The Folger Home was built in 1902 as a summer home for the Thomas Folger family and today offers a unique historic setting for any type of meeting for up to 50 people. Thomas Folger was born in Wadsworth, Medina County, Ohio, February 14, 1842. He moved to Lorain COunty with his family in 1875, and settled in Section 18 of Avon Township. He was a soldier in the Civil War, serving in Company H, of
the 29th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which saw action at Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, and Peters Mountain. His father, Henry Folger, owned the Avon Township Property which Thomas inherited when Henry died in 1885. Thomas began a vineyard operation on 150 acres at Avon Point in 1878. Thomas was head of the regional grape growers association in the ensuing years. The family (Thomas, wife Della, and daughters Anna, Ida, Josephine and Jean) moved to Elyria, Ohio, in 1889 so that the daughters could get a better education that what was available at the time in Avon Township. Thomas was involved in Elyria city government and served as a councilman and as mayor. He was running for his second term as Mayor of Elyria when he died in October 1909 at the summer home. The famliy retained ownership of the home, utilizing it as a summer home for Della and the families of Anna, Josephine, and Jean, the Bramans, Cushings, and Pettibones, until 1922 when the home was sold to another individual. A subsequent owner, Harold G. Barker, conveyed the property to the Village of Avon Lake in March of 1926. The building then became Old Village Hall, and served the Village and City of Avon Lake as offices, municipal court, and the caretaker's apartment. It was last used by the City as Mayor Urbin's office. In 2002 the property was leased to the Avon Lake Landmark Preservation Society, which is actively engaged in restoring the home to its original beauty.
