We see a thick forest where elk, panther, mountain lion, and bear
roam freely. Small bands of Indians camp nearby.
Mr. Heman Ely has come here on horseback from his home in Massachusetts. He
builds a house near the Black River.
Soon Mr. Ely and his friends build a sawmill near one of the nearby waterfalls.
They use the lumber to build more houses. They call their settlement "Elyria".
As the village grows the settlers build bridges, stores, and factories. By
the time Mr. Ely dies in 1852, Elyria has 5 churches, 3 grocery stores, 3 flour mills,
a newspaper, and more than 1,500 people!
