The June 16, 1916, housewarming party for Stan Hywet was no simple fete. Having moved into the estate in December 1915, members of the Seiberling family — their fortunes bolstered by the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. — hosted a Shakespearean ball for 200, complete with costumes for all (including Elizabethan garb for staff members, pictured here) from a New York theatrical firm. Gertrude Seiberling went as Queen Elizabeth and F.A. Seiberling dressed as Mark Antony, setting the tone for an all-night affair that concluded with breakfast the following morning. Today, the Ohio Shakespeare Festival brings the English bard’s spirit back to the 70-acre Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens with outdoor performances. On select nights this year, see “The Tempest” July 3 to 20 and experience “King Lear” July 31 to Aug. 17. On July 11 and Aug. 15, enjoy a dinner in Stan Hywet’s gardens preceding the show — and experience a modern-day Seiberling feast.
Photo provided by Summit Memory Society/Akron-Summit County Public Library and Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens
