumbaugh Cemetery.

1858 – Conrad Brumbaugh dies and is buried in the cemetery. His son Lewis and Lewis’ wife take over care of the property.

1901 – Harry Bartlett Stewart and his wife, Minnie, begin acquiring the property that becomes Quail Hollow. The estate was initially used as a hunting camp.

1931 – Harry Bartlett Stewart II and his wife, Catherine Seiberling, are given “The Little House” as a wedding gift. They live there until Harry Sr.’s death in 1938.

1975 – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources purchases the property, making Quail Hollow Stark County’s first state park. Harry Bartlett Stewart II (Bart) donates roughly half of the appraised value to facilitate the sale. As a condition, the Stewart family requires preservation of the Brumbaugh Cemetery and the creation of a wildlife sanctuary along Pontius Street.

1982 – The estate—including the Manor House, Caretaker’s House, Carriage House, Little House, and Cemetery—is added to the National Register of Historic Places.

2016 – Stark Parks signs a 30-year management agreement with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.