By Thomas S. Treer, Lyndhurst Historian, Brush '65

William M. (Billy) Emshoff is credited with giving the city of Lyndhurst its name. Born on May 19, 1910, in his parents' home at 5225 Mayfield Road, just to the left of the village hall, he attended classes at the “Little Red Schoolhouse” and graduated from Charles F. Brush High School in 1928.

His claim to fame comes from living in Euclidville, Ohio in 1920. As this area was part of Euclid Township and so many towns incorporated the name Euclid in them, the resulting confusion within the postal system at that time, was a nightmare.

Euclidville Council decided that a name change contest should be held for the local school children and operated by the town moms. A $5.00 prize and bragging rights were offered to the best entry.

Billy saw Lyndhurst, New Jersey on a map at school, thought it “was a pretty name”, and submitted it. He won and on June 8, 1920, the town council officially adopted the name of Lyndhurst, Ohio.

Legend has it that young Billy deposited that $5.00 into the bank, and saved it through the years to help buy his gas station, at the N.E. corner of Parkview and Mayfield roads, which he ran for decades.