Ohio History Journal

HISTORICAL NEWS

Historical Societies

 

 

ALLEN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Mrs. Harry B. Longsworth, Secretary and Editor

The October and December issues of the Reporter (Nos. 33

and 34) are devoted to an article on the "Faurot Opera House"

in Lima. The story was prompted by the contemplated razing of

the Faurot Block. The Opera House, constructed in 1881 at a

cost of $225,000.00, was said to have been the finest between

New York and Denver.

The Society opened the season's meetings on October 30, with

a lecture by Wilhelm A. Amstutz, of Bluffton, on "How and

Where I Found Old Records."

 

BELMONT COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

F. Hamilton Hibbard, President

The following members are serving as the Society's officers:

F. Hamilton Hibbard, Barnesville, President; A. H. Mitchell, Jr.,

St. Clairsville, Vice President; Miss Marguerite Brown, St.

Clairsville, Secretary; A. Van Patton, St. Clairsville, Treasurer.

 

CLARK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Arthur R. Altick, Secretary

The 48th annual meeting of this organization was held in the

Springfield Chamber of Commerce Building, November 12. Mr.

Arthur R. Harper, Field Representative, Ohio Division of Con-

servation and Natural Resources, gave the principal address.

 

GRANVILLE, OHIO, HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Mrs. Charles B. White, Treasurer

The following members of this Society are now serving as

its officers: Arthur Wright Jones, President; James Cox, Sec-

retary; Mrs. Charles B. Wright, Treasurer; Dr. William T. Utter,

Chairman of Executive Committee.

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HISTORICAL NEWS                    99

 

HISTORICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF OHIO

Virginius C. Hall, Director-Librarian

Out of town visitors to the Library have been more numerous

during the present year than in the past. This is likely the result

of two factors: easier transportation and increasing publicity

through newspapers and by window displays. The fall issue of

the Bulletin of the Society carried an interesting article on the

Cincinnati Fire Department from 1808 to the present. The author,

John Bunker, is the son of a Cincinnati fire chief and the great

nephew of another.

The annual meeting of the Society was held at the Laws

Memorial Auditorium, Monday, December 2. Dr. Theodore C.

Blegen, Dean of the Graduate School, University of Minnesota,

spoke on the subject, "Taking Stock of Our Folk Culture."

 

MAHONING VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Donald J. Lynn, President

The Mahoning Valley Historical Society assisted Mahoning

County in observing the 100th Anniversary of the founding of

its annual fair in Canfield in 1846, by sponsoring an exhibit of

articles closely connected with the early growth of the County

and State. An effort was made to present historical items having

particular interest to each of the County's townships. All of the

exhibits were carefully selected from the Society's collection of

early Americana now on display in its museum in the Reuben Mc-

Millan Library, and consisted largely of household articles made

and used by early settlers in the various townships. Appropriate

legends indicated the historical nature of each township exhibit

and the name of the early family to whom such article at one time

belonged. These township exhibits also included early manu-

scripts, as for instance a book of "Transcripts of the Survey of

Records of the Town of Campfield, Alias Canfield, in the Connec-

ticut Western Reserve," dated 1798, poll books dating from 1807,

minutes of early town meetings, church records, early deeds from

the State of Connecticut in 1787, commissions as sheriff, pam-

phlets, portraits, paintings, and many other articles of interest

relating to the history and settlement of Mahoning County. The

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100  OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY   exhibit was under the supervision of Mrs. Ernest A. Goodman, Recording and Corresponding Secretary of the Society, and Miss Eva A. Scott, Regent of the Mahoning Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, ably assisted by various members of the Chapter, who appeared in the costume and dress of that period. The Mahoning Valley Historical Society was first organized September 10, 1875, and was incorporated November 19, 1909. The Society was formed for the purpose of collecting and pre- serving relics, books, records, and manuscripts connected with the history of the Mahoning Valley from its earliest settlement, the development of its resources in agriculture, mining, and manu- facturing, its progress in education, and in general to perpetuate and continue such history. In 1876 the Society published a vol- ume entitled Historical Collections of the Mahoning Valley which contains much source material on the history of the Valley. Its latest catalog was published in 1938. Its code of regulations pro- vides for a board of five or more trustees, a president, three vice presidents, a recording secretary, a corresponding secretary, and a treasurer. Trustees elected for 1946-1947 are:

J. C. Argetsinger Hugh Bonnell Mrs. Henry A. Butler Joseph G. Butler, III Mrs. Ernest A. Goodman

William J. Hitchcock, Jr. Donald J. Lynn Mrs. Franklin B. Powers James L. Wick, Jr.

Officers of the Society are: President ................Donald J. Lynn 1st Vice President ........Mrs. Henry A. Butler 2nd Vice President........Joseph G. Butler, III 3rd Vice President........ Mrs. Franklin B. Powers Recording and Correspond- ing Secretary ........Mrs. Ernest A. Goodman Treasurer ...............James L. Wick, Jr. Assistant Treasurer ....... Joseph G. Butler, III

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HISTORICAL NEWS                    101

 

MEDINA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Mrs. Mary S. Griesinger, President

The item of greatest interest is the new Medina County

history which has been the special research project for this year.

It is modeled after the Northrup 1861-65 plan, each township

writing its own history. Manuscripts are now coming in and the

final copy is expected to be ready for publication around the first

of the year.

 

OHIO HUGUENOT SOCIETY

H. B. Diefenbach, President

The twelfth annual meeting of the Ohio Huguenot Society

was held at the Deshler-Wallick Hotel in Columbus Saturday,

September 21, 1946, with the President, Dr. H. B. Diefenbach,

presiding at the sessions. The State Council meeting was held

one hour previous to the general meeting and brought forth many

interesting matters regarding the Ohio Society. Following the

luncheon Dr. William H. Hildreth, of the Department of English

of Ohio State University, was the guest speaker. His topic was

"Ohio, Viewed by Early Travellers, 1795-1830." It was a most

interesting talk, and many questions were asked Dr. Hildreth

who is making a specialty of collecting early descriptions of the

State from old letters, manuscripts, and books.

During the business session the Society voted to contribute

$25.00 to the Huguenot Federation project for French Relief.

It was also decided to add several books on Huguenot subjects

to those already owned by the State Society for use in assisting

prospective members to prove their Huguenot ancestral descent.

The President reported the new Year Book almost ready for

printing and showed the new application papers prepared for use.

After the officers gave their reports, Mrs. H. B. Diefenbach, Vice

President of the Huguenot Federation, brought greetings from

that organization, and ranking officers of other Ohio organizations

were introduced. Mrs. Orion King, Chairman of the Nominating

Committee, submitted the report of her committee, nominating

for office for the next two years: Dr. H. B. Diefenbach, Presi-

dent; John C. Pearson, Vice President; Dr. B. H. Pershing,

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102 OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

 

Chaplain; Miss Ruth W. Ripple, Recording Secretary; Mrs. Jesse

E. Chance, Corresponding Secretary; Miss Mabel Lee Mackoy,

Treasurer; Miss Waive B. Ripple, Registrar; Mrs. Orion King,

Consulting Genealogist. The President appointed Mrs. John S.

Heaume and William M. Pettitt as members of the Council. Dur-

ing the past year the following new members have been admitted:

Mrs. Roy H. Williams, Mrs. Jesse E. Chance, Miss Ellen Collette

Little, Mrs. Asa C. Dawson, Mrs. Mark C. Stevens.

A number of new members were elected to membership and

will receive their invitations. It was decided to hold the next

meeting in Columbus. The time for this meeting will be, as

always, the third Saturday in September.

 

SCIOTO COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Russell Stockham, President

A unanimous vote to purchase the Kinney Home on Waller

Hill for a museum featured the October meeting of the Scioto

County Historical'Society.

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