SCAR Celebrates its 100th Year!

2009 is an exciting year for the Stark County Association of REALTORS® as the organization is celebrating 100 years of service,
not only to its members but the members of the public.

As a way to recognize the association’s accomplishments and those who made our history possible, through the course of 2009,
a glimpse into the history of the Stark County Association of REALTORS® will be published.

- Organization & Early History -

By 1909, three energetic men known in Canton business circles as Charlie Dougherty, Tom Harris and Mark Hambleton, among others,
were active in the real estate business. In that year they created the first organization know as the "Canton Real Estate Board.

Charles Dougherty was the first president, Thomas K. Harris was the first secretary and Mark Hambleton was the first treasurer.
The Canton City Directory for 1909-1910 listed the office at 200 Market Ave. S., location of the Alexander-Harris Real Estate and
Insurance Office.

In 1914, the Canton Chamber of Commerce was organized to take the place of the Board of Trade and the Business Men’s
Association. Through Louis Deuble, chamber secretary, the Canton Real Estate Board was reorganized as a subsidiary of the
Chamber of Commerce. A director of the chamber was to be president, in reality an honorary president, while the vice-president
from the real estate board membership was the active executive officer who appointed the committees and presided at
most of the meetings. This arrangement lasted for only three years, 1914 - 1916.

The Board office was at the Chamber of Commerce, 312 Market St. N. An outing and picnic was held at Congress Lake Club in the
Fall of 1914, with guests from the Akron and Cleveland Real Estate Boards to arouse enthusiasm.

At a meeting on October 7, 1914, a constitution and bylaws were adopted. At least 12 meetings were held and the membership
reached 39 by the end of the year.

For 1915, Harry Renkert, director of the Chamber of Commerce, was named president, and Alvin T. Dennis was executive
vice-president. Until this time, the board had been only a local organization, but in December 1915, applications were made for
membership in the Ohio Association of Real Estate and in the National Association.

In 1916, had about 60 members, composed of office owners and salesmen, all known as "Real Estate Men."

Use of the coined and copyrighted word "REALTOR®" was brought out by the national association in 1918. On account of the war,
building was at a standstill, but some allotments were laid out and sold. Easy terms of $5 - $50 down, with small monthly
payments on a land contract were common.

In 1920, commission rates were increased from 3 percent to 4 percent on sales up to $10,000, with 2 1/2 percent on all above that
amount. Also that year, Canton was picked as the place for the year’s state convention, which was held at the City Auditorium in October.

The following year, the board office moved to the Canton Bank Building at 215 Market Ave. Additionally, during an October meeting,
the board went on record as being opposed to the showing or sale of real estate on Sunday.

In March 1923, the Multiple Listing System was approved, after several months of discussion. The MLS remained a valued asset to the
board until business was halted by the Great Depression in 1931.

- The Great Depression and Real Estate -

By the end of 1930, board membership consisted of 35 members. The board office had to be closed due to lack of sales and board
expenses were curtailed. A $1,000 bank loan was made to pay overdue bills.

In 1931, the Great Depression was producing some dire results. Unemployment, bankruptcy, foreclosures, delinquent taxes - all a
vicious spiral as down went everything. Sound familiar?

That year, the county auditor employed what was left of the board members to help make the county wide reappraisal. Since there
was no available financing, not many sales could be made. A good trader could make occasional deals.

The board’s office equipment and records were stored in the Renkert Building for the next 10 years. The board membership reached a
low of 15 members in 1933.

By the fall of that year, the Home Owners’ Loan Corp. (HOLC) was in operation to save homeowners from foreclosures or to help
recover homes already lost. Local REALTORS® were employed to make appraisals. Thus, thousands of families were able to refinance
at 4 percent, with future easy monthly payments. These houses were required to be put in good repair, which gave work to the
building trades and materials dealers.

National Recovery Administration and Work Projects Administration provided employment to thousands, and provided income
and purchasing power to these families.

Authorities ignored the law on foreclosure of properties when taxes were delinquent, and the Ohio legislature came to the rescue
with the Wittemore Act. This act allowed all delinquent taxes and assessments to be paid out in 10 equal semi-annual installments.

Also during 1933, some farsighted REALTORS® urged the founding of the Federal Housing Administration, for the insurance of
mortgage loans by the federal government and for the general improvement of allotment and housing standards.

The board was able to survive on a small budget since it had no office. State and national association dues were the largest
items of expense. The only board employee was secretary Ellwyn C. Roberts, who was paid $15 a month. He served from 1934-1939.

Recovery was slow. The financial institution in Canton were the unwilling owners of around 4,000 properties. By 1937, many of these
homes had been repaired and put on the market to be sold at 10 percent down.

There had been very few homes built since 1929 and the board authorized past presidents Chester A. Stern (1933-1934) and Ralph S.
Cook (1937) to put on a home show in the City Auditorium. Held in 1938, the entire show space was sold out to builders, architects
and building supply dealers. It was well attended and stimulated considerable interest in home building.

 

If you have any old photos or stories you want to share about the history of the Stark County Association of REALTORS®,
please e-mail Stefanie at seasterling@starkrealtors.com or call her at 330-494-5630, ext. 203. Submissions will be published
in the newsletter and online. We want to hear from you, our members!

 

Source: "History of Canton Real Estate Board" by Clyde H. Corbett