Museums Closed for the Holiday

Both The Hickories and the Lorain County History Center will be closed this Thursday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day.

Best Wishes to Janet Bird

Many friends and family came to The Hickories on June 26 to give kudos to Janet Bird as she retires from LCHS. Thank you to all who helped. We would also like to express our sincere thanks to those who have given donations to LCHS’s Endowment Fund in appreciation of Janet and her work:

Kerri Broome

Robert & Marcia Ebert

Marcia Hazelton-Wallace

Bonnie Ivancic

Dorothy MacIntyre

Kevin & Pam Monschein

Louis & Carol Pongracz

Ken & Gloria Roth

Frank & Carolyn Sipkovsky

George & Marjorie Strom

Tom & Tracy Taylor

If you would like to make a donation to the Endowment Fund to honor Janet as she marks this milestone, please contact the LCHS office at 440-322-3341 or lchs@lchs.org.

A Note from Janet

To the members and friends of LCHS,

I give a heartfelt “Thank You!” to those who were able to attend my retirement Open House on June 26 and to all of those who have expressed such kind words regarding my retirement. Many thanks also to Pam Monschein, Kerri Broome, Jackie Kokai, Suzy Ratliff, Ellen Andrews who organized the event and to all who helped in some way to make it a memorable occasion.

I can’t believe how fast 19 years can go! When Jim Smith and I began as volunteer presenters in 2000, we started with 4 or 5 Suitcase Museum programs. Then in 2002, Cheryl Greenly helped then-director Bill Bird write LCHS’s first application for a grant from the Community Foundation of Lorain County which provided funding to hire Jim and me as part time Education Coordinators. We were off and running! We made a good team, creating close to 80 programs over those 19 years.

As the number of requests for our programs increased each year, it was necessary to add a third Education Coordinator, Anne Michael, to the staff. She jumped in with both feet and has created a good number of new programs as well. I am very grateful for her help and for the help of LCHS archivist, Eric Greenly, both of whom have very patiently answered my many questions about PowerPoint programs and other computer puzzlements. I am still pleasantly surprised when I hook the laptop to the projector and the program actually appears on the screen!

Although my favorite presentations are the character portrayals I created for the Valentine Teas – serving tea on the Titanic or marching for women’s rights – I am most proud of the increases made in children’s programming that LCHS offers to schools throughout the county and of the success of our History Camp. We just finished our 17 ^th camp. Amazing!

I will cherish the many friends I have made as a result of my 19 years at LCHS. It has been a great run!

Janet Bird

The Ice Cream Social is Coming!

Come join us for Lorain County Historical Society's annual Ice Cream Social on the gorgeous, shaded lawn of The Hickories museum on Sunday, July 21 from noon to 4:00 PM. There will be live music, tours of the museum, antique vehicles, old-fashioned games, and plenty of food! Your ticket includes pie or cake and ice cream. Sloppy joes and hot dogs will be available for sale. WOBL will be broadcasting live. Pre-sale tickets are $5 each and available for purchase at the Lorain County History Center, 284 Washington Avenue, Elyria, Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Tickets on the day of the Social are $6. Consider sponsoring the Social! We are looking for supporters at all levels, which include tickets to the event! Click here for more information , or contact the LCHS office at 440-322-3341 or lchs@lchs.org .

Exclusive Museum Tour for Members

Lorain County Historical Society members are invited to a tour of the New Indian Ridge Museum on Saturday, August 10. This private museum, housed in the historic Jacob Shupe Homestead, contains many prehistoric and historic artifacts, including those that were originally part of the collection of Col. Raymond Vietzen and his Indian Ridge Museum on West Ridge Road in Elyria, now demolished. The museum is not to be missed! LCHS is offering a very limited number of spaces for this free tour, which will start at 10:00 AM on August 10. Don’t miss this opportunity! Contact the LCHS office at 440-322-3341 or lchs@lchs.org for more information.

Accolades for Marci Rich

Last month, writer and Elyria native Marci Rich received the second-place award in category of Best Freelance Writer in Ohio at the All-Ohio Excellence in Journalism Awards, presented by the Press Club of Cleveland. The various categories attracted more than 800 entries and were judged by Press Club members from across the United States. The award honored Marci’s ongoing feature series for The Chronicle-Telegram , “Look Back, Elyria.” Congratulations, Marci!

Wellington Named Winner of

Main Street Contest

This Independence Day, the village of Wellington will be celebrating its recent win in the Independent We Stand "America's Main Streets" contest. Last month, the village bested 232 entrants to take the $25,000 grand prize. Main Street Wellington will use the cash prize to continue its “Paint the Town Proud” program, created in 2018. The program offers mini-grants for paint and supplies to downtown businesses so they can refresh their facades. There are also plans to repair and repaint the “CHEESE” signs that reflect the town's dairy heritage and add more signage downtown to help highlight the history of Herrick Avenue while also directing visitors to free public parking so they can enjoy local shops, restaurants and events. As part of its ongoing mission to promote small businesses, Independent We Stand created the “America’s Main Streets” contest to promote the important role main streets play in building economic success for their communities. Main Street Wellington will be celebrating this achievement on Wednesday, July 3 in front of Wellington Town Hall, before the free concert by Patriots Symphonic Band. Way to go, Wellington!

Local Historical Societies Open

on Independence Day

The Columbia Historical Society is hosting an open house of the Bronson House Museum on Thursday, July 4 from 10:00 AM to noon. Come and see the historic house as part of a full day of festivities in the Columbia Township Park, including a car show and parade. The house is located next to the library park lot, at 13646 West River Road.

The Rochester Historical Society will have an open house on South Street from noon to 5:00 PM on Thursday, July 4. Pictures from past Rochester Homecoming will be on display at the park.

Belden Historical Society Ice Cream Social

The Belden Historical Society invites all to its annual Ice Cream Social on Sunday, July 14 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The social is held at Grafton Township Veterans' Park, at the northeast corner of State Routes 83 and 303.A $5 ticket buys a hot dog, ice cream, cookie or brownie, and drink, plus a tour of restored Old Town Hall and Museum. There will also be a 50/50 raffle, with tickets for sale at $1 per ticket or 6 tickets for $5. The Society is still accepting flea market vendors. Contact Bob Flickenger at 440-926-2680 for more information.

Waterfront History Excursions in Lorain

Lorain Historical Society is offering history-themed boat tours on the Black River this summer! Come on board to cruise the Lorain waterfront and learn the importance that waterways played in the development of that city. Landmarks such as the Lorain Lighthouse, the site of American Shipbuilding and US Steel are included. Natural sites and wildlife preserves will also be highlighted. Dates in July and August are still available. Tours depart from Lakeside Landing at 2:00 PM and last approximately two hours. Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased through the Lorain Port Authority. Click here for more information or to purchase tickets.

Wine Event to Benefit Oberlin Heritage Center

The Oberlin Heritage Center invites you to its annual midsummer gathering, Vintage & Vitner, on July 16 at Matus Winery. Doors open at 5:30 PM. Enjoy smooth jazz guitar sounds followed by information on the finer points about wine by winery owner Bob Matus. OHC director Liz Schultz will present a short program about the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Each guest will receive tickets for two glasses of wine and more will be available for purchase. Non-alcoholic refreshment and finger foods will be provided. The cost is $30 per person and advance reservations are required. Matus Winery is located at 15674 Gore Orphanage Road, Wakeman. Call OHC at 440-774-1700 for more information or purchase tickets online .

West By the River Home & Garden Tour

To celebrate the 30 ^th anniversary of the creation of the West by the River Historic District in Elyria, the West By the River Historical Improvement Corp. is offering a Historic Home & Garden Tour on Sunday, July 28. The event will take place from noon to 5:00 PM and will also include an antique car show, food trucks, a garden sale, and a 50/50 raffle. The West By the River Historic District encompasses parts of West Avenue, Middle Avenue, 3 ^rd Street, 4 ^th Street, 5 ^th Street, Barres and Holly Lane. Currently, this is the City of Elyria’s only locally designated historic district. Make plans for July 28 to eat lunch, view antique cars and tour some beautiful old houses and their gardens. Tickets are $10 pre-sale or $12 day of event and can be purchased online.

Mark Your Calendars for Victoria Woodhull: Shattering Glass Ceilings

On September 26, LCHS will present the new storytelling program by Eden Valley Enterprises entitled, “Victoria Woodhull: Shattering Glass Ceilings.” Hear the remarkable story of Victoria Woodhull, an Ohio native and fearless female who spent her life doing things that women in her time didn't do, including being the first woman to run for President - in 1872! Woodhull ran for president under the banner of The Equal Rights Party. She supported universal suffrage for women, an eight-hour work day, a national education system, and world peace with the creation of an international body to help prevent war around the world. Radical ideas in her time. In 1871, Victoria was the first woman to publicly address Congress with her declaration that the 14th and 15th amendments already gave women the right to vote. She was an outspoken advocate of spiritualism and the revolutionary idea that women should have the right to choose who to marry and whether to divorce. She and her sister, Tennessee Claflin, were suffragists, newspaper owners and the first women stockbrokers on Wall Street. This program will be held on September 26 at 7:00 PM at the Lorain County History Center, 284 Washington Ave, Elyria. It will be free and open to the public. Save the date!

Save the Date for Heritage Ohio’s Annual Conference

Heritage Ohio’s 2019 Preservation and Revitalization Conference will be held in historic downtown Newark, October 21-23. This annual gathering brings together the leaders of preservation and revitalization to provide the latest information on many popular topics, such as the National Register of Historic Places and state and federal historic preservation tax credits. Registration is open now. Click here for more information.

Please remember Lorain County Historical Society in your will or trust.

Inspired by Lorain County’s past to shape the future!

The Lorain County Historical Society collects, preserves, interprets, and presents the history of Lorain County.