Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Dickens Keepsake Tea This Weekend

Illustration and frontice page from the original publication of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
We have a few tickets left for the Dickens Keepsake Tea event scheduled for this Saturday from 2:00 to 4:00pm. at the Warren County History Center, 105 S. Broadway in downtown Lebanon (next to the Lebanon Public Library, across from The Chocolate Factory and two doors south of the Golden Lamb Inn).

The museum(History Center)  is open all day beginning at 10:00 but will close at 2:00 for the program. $10.00 will get you the Dickens program as well as tea, coffee and light refreshments including Marilyn Carter's cookies, assorted cream puffs, iced cakes, cucumber sandwiches and assorted cheeses. 

Historian Dennis Dalton and Art History Professor Michael Coyan have put together a delightful program recounting Charles Dickens travels through Ohio in the early 1840. Dickens was around 30 years old at the time and was already a huge celebrity in England as well as the United States. A Christmas Carol was published around the same time. 

The museum gift shop will be open for last minute Christmas shopping with a 20% discount on everything in the store.  Books on sale include Tales from the Innside by Fred Compton, the wonderful Lebanon Bicentennial book, Dennis Dalton's new book on Waynesville and Wayne Township and lots of American Girl doll books and mini dolls.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

We have a good selection of books and mini American Girl dolls for stocking stuffers at the museum gift shop.
Our American Girl Doll Tea Party was held last Saturday, December 9 to great success. Twenty eight girls ages 8 to 12 attended the event along with their American Girl dolls. We had only two no shows.  We had purchased a tea party kit from American Girl which included games and party ideas.  The girls played several games, participated in a craft project for Christmas and enjoyed pink lemonade, cupcakes, cookies, cream puffs and a variety of finger sandwiches including cucumber, pimento cheese and strawberry jam.
 

 
Everyone received a goody bag with American Girl stickers, American Girl bookmark, chocolates and other things.  The high light of the afternoon was the door prize drawing. One lucky girl received a Caroline mini doll and two others received Caroline books.  Caroline is the newest American Girl historical character doll.
 
The American Girl party kit was developed for just 30 girls, a nice size for playing games and crafts. We had many more calls for reservations that we couldn't fill this time, so we've scheduled a second American Girl Doll Tea Party for March 16, 2013 from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm.  The cost remains just $15 and reservations must be prepaid by March 12, 2013.  A separate Mom's Tea (different room) with food and a craft is also available for $15.00. For reservations call 513-932-1817.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Looking out the window of the drawing room at Glendower. Bells by Jo Wise of the Pink Hippo decorating store in downtown Lebanon.
 
The formal dining room at Glendower by Patti Johnson of Patti Johnson Interiors.
Glendower is now open for the Christmas season, decorated in four different themes and looking gorgeous.  The house is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in December from 1:00 pm to 5:00pm. Admission is $8.00 adults, $7.00 seniors, $4.00 students under 18.

The warming kitchen at Glendower where you can pick up a few home made cookies.


 

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Christmas at Glendower Makes The List

Jenelle Walton of The List on Channel 9, Cincinnati

Jenelle Walton of WCPO Channel 9 in Cincinnati, shot a feature story about Glendower Historic Mansion yesterday.  Janelle is the local host of Scripps-Howard's new magazine news show, The List, airing at 7:00 pm on Channel 9.  The List  runs in six Scripps-Howard markets around the country and features both local and national stories. 

The Christmas at Glendower piece will air this Friday evening at 7:00 pm on Channel 9.  She interviewed Jo Wise of the Pink Hippo, one of the professional decorators for Glendower this Christmas and took lots of great footage of the beautifully decorated rooms.
Patti Johnson of Patti Johnson Interiors, one of two professional decorators at Glendower this year.

Patti Johnson, the other half of the decorating duo at Glendower this year, was interviewed about decorating tips for your own Christmas festivities.  Patti's segment will air December 11 at 7:00 pm on Channel 9. 

Glendower opens for the Christmas season this Saturday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.  Costumed tour guides lead visitors through the house. Bob Ford is scheduled to play his special traditional Christmas music at 2:00 pm.  Admission is just $8.00 for adults, $7 for senior 65 and over and students under 18 just $4.

Janelle also interviewed our own John Zimkus, in costume as Zachariah Johnson the 1898 story teller.Zachariah will be featured at the Lebanon Conference & Banquet Center on Saturday, December 1 as part of Lebanon's Christmas Festival and Horse Drawn Carriage Parade. 

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Jennifer Chiaverini Coming to WCHS


New York Times Bestselling Author of the famed Elm Creek Quilt series of novels, Jennifer Chiaverini will be our guest on January 20, 2012 for lunch, a lecture and a book signing of her brand new novel, Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker.  Seating is limited and tickets cost just $25.00 each. Call the Warren County Historical Society at 513-932-1817 to purchase your ticket with a credit card by phone. 

Book notes: In a life that spanned nearly a century and witnessed some of the most momentous events in American history, Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley was born a slave. She earned her freedom by the skill of her needle, and won the friendship of First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln by her devotion. In her sweeping historical novel, Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker, New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini illuminates the extraordinary relationship the two women shared, beginning in the hallowed halls of the White House during the trials of the Civil War and enduring almost, but not quite, to the end of Mrs. Lincoln’s days.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Otterbein Homes Makes Major History Donation

The Shakers attempt to attract new converts to Union Village called Marble Hall, still stand today.
Just 100 years ago this month, the Shakers of Union Village sold all 4000 plus acres  comprising their village and farms to the United Brethren Church. The land was prime real estate in western Turtlecreek Township and the Shakers could have sold it to developers for over a $1 million dollars.  But they were reluctant to let their great experiment in building paradise on earth become just another commercial venture. Happily, a few trustees of the United Brethren Church took a chance on Union Village,  and the Shakers agreed to sell them their beloved home  for a little over $300,000.  You see, the money was not important to them. Their home had nurtured and sheltered children and the elderly and all kinds of people in need for over a hundred years.  The United Brethren Church would use the village and its surrounding acres, in much the same way, providing a safe haven for orphans, old folks and other people in need. That vision was full filled and today Otterbein Home is a world class organization serving thousands of people over the last 100 years.


When the handful of elderly Shaker sisters and brothers packed their few personal belongings and moved east to one of the surviving Shaker villages, there were over 100 buildings standing at Union Village, vacant and furnished with Shaker furniture and belonging. For the next several years Otterbein held big sales of the items and in the late 1920's Bob & Ginny Jones, a young couple just starting out to learn the business of inn keeping at their hotel known as the Golden Lamb, enjoyed purchasing the furniture and household items to furnish their property.  They admired the Shaker's beautiful simple designs and high quality craftsmanship. Pretty soon they were traveling to other Shaker villages to purchase pieces for their growing collection. They loved collecting Shaker and began purchasing pieces to donate to the Warren County Historical Society's museums.

At the same time Otterbein Homes officials also recognized the beauty of Shaker craftsmanship and began to display some of the Shaker made items in their residence homes.  When the Warren County Historical Society began collecting furniture for its museums in the early 1940's, Otterbein loaned pieces for display in the museum.

As the Warren County Historical Society's properties grew, Otterbein loaned more and more items to the Historical Society for display.  When WCHS built a special addition on to Harmon Hall to house their growing Shaker collection, Otterbein loaned some large significant pieces of furniture that became some of the most beloved pieces in the museum's collection.

Yesterday, November 20, 2012, in a small but significant ceremony held in the Shaker Gallery of the Warren County History Center, Otterbein Homes officially donated the loaned items to the History Center.  Senator Rob Portman, author of the most definitive work on the Union Village Shakers which they called Wisdom's Paraidse, was the keynote speaker. The vision of the Shakers has come full circle and Bob & Ginny Jones, Rob Portman's maternal grandparents, were smiling down on us, I'm sure. 


Wisdom's Paradise by Rob Portman and Cheryl Bauer
The Warren County Historical Society plans to further develop its Shaker exhibits focusing on the many contributions the Shaker's made to the American culture.  Side by side with the Shaker story, the museum will also tell the Otterbein story. Simply put, the Shakers started a vision for the place they called Wisdom's Paradise and although the Shakers themselves could not continue the vision, Otterbein took up the task and continues it forward making their own contributions to the quality of life in our world. 

Monday, November 19, 2012

Big Sale at Museum Gift Shop This Weekend

The Warren County History Center is open this weekend and the museum gift shop is having a big sale. Members 45% off everything in the shop.

One of the many cookbook on sale.

Even if you are not  a member of the Warren County Historical Society you can still shop local and get a 25% discount.  We are open both Friday and Saturday, November 23 & 24 from 10 am to 4pm. 

The museum gift shop is always open for free admission.

There is a little bit of fall pottery left over from last month's sale. 
Lots of great candleholders for decorating.
Check back for more pictures of Christmas Florals and the latest book titles.

 


Monday, November 12, 2012

Decorating Glendower for Christmas, Part 1


One of our best loved properties is Glendower Historic Mansion located at 105 Cincinnati Ave in Lebanon, OH.  This outstanding example of high style Greek revival residential architecture is a favorite with visitors, especially when we decorate the house for Christmas
Glendower in the snow
Glendower is open June,July and August for regular tours and again in December, decorated for Christams. This year we are featuring four decorating themes throughout the house compliments of two local professional decorators, Jo Wise and Patti Johnson,  and our own curatorial staff.

We were thrilled that Patti Johnson of Patti Johnson Interiors agreed to help with this year's decorating at Glendower.

Patti Johnston of Patti Johnston Interiors
Website:pattijohnsoninteriors.com
 
Patti Johnson is a nationally recognized decorator, blogger and contributor to At Home magazine, a publication of Cox Ohio Media and the Dayton Daily News.  Patti is decorating the formal dining room and family parlor at Glendower. Her theme is Holly & Ivy: Tradtional Red & Green. You can see a preview of her ideas for Glendower by visiting the Warren County History Center.

Glendower will open for Christmas tours on Saturday, December 1 and be open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in December after that. The house is open from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm and admission is $8.00 adults, $7.00 for seniors 65 + and $4.00 for students under 18. Musical entertainment is scheduled for most days as well. Visit our website at www.wchsmuseum.org.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Free Thursday Growing in Popularity

Mrs. Mary Allen, WCHS Shaker Curator, tells a group of girls scouts and other visitors about the Shakers of Union Village.
 
It took a while for Free Thursdays to catch on, but for the last several weeks mixed crowds of students and adults have joined us on Thursday evenings from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. Each Thursday the crowd enjoys a different lecture about Warren County History.  This evening our Shaker Curator, Mary Allen, gave an introductory talk about our Union Village Shakers who were a major part of Warren County's history from 1805 until about 1916.  The Warren County Historical Society has one of the largest Shaker collections of furniture, artifacts and archives in the country.

Our own Ohio Senator Rob Portman is a Shaker scholar and has written a book about the Union Village Shakers called Wisdom's Paradise. The book is available for sale in our book shop.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Field Trip to the Warren County History Center

Mr. John Zimkus leads  St. Francis DeSales second graders in a discussion about the development of towns and communities in Warren County by reviewing a map of the county.
So many schools have given up field trips because of the cost of providing bus transportation.  A group of second graders from St. Francis DeSales school in Lebanon took advantage of the Warren County History Center's free admission for K-12 field trips and visited the Center last Friday. They walked from their school about a mile north of the History Center. The visit to the History Center was part of a history field trip that included a trip to Lebanon's Pioneer Cemetery and a walking tour of some of the town's significant architecture.

Part of the tour centered around the Six Simple Machines. The six simple machines helped our pioneer fore bearers to carve a living out of the wilderness of Ohio, The six simple machines are the pulley, the wheel, the incline plane, wedge, screw and the lever.  Here a second grader uses a wooden buggy jack to lift up a wheel on a buggy.  Do you know which one of the six simple machines this jack represents?
The History Center's  school tour for students from second through eighth grade follows the Ohio Department of Education's standards for social studies education.  The six simple machines discussions  bridge social studies and science and examples of the machines can be found through out the museum's displays. 
Certified social studies teacher and museum staff person Ms. Dunham, reviews the technology our pioneer grandparents used to produce their clothing on the frontier. Can you name any of the six simple machines that are involved in making cloth?

 



Saturday, October 20, 2012

Ghost Tour at Haunted Harmon Hall

Picture taken in the Archaeology room of the Warren County History Center in Harmon Hall. Photo taken by DaShane Watkins during an investigation he conducted in 2009.
We are offering a ghost tour at Harmon Hall next Friday, October 26 from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm.  The tour will review evidence from past paranormal investigations.  The Warren County Historical Society and DaShane Watkins have been offering paranormal investigations of Harmon Hall for the last four years.  We've collected a lot of evidence, most of which can be seen on DaShane's website,
www.spiritualhopesociety.com.  This tour is a review of that evidence.

We have a few spots left - we limit the tour to 20 people, so if you are interested in learning about the hauntings in Harmon Hall, call the Warren County Historical Society at 513-932-1817 and prepay your spot. It's just $20 per person.  Feel free to bring small hand held items like voice recorders, cameras, K2 meters.  No food, drinks or video equipment allowed.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Antique Show Opens Tomorrow in Downtown Lebanon, OH

One of the many booths of quality antiques and collectibles offered at the Lebanon Antique Show.
It opens tomorrow, Saturday, October 6 at 10:00 am at the Warren County History Center and Lebanon Conference & Banquet Center (they are connected together). Admission is just $6.00 for adults, kids under 18 free with adult.  Admission is good for both days. You get a beautiful show and a tour of the our award winning museum all in one event!  Check us out at 105 S. Broadway, Lebanon, Oh. 513-932-1817.

Here's  a nice little vintage love seat with an update to date upholstery fabric.

 
This is always a beautiful show with dealers from all over the country offering a variety of quality items.  If you are a collector or just looking for some special pieces for your homes decor, this is the show you should not miss!
There are lots of great oil paintings at this show as well as good country pieces like these stoneware crocks, wooden firkins and transfer ware china.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Lebanon Antique Show with a new twist

Note the new location.  Down town at the Warren County History Center and next door at the Lebanon Conference & Banquet Center

 

What a bargain!  For one ticket price, good both days, you can visit the show, buy great antiques, consult with period decorators,  tour the museum and here special gallery talks from our Shaker Curator. 

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Flea Market Starts Friday, Civil War Enampment Saturday

Our Flea Market starts tomorrow, Friday, September 28. Doors open at 10:00.
 
Lots going on the next couple of weeks.  We get things rolling tomorrow morning with out annual Flea Market.  Lots to see, lots to buy and its free admission!!

Note:  Applefest is coming Saturday.  The street in front of our building will be closed down for the Middletown Symphony who will be playing Saturday afternoon.  Enjoy the flea market and the symphony all in one!!
Canon firing at Glendower during annual Civil War Encampment.  Saturday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday 11:00 to 4:00. FREE, FREE, FREE
 
Also, returning this weekend, our annual Civil War Encampment.  At least once a year, and sometimes twice, members of the Ohio Valley Civil War Association camp on the lawn at Glendower. They fire canons, shoot guns and perform close order drill, build fires and cook all their food, set up a field hosptial and a signal corp station and generally have a grand old time. This is a FREE, fun and educational event for the whole family. 

Glendower will be open for tours with a regular admission charge.  Adults, $5.00, Senior 65+  $4.50 and students under 18, $3.50.

Glendower Historic Mansion, open this Saturday and Sunday giving guided tours. Saturday 10 to 5 and Sunday 11-4. Admission $5.00 adults, $4.50 seniors 65 and over and $3.50 for students under 18.  Civil War Encampment on the lawn of Glendower FREE.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Golden Evening for Cemetery Tour

Two of the Glendower Historic Characters at the Lantern Light Cemetery Tour

 
After a horrific storm  which broke at 4:00 pm on Friday evening, we had a golden evening for the Lantern Light Cemetery Tour.  Thirty guests toured the Lebanon Cemetery meeting famous people from our past.  Pictured above are two of the Civil War era dear departed; Lucy Boake, wife of banker Robert Boake and granddaughter of famous pioneers Francis and Mary Craig Dunlavy; and Rigdon Williams, son of Glendower's first owner and builder J. Milton and Mary Rigdon Williams.

We are expecting another thirty or so visitors this evening. A special treat is in store for the Saturday night group as we have two characters playing Laura Bellini; one as the fifteen year old Laura Woolwine and one as the international opera star, Laura Woolwine Bellini (her stage name). 

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Lantern Light Cemetery Tour

There are still a few tickets left (less than 10) for the Lantern Light Cemetery Tour this Friday and repeating on Saturday, September 7 and 8, 2012.  Cost is $20.00 in advance, we take MC, Visa and Discover over the phone. Office opens at 9:00 am. Call 513-932-1817.  Unless its thunder and lightening stormy, we will proceed even. If its raining, bring your umbrella!  See you then!


Violinist at the cemetery tour playing Civil War era songs.
General Durbin Ward portrayed by one of the Glendower Historic  Characters

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Gruesome But Truesome Opens Sept. 15

Absalom Death
 
For more than 50 years this picture of the first mayor of Franklin, Ohio was in storage at the Ohio Historical Society. He was part of the original Warren County Museum collection that had resided at Glendower Historic Mansion and had been put in storage around 1959.

Can you believe that a man whose last name is Death would have such a Dickensian portrait made of himself. Learn all about him and many other Gruesome But Truesome things when the Gruesome But Truesome exhibit opens at the Warren County History Center on September 15, 2012.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Summer Interns are Back to School

Our Summer Interns from Springboro High School
Left to Right, Nicolette Dahdah, Brittney Elliott and Stephanie Rogers
Three students from Springboro High School spent the summer with us as research interns.  They completed a walking tour project which includes three separate tours of Lebanon.  Copies are available for $2.00 each at the Warren County History Center and Museum, 105 S. Broadway, Lebanon, OH. 

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

More Gruesome But True

This is a memorial picture. It remembers eleven people who died. I forget the details, but Lynley will have all the info in the exhibit.
Assistant Curator/Archivist Lynley Dunham is hard at work on the Gruesome But True exhibit. It's not open yet, but should be ready by the second week in September.

Lynley is a Dayton native and not that familiar with the many details of Warren County's history. She has been living in the vault - sort of - looking for great items for the Gruesome But True exhibit - a special feature of the Gruesome But True Tour.  Everyday she finds something really neat and is just thrilled. It is like watching a kid at Christmas!
I have no idea why this child's tombstone is in the museum, but since she died in 1847 she was probably from the cemetery that used to be on West Main across from the Pioneer Cemetery and  is currently a car dealership.  It was difficult to survive childhood and little Mary Morris didn't make it to age five.


I believe these were the shackles used to confine the first man every hung for murder in Warren County.


Thursday, August 9, 2012

Gruesome but True

One of our favorite self guided tours at the museum is Gruesome But True. This is John Zimkus' brain child but Assistant Curator Lynley Dunham has really gotten into the spirit of the tour and is working up a special "gruesome but true" exhibit on the second floor gallery. She has some really fun things on display - like  a salesman's sample coffin complete with drain board, a death mask attributed to Napoleon and a piece of Major Andre's coffin. 


This is all in preparation for Assistant Curator Jessica Threes' exhibit of a newly donated Disney collection from The Nightmare Before Christmas movie.  We received a donation of a complete collection of Nightmare collectibles. It's very cool.

Watch for more information on this new exhibit at the Warren County History Center, 105 S. Broadway. Opens the second week in September.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Fleas and Warrior Backpack Program

Handcrafted jewelry by the Hickman Gals of Lebanon. These earrings are so cute, you have to get some.  If you can tell from my not very good photo, the pair of earrings in the foreground are a fudge stripped cookie on the left and one with a bit out of it on the right.  The whimsical ideas from these kids are super.  There is one set that's a bag of fries for one earring and a cheeseburger for the other. Another set features a fried egg for one earring and bacon for the other.  Some sets match, like the pumpkins in the top right hand tea cup.
If you don't know already, the WCHS rents out spaces in the Old Post Office for our quarterly flea markets.  Today and tomorrow is the summer edition of the event and we have some new vendors as well as some old favorites.  One of the new vendors I thought you might like to know about is the Itsy Bitsy Project run the The Hickman Gals here in Lebanon. These three enterprising young ladies and their folks are offering their handmade jewelry in support of the Warrior Backpack
Program out of the Lebanon Public Schools.  The Warrior Backpack Program supplies weekend meals for kids in need in our community. The Hickman Gals are donating the proceeds from the sale of their jewelry to to the program.  They have earrings, hairpins and necklaces, all very reasonably priced starting at $2.00 and all handmade by the girls. 

Lots of great fleas to see! Open Friday and Saturday, July 27 and 28 from 10:00am to 4:00pm.
Free admission to the flea market!!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Mona Says Visit the Flea Market!


Mona like to stretch out on plastic!
Our quarterly flea market held inside the air conditioned Lebanon Conference & Banquet Center opens tomorrow morning, Friday, July 27 at 10:00 am.  The event is free and open to the public. 10 vendors are on hand to offer their antiques and flea market items. Something for everyone. Come see us!
Vintage Mustang
Hand crafted, folk art Apple Fest Dolls, highly collectible
Antique Cradle
Milk glass bowls, candlesticks, china dolphin etc.

Weather vane, cat pictures and lots of other good stuff.

Lamp and kitty

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

From Craftsman to Fleas

What a beautiful show we had this past weekend with the fourth annual American Heritage Craftsman & Artisan Show.  If you missed it this year, they will be back next year, so make plans NOW to attend.  One of our good volunteers tells me she saves her change and a few bits of "folding money" all year long so that when the show comes to town she is armed with cash and ready to buy. She's a Nantucket basket collector among other things and she got some beauties this year.
Greg Shooner at his potters wheel
I am always so amazed when I watch Greg Shooner of Shooner Pottery working with his red ware.  Here he is demonstrating the potter wheel.  But Greg does so much more than throw pots!  His decorations of the pots are amazing.  While he was at the show this weekend he "decorated" a jar he'd thrown with scribed drawings of a whaling ship with a whale spouting.  His customer for the pot wanted some specific designs and he happily obliged making it a one of a kind work of art.  Greg is also  poet. Some of his jars are inscribed with his poetry as well as his drawings. Wonderful stuff. No wonder his work is on display at the White House and Camp David!

So its on to the quarterly Flea Market this weekend. We are open Friday and Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.  As always, the museum will have some fleas of its own to sell, collected from members over the last quarter.  Also present are a dozen other vendors ranging from antique dealers, to artists, to ordinary folks wanting to get rid of their stuff!  It's a free event at the Lebanon Conference and Banquet Center so come on down and check it out.  This Friday and Saturday, July 27 and 28.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Shooner Pottery to be given as Door Prize


Tall Ink bottle hand crafted by nationally famous potter, Greg Shooner. One lucky winner will receive this tall ink bottle as a door prize for attending the American Heritage Craftsman & Artisan Show.
Greg Shooner and his wife Mary Spellmire Shooner returned for our fourth annual American Heritage Craftsman and Artisan Show & Sale this weekend.   The Shooners are nationally recognized for their fine hand crafted red ware items including jars, plates, ink wells, ink bottles, lamps and many other decorative items.  Mr. Shooner hand decorates his work with colored "slip" decorations and inscribes original poetry on some of the larger pieces.  His work is on display around the country including the White House and Camp David.

Greg Shooner demonstrates "throwing" a pot at the American Heritage Craftsman & Artisan Show at the Warren County History Center this weekend. Hours on Sunday, July 22 are 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Admission is $5.00 for adults, students under 18 free.

A $50.00 gift card to the Golden Lamb is also one of the door prizes at the American Heritage Craftsman & Artisan Show.