In 1822, a man named Ralph Russell and his family converted to the Shaker faith. He soon donated more than 1,000 acres of land to establish a Shaker settlement in an area east of Cleveland known as Shaker Heights.
The term “Shaker” is a nickname for the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, a religion founded in England in the 1700s. Convert Ann Lee (1736-1784) became the leader and brought a group of believers from England to America in 1774. They settled at Niskayuna, renamed Watervliet, about 8 miles northwest of Albany, New York. The Shakers occupied the colony at North Union or Shaker Heights from 1822-1889.
In late 1830, Oliver Cowdery and the missionaries to the Lamanites stayed there for several nights on their way to Missouri and Kansas. Sidney Rigdon, Parley P. Pratt and Leman Copley visited the site in the spring of 1831.
While there, they read the text of the revelation to Joseph Smith that is now section 49 of the Doctrine and Covenants. This section addresses several theological points that are key Shaker doctrines. The message was formally rejected by Ashbel Kitchell, the Shaker leader.
Following the departure of the Shakers, a school and town hall occupied the site. There was once a large gristmill that was eventually blown up for the stone. There is one active Shaker site and several Shaker villages in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and elsewhere that have been preserved for historical purposes.
Presently, the lot in North Union is vacant with only a gate and an interpretive tablet noting its historical significance. Just around the corner from the lot is the Shaker Historical Society Museum and Library.