Flora Russell McClymonds (1848–1912) Annie Russell McClymonds (1852–1925)

Follow the purple arrows on the signs as you walk

This building, known since the 1940s as the Library Apartments, was built in the 1860s for Nahum and Esther Russell.  He was the first president of Massillon’s industrial giant, The Russell & Co.  Their daughters—Flora Russell McClymonds and Annie Russell McClymonds—sisters who married brothers, grew up here and in 1897, after the death of both of their parents, donated their family home to become Massillon’s first public library.  With their husbands, J. Walter McClymonds and Louis McClymonds, they also established a significant library endowment, which continues to help purchase books for Massillon Public Library, even though the Library moved in 1937 to its current downtown location.

Flora, one of those two sisters, and Walter McClymonds built their Five Oaks home next door—the stone mansion we just discussed.

This building, known since the 1940s as the Library Apartments, was built in the 1860s for Nahum and Esther Russell.  He was the first president of Massillon’s industrial giant, The Russell & Co.  Their daughters—Flora Russell McClymonds and Annie Russell McClymonds—sisters who married brothers, grew up here and in 1897, after the death of both of their parents, donated their family home to become Massillon’s first public library.  With their husbands, J. Walter McClymonds and Louis McClymonds, they also established a significant library endowment, which continues to help purchase books for Massillon Public Library, even though the Library moved in 1937 to its current downtown location.

Flora, one of those two sisters, and Walter McClymonds built their Five Oaks home next door—the stone mansion we just discussed.

Directions: Continue one block south—the same direction you’ve been walking—to Federal Avenue.  Before the little Baptist church, turn west (toward downtown) on Federal Avenue.  Walk down the hill just past the light stone Presbyterian Church on your left to see the Shearer’s parking lot on your right.  While it’s not picturesque, it’s the site of probably the most notorious women who ever lived in Massillon.