The Henry Church Rock In The Cleveland Metroparks Is Something Of A Local Mystery
By Nikki Rhoades|Published May 05, 2021
×
Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
The Cleveland Metroparks are a source of pride for locals… and rightfully so. This massive complex of parks and reservations is known locally as “The Emerald Necklace” for an abundance of greenery that encircles Greater Cleveland like a string of jewels. While the park district itself is a gem, it’s also full of hidden gems. Over in South Chagrin Reservation, the Cleveland Metroparks’ Henry Church Rock is a landmark like no other. It has surprised hikers for more than 135 years, but its true meaning is lost to time. Want to visit it? It’s easy to access and offers lovely views of the local river, but knowing its story is just as impactful as seeing its majesty in person. Are you ready to get to know a local eccentric with big dreams? Let’s dive into the Greater Cleveland that Henry Church, Jr. once knew and loved.
Tucked away in the Cleveland Metroparks' South Chagrin Reservation is a rock with a story to tell.
The Henry Church Rock honors a local man who lived from 1836 to 1908. He was a blacksmith by trade but an artist at heart, and though he never gained fame during his lifetime, his works enchant art lovers to this day.
The entirety of the park is filled with history, from the streams and river to on-site structures like Look About Lodge.
Underrated and often overshadowed by North Chagrin Reservation (where Squire's Castle is located), many locals have yet to visit South Chagrin Reservation. However, it's definitely an interesting park. Look About Lodge was built in the 1930s with more than 300 chestnut logs, and the nearby Burnett Historical House is nearly a century older. There's much to see and do in South Chagrin Reservation!
Advertisement
Of course, the Henry Church, Jr., Rock is the most mysterious of the park's features.
While the architecture of the park's historic buildings is enchanting, nothing is quite as intriguing as a hand-carved rock in the middle of the woods next to a mighty river. Sounds like the plot of a movie, right? It's actually real life. Henry Church was a self-taught artist, and his carving is enchanting to this day.
Advertisement
Henry Church was actually an artist of regional fame, and he carved the rock in 1885 toward the end of his career.
Many consider his work to be quite excellent, even demonstrating a mastery of skills despite being a self-taught artist. Others find his art to be a bit strange, but such perception would be rather on-brand for Henry Church. He was an eccentric artist and musician, and he was perhaps the most interesting person to ever call this area home.
Henry Church was an artist, through and through. The Chagrin Falls Historical Society & Museum published a piece on him, highlighting that he would walk two miles from his home and blacksmith shop at S. Franklin Street and E. Washington Street to the rock he was carving alongside the Chagrin River.
To some, the rock he carved (nicknamed Squaw Rock colloquially) is a memorial to the mistreatment of indigenous tribes. Others believe it is a symbol of the progression of life in the U.S.
The true meaning of the Henry Church Rock, however, is unknown. And, sadly, Church never made enough from his artistic endeavors to support himself... after all, his sandstone carving is masterful and the iconic man himself had the spirit of an artist. He even pre-recorded his own sermon so that he could preach at his funeral!
To this day, details like an eagle, a papoose, and a woman can still be seen on this historic outdoor art installation.
Want to learn more about this excellent local artist? A book on his life was published in the 1980s, and it's available online. It points out that he thrived during the Victorian era of realism, where paintings and art often showed scenes of real life. Church embraced the unusual and showed his flair for the dramatic in his art, often emphasizing Spiritualism and other topics that resonated with him.
While you may visit the rock during daylight hours, Church himself often carved it during the evening and night.
While this fact only adds to the mystery of the area's carvings, it wasn't so mysterious in actuality. Church simply had a day job as a blacksmith, and the evening was the only opportunity he had to steal away. Perhaps more interesting is that the images on the river-facing side of the rock (like the Capitol building pictured here) are often overlooked by visitors transfixed by the more elaborate carving on the rock's front side. The carvings on the backside were left unfinished, and they now remain as a reminder of this unusual local artist.
Advertisement
While the rock is doubtlessly a highlight of this gorgeous park, the landscape has much to offer to visitors, as well. Be sure to budget some time for local exploration!
You can find the rock near Hawthorn Pkwy, Bentleyville, OH 44022. Also worth visiting in the area are Double Decker Falls, Zen Falls, and Majesty Falls. Bring a GPS or a map app and have some fun in the park... you never know amazing things await in the Cleveland Metroparks.
There’s something magical about the Cleveland Metroparks’ Henry Church Rock, don’t you think? It, without a single doubt, tells a story to this very day. While the meaning of the art may be lost, the life and dreams of a local artist are preserved in every fine detail of this magnificent stone. Have you ever visited this local landmark? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Want to see more folk art in the Cleveland Metroparks? Head over to Worden’s Ledges in Hinckley for more sandstone carvings.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
