Sat, Aug 08
|South Newbury Union Chapel
Union Chapel Tour & Bat Watch
Join us for a tour of the 1858 “Free Speech Chapel” with historian Dr. Bari Oyler Stith, and tour the property to learn about the Centennial Oak that received an Ohio Historical Marker, and watch for the endangered Little Brown Bats emerging from nearby roosting structures.
Registration opens Jul 24, 2026, 8:00 AM
Time & Location
Aug 08, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
South Newbury Union Chapel, 15829 Ravenna Rd, Burton, OH 44021, USA
About the event
Historian and Chapel Trustee Bari Oyler Stith, Ph.D. hosts a look inside this landmark on the National Register of Historic Places and explains the unique creation, status, and stories of the “Free Speech Chapel” built in 1858. In the 19th and 20th centuries James Garfield, Susan B. Anthony, and Louisa May Alcott are among those whose spoke at the Union Chapel, influencing social reforms that shaped our nation well beyond its walls. We'll learn about about the Centennial Oak which is receiving an Ohio Historical Marker this summer, and at dusk, we’ll watch for the endangered Little Brown Bats emerging from roosting structures on the surrounding Geauga Park District property. Despite white-nose syndrome’s decimation of bat populations, we will likely see bats leaving the “bat condos” to begin their evening food foraging.
DETAILS:
There is limited parking at the Chapel - please carpool if possible.
Dress for the weather.
Ticks are active this time of year - to help protect yourself you may want to wear light colored clothing, long pants, and closed-toe shoes.
No pets this time.
Limited to 30 people.
If you find you have RSVP'd and CANNOT attend, please e-mail admin@foundationforgeaugaparks.org so that someone on the wait list may take your place.
-->Learn more about the S. Newbury Union Chapel