Shop the Museum Gift Shop

Decorative bird house, pretty blue ceramic pots, florals.

We love sheep of all kinds.

The gift shop inside the front doors of the Warren County History Center is a treasure trove of unique, one of a kind items all reasonably priced and perfect for the new season. We have frogs for the garden, Spring lambs, soaps, decorative bird houses and many floral decorations. Come shop Tuesday -Saturday 10 to 4 each day.

Frog Under a bell jar.

Cats are everywhere as are lambs.

Froggy Garden Sculpture holds a pots of flowers, metal insect better look out!

Peters Ammunition Catalog

We received a copy of the Peters Ammunition Catolog No. 40 in the mail today from a man named John who lives in Maryland. There was no return address on the package and no last name.  We are thrilled to receive this catalog from John and wish we could thank him, so John, if you see this, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. 

The King Powder Company of Kings Mills and the Peters Cartridge Company are two of our most interesting historical collections.  We have an exhibit and an extensive archive of pictures and documents relating to the company.  It's one of the most popular research topics for local historians, so we were thrilled to receive this copy of a Peters Ammunition catalog. Its full of pictures of the ammunition factory and the people working there. It's also a catolog of bullets and other ammunition. It's spine is too delicate to open flat and scan the photos so we will use our copy stand and digital camera to try to get some copies to share.  Thanks John, who ever you are.

Auditions for Glendower Historic Characters

Steve Kaier as General Durbin Ward, second Owner of Glendower

Liz Graulwelman and her son Nate as Lucy Boake and Rigdon Williams at the Lantern Light Cemetery Tour in Lebanon.

Annoucing

Auditions for Glendower Historic Characters

The Warren County Historical Society announces auditions for the Glendower Historic Characters beginning March 27 through April 28, 2012. Anyone wishing to volunteer as a historic character should call 513-932-1817 to set up an interview. 

The Glendower Historic Characters (GHCS) are an all-volunteer group who portray people from Warren County’s history. Many of the GHCS act as tour guides at Glendower Historic Mansion. Others portray Lebanon’s dear departed at the Lantern Light Cemetery Tours and the Pioneer Cemetery Tours.  

Persons interested in volunteering should like history and be willing to study their character in detail. Volunteers can also play more than one character.  

Some of the characters we will portray this year include:

 Lebanon’s founder, Icabod Corwin and /or his wife Sarah

 Mathias and/or Patience Corwin, parents of Governor Thomas Corwin

Governor Tom Corwin

 teacher Francis Dunlavy and/ or his wife, Revolutionary War nurse and veteran, Mary Craig Dunlavy

 John and/ or Mary Yarnell Lincoln, great uncle of Abraham Lincoln

 Judge Joshua Collett

 Green Tree Tavern owner and former Shaker Nathan Sharp

 Colonel Lewis Drake of the War of 1812 or his wife Rachel Lincoln Drake, cousin of Abraham Lincoln

 Mary Ann Klingling of Mary Haven fame or her brother pharmacist John Klingling

One of the four Harner sisters killed one afternoon when lighting hit their home’s chimney (all four died at the same time)

 Jededia Tingle, grandfather of William Elmer Harmon

William Elmer Harmon; his brother early aviator Clifford Harmon

Sculpture Vernon Jones

Warren County Historical Society, 105 S. Broadway, Lebanon, OH 45036 513-932-1817 wchs@wchsmuseum.org

Historic Preservation Progress

At this time we are keeping tabs on two historic building preservation efforts in Warren County.

The Twenty Mile House is at risk for demolition and a concerned group of folks are working to save it.  Check out their info page on Facebook at

https://www.facebook.com/groups/135233833229620/.

If you google twenty mile house you will find several other Twenty Mile houses in other states. Apparently that was a common name for taverns designating a twenty mile point from some significant place.

The other preservation effort is Tom Mullett's work to move the Hart Road one room school house to Camp Kern.  It looks very promising. Tom's wife was a Miller of the Miller Road Millers in Lebanon.  He lost his wife recently and wants to restore the school as an educational center in her honor.  Tom and Camp Kern will have to move the building brick by brick, but a building that is standing empty now will once again serve children and that's a good thing.

Tom is on the hunt for old school desks. He's on the hunt for Ohio made desks from either the Sidney, Ohio company which made the Eclipse #2 desk or the Pickaway Company that made the Columbia #2 desk.  If you have any desks or know of any that might be donated to the project please let us know.  513-932-1817.

We Won A Grant!

Our staff is constantly writing grants to help us with projects, exhibits and events. We rarely win anything because in these tough times most of the grant money is going to social services. We have no problem with that and knuckle under to the situation.

But every now and then we win one. This month we received notice that we would receive money to support our Digital Archive Project.  We will receive $1750 to buy a new laptop and a large high resolution flat bed scanner.  Both of those items showed up to day and we did our dance of joy! 

Also to day we had two good sized tours - one a senior tour studying the Shakers and the other a Cub Scout tour learning about local history.  We did another dance of joy!!   We love it when groups visit and we can show off our fabulous museum.  Have you been to see us lately?  You have no excuse. We are open for FREE, I said FREE, on Saturdays through the end of April.  

We are just two doors south of the Golden Lamb, next door to the Lebanon Public Library and across the street from the Golden Turtle Chocolate Factory. Do you need any other excuse to visit us?  We are open FREE on Saturday, from 10 am to 4 pm. Bring the kids, bring the grand kids, bring your spouse. Just show up!!!

Blooming at Glendower

Want to see what 500 daffodil bulbs look like?  Visit Glendower Historic Mansion - just the outside part.  The house doesn't open until June 6th.

History Camp Announced

Jim Crabtree as Abraham Lincoln

We've started to get reservations for the 2012 Warren County History Center's annual History Camp. This year, Mr. Zimkus has planned an excellent program with a minimum of classroom time and maximum of interactive field trips.  There will be a sign up sheet on our website after March 20, but you can call and make reservations over the phone.  Call us at 513-932-1817. Remember, the class size is limited to 35 students who will be entering 4th through 8th grade in the fall.  See more about the camp at www.wchsmuseum.org.

Last Day to Sign Up for Jane Austen



Jane Austen's writing desk

Saturday, March 10th is the last day to purchase reservations for the March 14 Lunch & Learn event at the the Warren County History Center. Doors open at 10:00 am, lunch is served at 11:30, lecture begins at noon.
This months topic is called "In Pursuit of Jane Austen" and features well known author Carrie Bebris speaking on her books and her research.
Ms. Carter of Carter Catering has just shared the lunch menu with me and it sounds wonderful.

Leek & Potato Soup

Trio of Tea Sandwiches

which includes

Cheddar Chive & Ham Biscuit

Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese

Nutty Carrot

Dessert is Strawberry Sorbet & Shortbread Cookies

Cost is $18.00 in advance.
Call 513-932-1817, we take MC, Visa, Discover, Cash & Checks.

Western Star Archive Coming to WCHS

It's official.  Cox Ohio Communications is donating their archive of materials from the Western Star newspaper to the Warren County Historical Society.  The physical transfer is scheduled for April 19 (Patriot's Day). 

At the time of this writing we are expecting 400 bound issues of the Western Star from roughly 1876 to 2002, numerous file cabinets of Western Star photos and a very large collection of mug shots. The items will go into storage is our climate controlled vaults and a crew of volunteers will begin scanning them into database. Hopefully, by this time next year we will have the photos all catalogued in a searchable format.

Mary Ann Klingling the benefactor of Mary Haven painted by Marcus Mote from memory, not having seen her for 20 years.

Interest in Mary Haven and Mary Ann Klingling's will is still strong in our community.  The Warren County Historical Society has had an exhibit featuring Ms. Klingling and Mary Haven on display for most of the past year.  It will remain on display through the end of April.  If you are interested in knowing more about this interesting woman and her legacy visit the Museum.  We are open free on Saturdays though the month of March.

LHS Art Students Honor Museums



A few chairs obscure the total view. Center is the Warren County History Center. To the right is a painting of LCNB and on the far right is the Lebanon Station.

If you visit the Lebanon High School Cafetorium you will notice the back wall of the stage is painted with a scene of down town Lebanon landmarks including Glendower Historic Mansion and the Warren County History Center at Harmon Hall.

Members of the Lebanon High School Jazz Band's combo play for International Festival in front of a mural showing L to R
Lebanon Public Library,  Glendower Historic Mansion, the Golden Lamb Inn, the Lebanon Town Hall, Village Ice Cream, and LCNB bank building.



The view is obscured by tables and chairs but still you can see left to right - The Golden Lamb Inn, the City Building or Town Hall with a working clock in the tower and the Village Ice Cream parlor.

Quilt Show a Huge Success



Betty Sue O'Dell's quilted day coat and her crazy quilt, in cottons.

In case you missed it (I think there can't be too many of you out there) here' some pictures from one of the special exhibits at the 2012 "Lebanon Quilt & Fabric Arts Show & Sale".


Betty Sue O'Dell's quilted evening wear in silks and velvet inspired by 19th century crazy quilts.

Detail of the evening coat complete with quilted evening bag

Quilt Show opens 10:00 Friday

Ok. The 29th annual Lebanon Quilt & Fabric Arts Show & Sale is all set up now. I wish I had the time to make one of everything!!! Such gorgeous stuff.  The quilts are beautiful, the kits are fantastic. The button man is here and so is the lady who makes hand sewn band boxes. And the quilts, you must see the quilts!! 

While you are here check out the special exhibits on the top floor.  Wonderful collection of quilts and quilted clothing. And the antique samplers are super. How little 8 year old girls did such fine needle work is beyond me.

The Lebanon Council of Garden Clubs is selling chances for the quilt their members hand pieced and quilted. It is pictured below and is called "Nedra's Garden" in honor of Nedra Whittington who donated the fabric.  Nedra's collection of wonderful handmade quilts is one of the special exhibits.  You don't want to miss it. While you are in the Special Exhibit Gallery please consider purchasing lots of chances to win "Nedra's Garden".

"Nedra's Garden", win this quilt, $1.00 a ticket or 7 for $5.00

John's Birthday Party



John's Birthday Party 2012 left to right, John, Jenny, Jessica, Nancy, Rose, Rosemary and Lynley

Our Mr. Zimkus has a birthday this Friday, but since we will be in the middle of Quilt Show Madness this weekend, we always celebrate a few days before. Below is a picture from last year that looks almost the same ( a few different faces ) but we are all huddled at a table in the doorway between the Village Green and the front hall feasting on cake.  Behind John the Koisins company is busy building vendor booths out of pipe and drape.




John's Birthday Party in 2011, left to right Jessica, Vicky, Lynley, Rose, Kevin, John, Nancy, Marty

Today 30 some quilt and fabric arts vendors will descend on the museum and transform it into the Lebanon Quilt & Fabric Arts Show. Doors open Friday morning at 10:00 am. Admission is just $6 and includes the vendor show plus four special exhibits!  It's a beautiful show and one of the prettiest venues anywhere.  We hope to see you there.