Akron-Summit County Public Library, Tallmadge Branch

On November 20, 1944, the Congregational Church of Tallmadge was featured on the cover of Life magazine. Chosen for the Thanksgiving edition, the “beautiful white church on the cover symbolizes the devout spirit of the New England Puritans who celebrated their first Thanksgiving on December 13, 1621.” (Life Magazine, November 20, 1944)

The now named Historical Church of Tallmadge, which is one hundred feet tall, including the weathervane, and has more than 1,100 individual panes of glass was photographed for Life magazine by Bernard Hoffman. Hoffman worked with Life magazine as a photographic journalist for eighteen years. He is most known as the first American photographer on the ground at Hiroshima and Nagasaki after the atomic bomb was dropped in 1925, providing some harrowing glimpses into the destructive power of the bomb.

A copy of this magazine was donated to the Tallmadge Branch Library by patron Jerry Wasson.  It has been framed and can be found hanging in the foyer of the library for all to enjoy.