January 1971, the city plans for growth. North Royalton is quickly losing the look of a farming community. New businesses, new housing, new residents; all needed appropriate zoning, services and community amenities.
January 28 issue of the Recorder had a page two report of the grand opening of the new Dairy Dell on the corner of Royalwood and State Road. Dairy Dell specialized in fresh ice cream, dairy products and luncheon meats. Not to be out done, Lawson’s on Royalton Road improved their look and expanded their store space. Remember chipped chopped ham specials on weekends that had folks streaming in and out of the doors.
New development and new housing bring growing pains. A desperate plea for new schools is made to residents. The Royalton Road School and the high school, both built at the turn of the century, with very slow or zero growth in mind, cannot support the increased school population. The Royalton Road school building is no longer fit to allow school classes. Some residents, fond of the building, suggest volunteers to supply building materials, and elbow grease to refresh the building and funds to be raised by bake sales. The bond issue for building new schools was defeated by 500 votes.
To add to the misery, vandals do $1,000 worth of damage to the high school (about $8,000 today) ripping apart the principal’s office, destroying files, ruining IBM Selectric typewriters, and trashing the library.
April 22 declares Royalton Road School officially closed to classes.
Carrie Cerino’s on Ridge Road remodels with a Roman flair and expanded accommodations.
In May the School Board announces scheduling for the 1971-72 school year. Grades 10 – 12 would attend school from 7 a.m. to noon, and grades 7 – 9 would attend from 1 to 6 p.m. Valley Vista would house grades K through 2; Royal View would have grades 3, 4, and five classes of grade 5;
Albion would host the remaining classes of grade 5 and grade 6.
In August, Gene’s Royalton Hardware offered a close-out on ladies nylon stockings for 48 cents a pair. Why offer stockings at a hardware store is anyone’s guess. Legg’s panty hose had come into availability, no more garters! An Aladdin thermos and lunch box set could be purchased for $2.44. In good condition, those old lunch boxes can now sell for as much as $300 today; maybe more.
A brand new Cuyahoga Valley Joint Vocational School opened in Brecksville serving eight school systems. Today, it is known as Cuyahoga Valley Career Center serving high schools and adult education.
The Ohio State Board of Education decreed NR high school to be below state standards. Pleading from North Royalton business community, Board of Education, parents and students the school levy failed again in November
Mayor Harry Loder reported indications were favorable for temporary repairs to Rte. 82 to keep from deteriorating further. Repairs would include widening the road from 20 to 24 feet from I 71 to York Road, and general resurfacing from I 71 to Broadview Road. It was hoped the work would be done in 1972, the city’s cost would be $40,000; after which the city could apply for state and federal funds for a whole new road through the city. That project would take several years to complete, but would have a positive impact on the city.
Cuyahoga Valley Joint Vocational School sought qualified teachers for 20 school-to-work specialties, including: Aircraft Mechanics, Appliance Repair, Commercial Art, Commercial Foods, Electronics, Electrician, Drafting, Metal Fabrication, Welding, Truck Mechanics, and HVAC.
In February readers were asked to make suggestions as to the repurposing of the Royalton Road School. Suggestions included: using it for grades K – 1, since the kids are smaller and lighter; repair it and use it as a dance hall and recreational spot; teen and adult center for those without jobs, home or support, no questions asked, funded by the community; continue using it as a school.
The 88th annual homecoming offered skydiving demonstrations and helicopter rides. The homecoming was the July 1 – 4 weekend; the grand parade was held on July 4. The day culminated by a fireworks show.
Carrie Cerino’s Ristorante began accepting BankAmerica and Master Card.
Plan for North Royalton High School is proposed: modular in design, it was reduced in size from the proposed 1500 students to 1100 student capacity. The cost was anticipated at $3.8 million. Mayor Loder explained that the population was expected to grow to 18,000 by 1975 and to double by 1990. The special election for the bond issue failed again, 57% of voters said no.
President and Mrs. Nixon made a campaign stop in North Royalton on October, 28. Hundreds of people came from all over Northeast Ohio to see the president; a few got to shake his hand.
Recorder Reconnaissance listed 94 servicemen from North Royalton. Christmas packages for overseas should be mailed by the second week in November.
Royalton Recorder reminds everyone to shop the many fine stores and establishments for all your holiday needs.
January 10, 1973, issue of the Royalton Recorder had many residents, including high school seniors, writing letters to the editor refuting a previous letter that suggested that the school teachers and their spouses were being greedy and taking all the part time jobs in the city.
Convenient Food Mart was offering bologna at 49 cents a pound.
Also in January, Murray Hill Construction Company and the City of North Royalton reached an out-of-court settlement of $1,275,000. The construction company sued the city for money they lost on a 1963-1966, sewer line contract. The city failed to obtain easements and right-of-way from property owners, and created other costly problems. The city raised the money by selling bonds. The city treasury, Federal Revenue Sharing monies, and increasing taxes would help with the burden.
The February State of the School System announced another vote for $4.9 million bond issue for high school construction, and another emergency operating levy would be on the May 8 ballot. Only grades 6-8 at Albion would be attending in split shifts; 7:15 to 11:45 a.m., or 12:45 to 5:15 pm, providing the bare minimum state required hours of instruction.
In March, the North Royalton Christian Church reluctantly accepted the resignation of Rev. Clifford Shuman, who served the North Royalton Christian Church since 1937. In addition to his duties as Pastor of his church, he did landscaping, established the first Cub Scout pack and Boy Scout troop in North Royalton. He worked with the Girl Scouts, too. During WWII he served as a military chaplain at Fort Dix, in North Africa, and Italy. Rev. Shuman was described as a gentleman, counselor, scholar, husband, father, pastor and friend in Christ.
Superb supermarket, Rego’s Stop ‘N Shop, opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. on May 1. The store was light and airy with nine check-outs. The store had the freshest produce, best meats, and its very own Hough Bakery.
On May 2, full page ads were on display in the Royalton Recorder urging the passing of the school operating levy, and bond issue for a new high school. The school board and local businesses urged the passage of the measures needed to keep property values high, improve and attract new business. The May 23 issue reported that the emergency operating levy passed with 51% of the vote; however, the bond issue for the high school failed by 56% of the vote; despite all the information and explanation presented. Water and Sewer issues also went down to defeat.
In August, Lt. Commander Roger (Weed) Flower was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for expertly leading air strikes against North Viet Nam in July of 1972. Lt. Commander Flower, a 1957 graduate of E. E. Root, and 1961 B.W. grad lived in Newport R.I.
August 22 issue informed readers that Frank Duguid, school district business manager, stated that, “Thirty five Thousand dollars has been spent for the necessary labor, materials, and equipment replacement.” All schools underwent extensive cleaning and painting. Albion needed the most to accommodate the split shift middle school grades. “The properties are in better shape than they have been in years,” he said.
Once again the November ballot sent the water and sewer issues down to defeat. Once again the $4.9 million bond issue for a new high school was defeated. The voters did allow a 2.8 mil school operating levy.
Rego’s Stop N Shop was offering Christmas holiday Butterball turkeys: 18 to 24 lb., $0.79, and 11 to 13 lb., $0.89.

By LINDA KWARCIANY
Contributing Writer