Stan Hywet

Stan Hywet, is old English for stone quarry.  Stan Hywet is also the name of the estate that once belonged to Franklin (“F.A.”) Seiberling here in Akron, Ohio.  Seiberling and his brother, Charles (“C.W.”) Seiberling, were co-founders of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company started out in an abandoned strawberry processing factory on the banks of the Little Cuyahoga River in 1898.  Initially, the company produced bicycle tires, carriage tires, horseshoe pad, and poker chips.  By 1916, helped along by the expanding automobile industry, Goodyear was the largest tire company in the world.

The groundbreaking for Stan Hywet Manor took place in 1912.  This undertaking was so enormous, a railway spur was extended to the property for delivery of construction materials.  The house totals 64,500 square feet and contains 65 rooms.  The Seiberling family took up residence in the house in late 1915 and resided there until 1955 (the year F.A. Seiberling died).

The family donated the entire estate to a non-profit in 1957.  They wanted everyone to enjoy the manor and gardens as they had.

That girl and I took a couple hours to visit Stan Hywet yesterday morning.  There is no way to share the experience with just a few photographs.  I have posted a few that might offer a “feel” of the place.

I suggest you drop in for a visit if you are ever in Akron.

--Mitchell Hegman