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
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.
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,
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.
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.
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,
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-
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
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.
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
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.