Ohio History Journal

HISTORICAL NEWS

 

Historical Organizations

 

ANTHONY WAYNE PARKWAY BOARD, Columbus

J. Richard Lawwill, Director

In the past few months the Anthony Wayne Parkway Board has partic

ipated in the dedication of several markers in the parkway district. On June

21 a marker sponsored by the local businessmen's association and the Amer

ican Legion post was dedicated at Fort Loramie, Shelby County. It describe

the Miami and Erie Canal and the Greene Ville Treaty line, which cross at

that point. J. Oliver Amos, chairman, and Richard C. Knopf, historian on

the board, took part in the ceremony. A marker at Fort St. Clair honoring

the medical men who served in the Indian Wars was dedicated on July 4 in

cooperation with the Ohio Medical Association and the Ohio State Archae

ological and Historical Society. Miles S. Kuhns, a member of the board, was

one of the speakers on that occasion. The site of Fort Brown in Paulding

County was marked by a handsome stone monument through the cooperation

of the Ohio Monument Builders Association, the Paulding County Sesqui-

centennial Commission, and the board. Ralph W. Peters, former chairman

of the board, served as the representative of the board in the dedicatory cere

mony on August 16.

Michael V. DiSalle has recently been appointed by Governor Lausche to a

full term on the board. He had been serving on the board for the unexpired

term of Dr. Reuben Hilty. The new term ends May 1, 1959.

 

CLARK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Springfield

B. H. Pershing, President

The society sponsored a historical exhibit at the Clark County Fair, August

19-22, which was visited by between nine and ten thousand persons. An

eight-page printed pamphlet describing the work of the society was distrib-

uted to the visitors.

 

CRESTLINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Crestline

Ernest G. Hesser, President

The restoration of the old Hoffman residence, given to the society a few

months ago by John Q. Shunk for a museum, is going forward under the

leadership of the museum house committee composed of C. A. Stephan,

J. L. Morrow, and A. T. Bauer. It is hoped that the museum will be able to

398

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Historical News                        399

 

move into its new home sometime this fall. The museum will be known as

the Crestline-Shunk Museum of Crawford County.

 

DEFIANCE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Defiance

Ralph W. Peters, Temporary President

An organizational meeting for the formation of a county historical society,

which was sponsored by the Defiance County Sesquicentennial Committee,

was held on July 27. A constitution was adopted and temporary officers were

elected. The constitution lists six objectives for the new society, which are,

in brief: promotion of historical studies of Defiance County and the central

Maumee Valley, collection and preservation of historical materials, publica-

tion of historical data, cooperation with schools and libraries in the local

history area, establishment of a museum, and marking of historic sites.

Temporary officers are Ralph W. Peters, president; Nellie Gary, secretary;

and 0. W. Newton, treasurer. Permanent officers, which will include also a

first and a second vice president, will be elected at the first annual meeting

to be held in January. Fran Seibert was named chairman of the membership

committee. Annual membership dues are two dollars; sustaining member-

ships, ten dollars; and life memberships, one hundred dollars. An active

membership drive is planned.

 

ERIE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Sandusky

Paul F. Laning, Chairman

The society has enlisted over one hundred members since its organization

in March of this year. Membership dues are two dollars annually. A com-

mittee is proceeding with incorporation.

The first meeting, held in June, was addressed by William Donahue Ellis,

author of The Bounty Lands. Future plans of the society are tentative, but it

seeks to supplement the work of other historical organizations in the region.

 

FAIRFIELD COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Lancaster

Roi DeLancy, President

At the annual meeting of the society on May 11, 1953, the incumbent

officers were all reelected: Roi DeLancy, president; Ellwood Butler, vice

president; Don Turnbull, treasurer; Herbert M. Turner, secretary. The fol-

lowing members of the board of directors were also reelected: Ralph R.

Maccracken, Raymond Spitler, Adeline Ragsdale, W. W. Woodward, George

H. Lamb, Wynn Van Winkle, John F. Furniss, Harold Reeves, and Judge

Harry Kilburger. Mrs. P. R. Peters was newly elected to the board.

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400     Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly

 

The program for the past year, 1952-53, was devoted to biographies of

pioneer families of Lancaster. A sketch of Philemon Beecher was presented

by President DeLancy; Charles Sherman, by Secretary Turner; Thomas Ewing,

by John F. Ewing; of the judges, by Judge Harry Kilburger; the Carpenter

family, by Wynn Van Winkle; John Reber, by Elizabeth Swinnerton; and the

Effinger family, by Adeline Ragsdale.

The society is cooperating with the Fairfield County Sesquicentennial Com-

mittee in reconstructing a settler's cabin on the Fairfield County Fairgrounds

using only original or authentic reproduction materials throughout. The two

organizations are also publishing a tour guide of Lancaster and Fairfield

County and developing a park site at Lockville Locks.

 

FIRELANDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Norwalk

James E. Dixon, Curator

The society is planning to purchase the old Wickham house adjacent to its

present quarters and move it to the rear of the public library. It is to be re-

stored and used to house the Firelands Museum.

The annual banquet of the society was held on July 1.

The society raised $570 for its general fund during "Sesquicentennial

Week."

 

FRANKLIN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Columbus

Frank A. Livingston, President

The demand for Historic Landmarks of Columbus and Franklin County,

the 68-page illustrated guide published by the society in August, has been so

heavy that a second printing is contemplated. Both city and county school

systems are making use of the guide. The booklet, which sells for fifty cents

a copy, may be obtained from the society, from the Ohio State Museum, or

from various bookstores and newstands.

 

GATES MILLS HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Gates Mills

Tinkham Veale, II, President

The society took a leading part in the sesquicentennial celebration held

jointly by the villages of Gates Mills and Hunting Valley. Special historical

exhibits at the museum were open to the public throughout the week of

August 10. Sesquicentennial day, August 11, featured a barbecue, historical

pageants, plays by the Gates Mills Players and by a group of children en-

rolled in the village summer day camp program.

Secretary Alfred Mewett aided in the research for a paper on Henry

Ebenezer Handerson, M.D. (1837-1918), a native of Orange Township,

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Historical News                        401

 

Cuyahoga County, read at the Ohio Academy of Medical History meeting in

Columbus in April.

 

GEAUGA COUNTY HISTORICAL AND MEMORIAL SOCIETY, Burton

B. J. Shanower, President

At a meeting of the society on August 3 all officers were reelected for

another year. They are: B. J. Shanower, president; Paul E. Denton, vice

president; Hilda Hosmer, secretary; and Ann Gaither, treasurer.

The monthly bulletin of the First National Bank of Burton recently carried

an account of the historical society.

 

GREAT LAKES HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Cleveland

Donna L. Root, Executive Secretary

Clarence S. Metcalf, curator of the new Wakefield Museum of the Great

Lakes Historical Society at Vermilion, Ohio, reports that the work of or-

ganizing the material and arranging the displays of objects connected with

the history of the Great Lakes is progressing. The museum was opened to

the public on August 8, this year, and the formal dedication is to be held

later this fall. Chairman of the operating committee is A. A. Mastics of the

Cleveland Plain Dealer editorial staff.

 

HAYES MEMORIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM, Fremont

Watt P. Marchman, Director

Ruth E. Thoma, secretary, was married on June 6 to Harold Raifsnider of

Clyde and Fremont. On June 15, Emma Rhea Brooks became receptionist at

the Hayes Memorial, replacing Shirley Mae Baker, who resigned.

The director was recently presented a combination barometer, thermometer,

and humidity desk set by the the Fremont Rotary Club in recognition of five

years' service as editor of the club's weekly publication.

A special local (county) history exhibit was arranged at the memorial in

recognition of Croghan Day, a part of Fremont's Ohio Sesquicentennial

celebration, August 2-5. Among the most interesting and valuable docu-

ments in the exhibit were an original Thomas Kitchin map of America in

1755, a copy of the first plat of the "Two Miles Square Reservation," a con-

temporary floor plan of Fort Stephenson (a recent acquisition of the Library),

an original communication of General William Henry Harrison reporting the

battle of Fort Stephenson, an original letter of Major George Croghan from

Detroit in 1814, and the first record book of Sandusky County. The exhibit

continued all during August.

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402     Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly

 

HISTORICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF OHIO, Cincinnati

Virginius C. Hall, Director

Lucien Wulsin, president, announces that the annual meeting of the so-

ciety is scheduled for Monday, December 7. Thomas Perkins Abernethy,

professor of history at the University of Virginia, will be the guest speaker.

Lee Shepard, vice president and editor of the Bulletin, and Virginius C.

Hall, director, attended the meeting of the Mississippi Valley Historical As-

sociation in Lexington, Kentucky, last April. Alice P. Hook, librarian, repre-

sented the society at the opening of the Library of Congress Ohio Sesqui-

centennial Exhibit at the Ohio State Museum in June.

 

HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF COLUMBIANA AND FAIRFIELD

TOWNSHIP, Columbiana

Leila F. Beard, President

A new local historical society was organized at Columbiana on July 13.

Charter officers of the society are Leila F. Beard, president; Leo Holloway,

vice president; Mrs. R. E. Weaver, secretary; and Edwin B. Dillon, treasurer.

Attorney John L. Hutson was named chairman of a committee to draft a

constitution and bylaws. At a meeting on August 10 a constitution and by-

laws were adopted, and eight persons were named to serve with the officers

on the board of trustees. W. E. Stewart was designated historian.

 

HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF NORTHWESTERN OHIO, Toledo

Randolph C. Downes, Executive Director

An illustrated textbook on United States history from the local point of

view for use in the seventh and eighth grades of the Toledo public schools

is being written by Randolph C. Downes in collaboration with Catherine G.

Simonds, a teacher in the Cherry Street School, Toledo. The book is being

prepared with the complete cooperation of the Toledo Board of Education

and the school teaching staff. It is hoped that the book may be ready for

use in September 1954.

 

KNOX COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Mount Vernon

James A. Beam, President

The society sponsored a Knox County historical pageant, "The Wabenuka

Story," given at the county fairgrounds, July 29, following the county's

sesquicentennial parade. The pageant gave the society a net profit of $600,

which may be earmarked for a historical museum.

The society is now engaged in an active membership campaign.

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Historical News                       403

 

LAKE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Painesville

Mrs. William M. Ahlstrom, President

Among the recent acquisitions of the society are a number of railroad

posters, including those for excursions to Cleveland to honor Abraham

Lincoln, April 28, 1865; to Cleveland for the funeral of President Garfield,

September 25, 1881; and a Fourth of July excursion, 1859.

A large collection of Indian relics, made up of those found locally, has

been classified and placed on display.

 

LORAIN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Elyria

Mrs. James B. Thomas, President

In June the members of the society were guests of Mr. and Mrs. C. H.

Tomes in Avon, whose home was built by the Hurst family in 1843. On

August 12 members had dinner at the remodeled church in Birmingham and

afterwards visited old homes in the vicinity.

 

OHIO SESQUICENTENNIAL COMMISSION, Columbus

Harvey S. Firestone, Jr., Chairman

A golden bronze medallion commemorating the Ohio sesquicentennial

year has been placed on sale throughout the state by the commission. The

commemorative medal, which is about three inches in diameter, was de-

signed by Erwin F. Frey, professor in the school of fine and applied arts of

Ohio State University, and struck by the Medallic Art Company of New

York. The medallion is available at banks, savings and loan associations, at

retail outlets wherever the sign. advertising it is displayed, and at the Ohio

State Museum. The price is $2.50, including tax.

A colorful 13" by 18" poster titled "Let's All Celebrate Ohio's 150th

Birthday," is now available. Quantities may be obtained in two forms (one

a stick-up, and the other, a stiff cardboard stand-up poster), from the Ohio

Sesquicentennial Commission, Ohio State Museum, Columbus.

 

OTTAWA COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM, Port Clinton

May Hesselbart, Curator

The curator furnished the data for a booklet on the history of the Trinity

Methodist Church in Port Clinton published in connection with the ob-

servance of the centennial of the dedication of the church on August 9.

 

RITTMAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Rittman

E. E. McConnell, President

The first meeting of the Rittman Historical Society was held on March 25,

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404      Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly

 

1952. Present officers of the society are E. E. McConnell, president; Ralph

Krabill, vice president; G. H. Clippinger, historian; and Bessie Schumacher

secretary-treasurer. Ralph Overholt is chairman of the publicity committee

and G. H. Clippinger of the property committee.

A current project of the society is the promotion and preservation o

historical sketches of local businesses, churches, clubs, and other organiza

tions. The society is cooperating in the sesquicentennial celebration of the

formation of the county and in the observance of the state's sesquicentennial

 

SHAKER HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Shaker Heights

Mrs. Harry D. Piercy, Secretary

A tour of North Union Shaker Community was sponsored by the society

on September 12 in recognition of the state sesquicentennial. The group as

sembled at the site of the former meetinghouse, now the home of Mr. and

Mrs. Alfred Gibson, for talks, music, and a social hour.

The society recently published a map of North Union Shaker Community

giving an outline of the history of the community, 1821-89.

 

SHELBY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Sidney

George O. Harshbarger, Secretary

The society presented a historical pageant in connection with the local

celebration of the state's sesquicentennial. A tour guide map of Shelby

County was published in connection with a historical pilgrimage of the

county, Sunday, June 7, as another contribution of the society to the sesqui-

centennial observance.

 

STARK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Canton

Donald K. Merwin, President

The secretary of the society reports the completion of a cemetery survey

that has extended over six summers. Inscriptions have been copied from old

markers and monuments dated prior to 1890, and also from later markers

where illegibility within the next twenty-five years threatens. In 159 ceme-

teries 29,067 names were recorded. These names are being listed in chron-

ological order for each cemetery by the Canton Public Library. They will

make a book of about 1,200 pages, which will require another year for com-

pletion.

E. T. Heald, secretary-treasurer of the society, devoted two weeks during

the summer to the reading of about five hundred letters written by Charles

M. Bawsel, private secretary to William McKinley during his years in con-

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Historical News                        405

 

gress 'and executive clerk of Ohio and secretary of the Ohio State Board of

Pardons during McKinley's governorship. Approximately two hundred were

found to contain references to Mr. and Mrs. McKinley. Extracts were made

of such letters, and Mr. Heald is now arranging them for publication. The

letters are in the possession of Miss Helen L. Bawsel, daughter of Charles

and Almina Danner Bawsel, of Washington, D. C., where Mr. Heald ex-

amined the letters and made the extracts.

 

SUMMIT COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Akron

Carl H. Pockrandt, President

The annual banquet of the society was held on June 18 at the Grace

Evangelical and Reformed Church. Lieutenant Governor John W. Brown

was the guest speaker.

The August Bulletin of the society was devoted to "Some Firsts in Akron."

 

UNION COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Marysville

Clarence A. Hooper, President

At a meeting of the society on June 10, Richard C. Knopf, historian of

the Anthony Wayne Parkway Board, gave an illustrated talk on "Old Forts

of Ohio."

 

WARREN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Lebanon

William Mason Phillips, President

Microfilm copies of the Western Star for the period 1807-58 are now avail-

able for use.

The society has recently acquired and placed at Glendower several rare

pieces of Shaker furniture.

Among the most active and most interested of newer members of the

society are a number of high school age youth.

 

WESTERN RESERVE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Cleveland

Russell H. Anderson, Director

Gertrude Hassler is temporarily serving in the library in place of Bessie H.

Kelsey, who died in April. Harriet Schofield was assistant genealogist for the

summer, and has continued on part time since. Cataloging of the society's

separate printed maps is being completed by Barbara J. Anderson.

The historical tours, conducted again this summer under the auspices of

the women's advisory council, have covered the Garfield country southeast of

Cleveland, the Put-in-Bay region, the Painesville-Jefferson area, and the

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406     Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly

 

Mohican State Park and Wooster territory. Additional tours are planned to

Niles and way points and to the Oberlin-Wellington area.

Recent radio programs include two describing the regular exhibits and five

concerning the Library of Congress exhibit. Two television programs fea-

tured selections of accessories from the museum's costume collection.

The summer feature exhibit was the Library of Congress manuscripts and

documents display prepared in honor of Ohio's sesquicentennial. It was

shown through August and September.

The Braxton Bragg papers in the Palmer Collection have been microfilmed

on four rolls, some 4,000 exposures. A number of manuscript items con-

cerning President McKinley have been received.

Shandy Hall will remain open this season until November 1.

 

WESTERVILLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Westerville

C. H. Benbow, President

C. H. Benbow is serving as president of the society for the current year

(1953).

In collaboration with the Westerville Garden Club, the society arranged

the classes for the annual Westerville Garden Show, August 8 and 9. The

entire program was developed on a historical theme in recognition of the

Ohio sesquicentennial.

 

WYANDOT COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Upper Sandusky

Charles P. Artz, President

The society sponsored a pioneer display at the Wyandot County Fair, Sep-

tember 16, and a historical parade. A junior historical society is being or-

ganized by the senior society.

The Indian Trail marker sign has recently been repainted.

 

About Historians

Cedarville College has been discontinued and the school plant taken over

by the Cedarville Bible Institute, which has the responsibility of preserving

the college records. F. A. Jurkat, who has been a member of the Cedarville

College faculty for over fifty years, was employed on a part-time basis as

professor of classical languages. Donald R. Edington, formerly professor of

history at Cedarville College, has accepted a position teaching American

history at Rossford High School, near Toledo.

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Historical News                        407

 

Edwin R. King has been appointed an instructor in the department of

history of the University of Dayton, effective September 1, 1953.

 

Kimon Th. Giocarinis, who received his Ph.D. degree in August at the

University of Wisconsin, was appointed to the faculty at Hiram College. He

will teach courses in ancient and modern European history and diplomacy.

 

Ray Kelch, formerly of Ohio State University, taught in the history de-

partment at Muskingum College during the summer session. He joined the

faculty of Stephens College this fall.

Stanley Wagner has returned to the department after a year's leave of

absence to complete his Ph.D. at the University of Pittsburgh. His topic was,

"The Polish Government in Exile."

 

Carl F. Wittke, chairman of the history department and dean of the grad-

uate school at Western Reserve University, reports that with the abandon-

ment of Cleveland College, the downtown branch of the university, the his-

tory department is now consolidated on the university campus.

Howard Kramer, who has finished a year of teaching in India under a

Fulbright grant, has returned to the department for the academic year

1953-54.

A. B. Erickson will have a leave of absence during the second semester

for work in England on a biography of Edward C. Cardwell.

 

Margaret Sittler Ermarth was appointed associate professor of history at

Wittenberg College, effective in September. Mrs. Ermarth, who is an alumna

of Wittenberg, was associate professor of history at Gustavus Adolphus Col-

lege before joining the Wittenberg faculty.

B. H. Pershing, head of the department, announces that a general educa-

tion course, The Development of European Civilization, will be required of

all freshmen. This course will replace an elective survey course in European

history.

 

At Xavier University, Frank A. Peters has been promoted to the rank of

associate professor of history.

W. Eugene Shiels, chairman of the department, will speak at the meeting

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408     Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly

 

of the American Historical Association in Chicago in December. His topic

is "History as an Integrator."

 

William D. Overman, head of the library and archives of the Firestone

Tire & Rubber Company, had an article, "Ohio Town Names," in Names,

I, No. 2, for June 1953. Names is the journal of the recently organized

American Names Society, published by the University of California Press

under the editorship of Edwin G. Gudde.

 

O. L. Reid of Youngstown College has retired.

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