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Volume 57, No. 24
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Chesterland CHESTERLAND News N EWS Wednesday, May 6, 2026
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Chester Township Trustee Craig Richter talks about the new township flag April 23. Also pictured are, from left, Dale Fellows, Trustee Ken Radtke and B.J. Kresnye. EMMA MACNIVEN/KMG
Community Honors Chester’s 225-Year History By Emma MacNiven macniven@karlovecmedia.com More than 100 residents gathered April 23 at Geauga West Library to celebrate Chester Township’s 225th anniversary. “This celebration is part of our ongoing work to bring Chesterland's past to life,” said Diana Kresnye, member of the Chester Grave Hunters group. The event featured appearances by Chester’s founder Justice Miner and Gen. George Washington, portrayed by reenactors B.J. Kresnye and Dale Fellows. Miner, a private during the American Revolution, settled in Chester in 1801 and built a cabin at the corner of Heath and Mayfield roads, Diana said. He later became one of the township’s first trustees in 1816, Fellows added. Miner is buried at Old Settlement Cemetery alongside his wife, Mabel Plumb Miner, and their five children, Diana said. The celebration is part of broader efforts tied to the township's 225th anniversary and upcoming America 250 events, aimed at increasing awareness of Chester’s early history, she said.
“This initiative is something that we have created to support our America 250 events and our Chesterland 225 events because we believe that everyone in Chesterland should know (Justice’s) name,” Diana said. The event also honored retired pastor and Vietnam veteran George Zehnder, who received the first Patriot Preservation Award for his work restoring deteriorating headstones across the township. Zehnder founded the Chester Grave Hunters, a group dedicated to preserving cemeteries and the stories of those buried there. “George saw the weathered gray stones and he knew he had a belief that these stories matter,” Diana said. “(His) was the idea (that) sparked the Patriot Trail. He wanted to put a spotlight on the lives of those who helped shape our nation's earliest chapter.” Following the award, Grave Hunters member Jen Fry announced a new Patriot Trail, a self-guided walking route honoring
EMMA MACNIVEN/KMG
Chester Township resident B.J. Kresnye portrays township founder Justice Miner during Chester’s 225th Anniversary celebration April 23.
11 Revolutionary War soldiers buried in the township, inspired by Zehnder’s efforts. “These are the men and women whose courage, sacrifice and resilience helped shape the earliest chapter of our nation's story,” Fry said.
The signs will display a QR code that residents can scan with their smartphone to learn more about each patriot, she said. “The Patriot Trail is our way of ensuring that their names and stories are not lost,” Fry said. “It connects our community to its earliest See History • Page 9
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