A 1911 colonial is a highlight of Akron home tour benefiting LGBTQ+ causes

Emily and Jeremiah Harding felt a sense of urgency in their 2025 hunt for a new home for their family. They had their sights set on finding a space in Akron to be near Adolph Optical in Highland Square, where Emily is the third-generation owner. Adding to the pressure, they wanted to be settled into their new home before the start of the school year, when one of their four children started high school. The Hardings weren’t sure what they would find when they visited a 5-bedroom, 4-bathroom brick colonial on Merriman Road. Built in 1911, the house had already been on the market for nearly a year. But once Emily walked in, she felt a sense of certainty. She turned to Jeremiah and said one cryptic word: umbrella. “That was our code word that meant that the home was going to protect us,” said Emily. Jeremiah wasn’t as immediately sure, but when Emily turned on the faucet in a first floor bathroom and the water flowed into the white porcelain integral spout sink, something affected him.

This excerpt comes from the named source. Read the original for the full reporting.