In the mid-1800s, the biggest city in this area other than Youngstown was not Sharon, certainly not Hermitage, nor was it even Warren.

It was Brookfield.

According to Joe Tarkanic the unofficial local Brookfield historian, and his book, "The Brookfield that Was," Brookfield had a greater population than Sharon, Hubbard, and Warren, and had half the population of Youngstown.

In 1797, Samuel C. Hinckley bought the township for less than $1 an acre. Whenever Hinckley visited the area, he didn't have a place to stay, so he built the Hinckley Hotel. The building is still on the township green, but now houses Madasz Funeral Home.

During the time when people were moving west and establishing the Western Reserve, the township's governing body created an office called overseer of the poor.

"One would believe the overseer of the poor would take care of those in need, but it was to the contrary," Tarkanic said.

As a family would come through the area or relocate, the overseer of the poor would check the family to see if they were good citizens or hard workers. If the overseer approved of them, they were accepted.

If the overseer felt the family would be a burden, they were sent on, after they were given provisions such as candles and food.

"It was an unusual situation," Tarkanic said.

During the Civil War, the Obermiyer Building, then known as McIntosh General Store, also on the township green, was a stop on the underground railway for escaping slaves. Because it was such a frequent stop, it was hard to keep it a secret, so many slaves were returned to their owners.

After the Civil War, Brookfield's population began to dwindle. Around the turn of the century, coal mining and agriculture were the main livelihoods of residents, Tarkanic said.

During that time period, the section of Brookfield now known as Masury was being established, thanks to the help of Frederick and Olive Masury. Masury invented a new, safe explosive, which led to the establishment of the Masurite Explosive Co.

One morning in 1898, Masury and his wife discussed over breakfast where to locate the factory that would produce the new explosives. Mrs. Masury suggested they move from their eastern New York state home to a section of northeast Ohio she once visited as a young girl. By 1903, Masury's plant was ready for production.

As people moved into the area to work at the plant, housing grew sparse, so Masury built 16 company houses for his employees. Eventually, the community came to be named for Masury even though he was not the founder.

In 1915 Masury sold the plant to the Standard Tank Car Co. and moved to California.

Tarkanic said Brookfield's most colorful time was in the 1930s during prohibition.

"Masury was a wide-open area in which there was a free flow of liquor, prostitution and gambling, but the local authorities paid no attention to it," Tarkanic said. "It became known as 'Little Canada.' Because of the situation it attracted many gangsters and lawbreakers from the entire United States.

Some of the personalities who swarmed into Brookfield and Masury at this time were John Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd, and Ma Barker and her sons.

Tarkanic said Brookfield was one of the main stops between New York and Chicago for musical bands as people rushed to the Yankee Lake Ballroom in the 1930s. Dancing was permitted every night except Sunday.

One evening, the ballroom booked popular singer Rudy Vallee, whose clothing and car were ripped apart by overzealous fans.