Homegrown: The History of the Chagrin Falls Educational Foundation
The Chagrin Falls Educational Foundation’s roots can be traced back more than 150 years to an innovation born in a factory on the north end of Water Street: a butter mold.
Founded in 1842 by the first mayor of Chagrin Falls, Curtiss Bullard, C. Bullard & Sons (later known as J.M. Bullard Co. and Bullard and March) enjoyed robust demand for spinning wheels and wooden rolling pins, among other kitchen items.
In 1866, Curtiss and two of his sons, Orson and John, obtained a patent for a product that would change their businesses and their fortunes: a butter mold.
At that time, freshly churned butter was packed in wooden butter molds. After the butter cooled enough to hold its shape, it was removed from the mold and wrapped in waxed paper to be sold. Bullard molds had a plunger to push out butter after it became firm. In just over a decade, the company would lead the nation’s production, with 125,000 molds churned out annually at their factory along the south side of the Chagrin River.
Yet booming business couldn’t eclipse personal tragedy. Orson Bullard died suddenly, followed six years later by Curtiss Bullard. John Bullard and his wife, Lucy Chapman Bullard, endured the loss of two sons and a daughter, who each succumbed to childhood illnesses before the age of 9. The factory closed in 1895 due to waning demand. A flood washed away the vacant structure eight years later.
Yet John and Lucy’s love for each other – and their community – endured.
John was postmaster for the village, catalyzed the creation of the steam railroad serving Chagrin Falls, and served on city council and the school board, in addition to his roles as an investor and director in the railroad, local bank, and other businesses. Less is known about Lucy, who was said to knit 100 mittens each year for children in need and discreetly tuck a silver dollar into each pair.
John and Lucy were married for 61 years when John died in 1914.
Lucy died at age 86 in 1917 and was buried next to her husband and children in Evergreen Cemetery. Yet even in death, Lucy continued to give back to her beloved community. She bequeathed the stately family home on 64 West Washington Street to the Congregational Church – now the Federated Church of Chagrin Falls – for use as a parsonage. It remained part of the church for 60 years before being sold to a private family.
Then in 1988 – 71 years after Lucy’s death – Bullard family heirs used her trust to provide seed money to create the Chagrin Falls Educational Foundation. Our founding members made a commitment to invest and grow the original endowment, which enables the foundation to support innovative academic curriculum and experiences within the Chagrin Falls School District.
Our vision: To serve as a catalyst for future dreamers, disruptors, entrepreneurs, innovators, and change makers.
We believe Lucy and John Bullard would approve. The Chagrin Falls Educational Foundation is proud to uphold their legacy of philanthropy and innovation.