Poland Village officially incorporated in August 1866, a year after the end of the Civil War, and in April 1867 its citizens elected John Leslie as mayor. By 1880, the population exceeded 400. Over its history, the village included a four-acre village green, churches, schools, hotels, a sawmill, gristmill, post office, tannery, and foundry, as well as carriage, tin, and cabinet shops; drug, dry goods, and hardware stores; and doctors, blacksmiths, and shoemakers. Residents swam in and skated on Yellow Creek. The Poland Municipal Forest was established in 1938 and later annexed as the village continued to grow. In 1966, residents held a three day Centennial Celebration featuring an address by Governor James Rhodes; that year also saw the publication of a history of Poland and the restoration of Centennial Gardens. In the center of the village stands the stately 1845 Greek Revival town hall, originally a private residence owned by William Little. The Stoddard family later owned the property and operated a tannery along Yellow Creek, and until 1920 a grist mill occupied a corner of the property. In 1923, Judge James B. Kennedy bought the eleven-acre estate from Grace Wilkerson and added to and modernized the house. In 1934, Kennedy sold portions of the property to the Poland Board of Education for Baird Mitchell Stadium and another parcel to the American Legion. The Poland Forest Foundation spearheaded the purchase of the house for use as town hall, dedicated on September 30, 1962, and in addition to village offices it included a jail cell and library.