If you will be visiting our area in the near future, you may find the following information helpful.

    Located on Interstate I-77, sixty miles southeast of Cleveland, Canton Ohio is the county seat of Stark County. It has a population of 64,161. Canton was settled in 1805. Iron and steel, refined petroleum, electrical equipment, engines, processed food, metal items, and ceramics, among other items, are all manufactured here. Malone College (1892), Walsh College, Kent State Stark Branch, Stark Technical Institute and the Professional Football Hall of Fame are all located in Canton.

       The Canton Masonic Temple is located just 8 blocks north of the Square on Market Avenue North and can easily be found should the visitor be on I-77, which runs north and south or on Rt. 30 which runs east and west. The two accompanying maps give the exact location.

    The 25^th President of the United States, William McKinley lived in Canton and is buried here. The McKinley National Memorial located in the vast City Park System is 10 minutes west of the downtown Canton.

    Just north of and minutes away from the McKinley Memorial stands the Pro Football Hall of  Fame, a modern 19,000 square-foot structure that was opened September 7, 1963 and encompasses a huge collection of memorabilia from football's humble beginnings to present day Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinees.

Click here to visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame web site

    Located a few miles south of the crest separating the Lake Erie and Muskingum River drainage areas, precipitation drains through the Muskingum River into the Ohio while northward of the crest the Cuyahoga and other streams flow into Lake Erie. The terrain is rolling with the highest elevations near 1300 feet above sea level. The many small lakes provide water for local industry as well as recreational facilities for the densely populated region.

    Lake Erie has considerable influence on the area weather, tempering cold air masses during the late fall and winter, as well as contributing to the causing of brief, but heavy snow squalls until the lake freezes over.

    The arrival of spring is late in this area, but has the good effect of retarding plant growth and allowing growing of normally frost-susceptible fruits. Summers are moderately warm, and can be quite humid, while the months of September, October and November are usually pleasant although with considerable morning fog.

    In past years, growing seasons for most vegetation has varied form 120 to 211 days. Due to the hilly terrain, however, temperatures and frost occurrences vary greatly over the area. Situated in a natural valley running southwest to northeast, the area is protected from the harsh winter storms and heavy snowfall that occurs closer to Lake Erie.

    Fall is a most delightful time of the year in this area. The rolling hills and vast forested landscapes displays a brilliant panorama of red, gold, and amber colors blended with the rich green pine foliage. Ideal temperatures prevail ranging from 70° during midday to a cool, comfortable 50° overnight.