<![CDATA[CHAMPAIGN COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM - News of the Society]]>Sat, 04 Apr 2026 12:36:49 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[CCHS Christmas Raffle]]>Fri, 21 Nov 2025 17:14:50 GMThttps://www.champaigncountyhistoricalmuseum.org/news-of-the-society/cchs-christmas-raffle
Just in time for Christmas, the Champaign County Historical Society is selling tickets for drawings for an American Girl doll gift basket and a LEGO/Harry Potter gift basket to support the CCHS mission to preserve local history.

Tickets, $10 each, may be purchased at the link below, or at the CCHS Museum, 809 East Lawn Ave., Urbana (open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday). Tickets will be available during the CCHS Museum’s free family holiday cookie decorating event, Saturday, December 6, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and at the CCHS Holiday Dinner Celebration, 5 p.m. Sunday, December 7, at BrownRidge Hall, 220 E. Court St., Urbana.

The American Girl basket, $414 retail value, includes the American Girl doll Samantha Parkington, an outfit, an American Doll carrying case, hairbrush, hot and cold beverage tumbler, and book.

The LEGO/Harry Potter gift basket, a $365 value, includes the LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle, LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle Owlery Toy, LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle: Potions Class Building Set, the Hasbro Gaming Clue: Wizarding World Harry Potter Edition Board Game, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire book, Harry Potter Paperback Box Set, and four zippered carrying cases for blocks, board games, and toys.

The drawing will be held on December 16. Ticket sales will end at 11:59 p.m. December 15.
Online Tickets
]]><![CDATA[Free Holiday Cookie Decorating December 6 at Museum]]>Mon, 10 Nov 2025 15:29:03 GMThttps://www.champaigncountyhistoricalmuseum.org/news-of-the-society/free-holiday-cookie-decorating-december-6-at-museum
Bring your family to the Champaign County Historical Society Museum on Saturday, December 6, for a free family cookie decorating event, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Historical Society, 809 East Lawn Ave., Urbana, will provide sugar cookies, icing, and sprinkles to help your family get in the holiday spirit. Come early, while supplies last. One cookie per person.

While you’re at the museum, stay to explore the exhibits. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
About the Champaign County Historical Society
The museum collects, preserves, and interprets artifacts, documents, and other resources from Champaign County to educate current and future generations about our history.

The museum has been located at 809 East Lawn Ave., Urbana, since 1972. It recently reopened after being closed for a capital improvement project. Originally established in 1934, the CCHS Museum first housed its collection at the former location of the Champaign County Library on West Market Street, and then moved to the Nutwood Barn, south of Grimes Field on North Main Street.
]]><![CDATA[Explore History October 18 in the Champaign County Museum Crawl]]>Wed, 08 Oct 2025 14:49:37 GMThttps://www.champaigncountyhistoricalmuseum.org/news-of-the-society/explore-history-october-18-in-the-champaign-county-museum-crawl
Eight locations—including history museums, historic sites and an art gallery—in Champaign County are banding together to offer you a fun adventure to heighten your awareness and appreciation of local history and the people and events that have gone before us.

In the Champaign County Museum Crawl, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, you will trek at your own pace – in the order you choose – from one location to the next. At each stop, you’ll take time to explore and collect a sticker to add to your Museum Crawl Passport.
Museum Crawl Passports are on sale on the Champaign County Historical Society (CCHS) website here, and at the CCHS Museum, 809 East Lawn Ave., Urbana. Cost is $10 for adults and youth, age 13 and up (free up to age 12). Once purchased, passports may be picked up on the day of the event, Oct. 18, beginning at 9 a.m. at CCHS, or beginning at 10 a.m., at the Pony Wagon Museum and the 1858 Meeting House.

When you visit and collect passport stickers at five or more of the eight participating sites, you’ll be able to claim a commemorative Museum Crawl tote bag or drink bottle – a bonus to all the history you’ll discover.

The Museum Crawl will include:
• Champaign County Historical Society Museum, 809 East Lawn Ave., Urbana: The Historical Society, founded in 1934, collects, preserves, and interprets relevant artifacts, documents, and other resources to educate current and future generations about Champaign County’s history. Explore collections in the museum and in digital archives on the CCHS website.

• Johnny Appleseed Educational Center and Museum, 518 College Way, Urbana: Dedicated to uplifting the American folkloric figure of Johnny Appleseed and the true man behind the myth, John Chapman. Family-friendly and accessible. Includes a short outdoor walking path through the orchard and garden.

• 1858 Meeting House, 43 E. Sandusky St., Mechanicsburg: Formerly the Second Baptist Church, is the oldest standing public building in Mechanicsburg. The brick structure was built in 1858 by the Methodist Episcopal Church of Mechanicsburg, replacing the former building built in 1820. The building was acquired by the Champaign County Preservation Alliance in the 1990s to preserve and protect its future. An Underground Railroad exhibit, provided by the Mechanicsburg Public Library, will be on display in the Meeting House during the Museum Crawl.

• Cedar Bog Nature Preserve, 980 Woodburn Rd., Urbana: The first nature preserve in Ohio to be purchased with state funds, Cedar Bog is the most diverse site in the state for plant life. From local nature enthusiasts, lifelong learners, to passionate naturalists and experts in various fields, Cedar Bog Nature Preserve has something for everyone with our fully accessible education center and boardwalk.

• Champaign Aviation Museum, 1652 N. Main St., Urbana: Features restored World War II aircraft and artifacts, as well as educational information on the home front, 1940s manufacturing, and World War II veterans’ flight training and combat experiences. Also offers an opportunity to talk with and observe volunteers who are restoring the B-17 Champaign Lady to air worthiness at the museum.

• Grimes Flying Lab Museum, 1636 N. Main St., Urbana: Showcases the history of Warren Grimes and Grimes Manufacturing Company. Houses the Grimes Flying Lab Beech 18 aircraft.

• Pony Wagon Museum, 510 Washington St., St. Paris: Located in the original Pennsylvania freight house, the museum displays artifacts connected to the St. Paris area, including world-renowned Walborn & Riker Pony Wagons. Offers a scavenger hunt for younger visitors.

• Champaign County Arts Council, 119 Miami St., Urbana: Featuring Visions in Landscapes, a joint exhibit by local watercolor artist Rhonda Sloan and photographer Pete Dysinger

For more information, contact the CCHS Museum, 937-653-6721 or champaigncohistory@gmail.com.

]]><![CDATA[Champaign County After Dark Event Coming to the Museum in September - SOLD OUT]]>Wed, 03 Sep 2025 12:44:14 GMThttps://www.champaigncountyhistoricalmuseum.org/news-of-the-society/champaign-county-after-dark-event-coming-to-the-museum-september-13th
The encore presentation on Sept. 20 has also SOLD OUT.
Join us September 20 at 6 p.m. for Champaign County After Dark, an intriguing, entertaining look at the darker side of Champaign County history.

Champaign County Historical Society Museum Director Cheryl Ogden will be your guide to nefarious, scandalous tales from Champaign County’s pre-1930s past. She’s dug into the CCHS archives to unearth and research stories to keep you on the edge of your seat.
She’ll spill the tea on true tales of murder, adultery, robbery and other eyebrow-raising transgressions, while you savor hors d'oeuvres, served with nonalcoholic beverages.

Proceeds support the Historical Society’s mission to collect, preserve and interpret relevant artifacts, documents and other resources from Champaign County to educate current and future generations about our history.
]]><![CDATA[Mark Evans to Present Free Program on Underground Railroad on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025 at 2pm]]>Wed, 20 Aug 2025 15:45:27 GMThttps://www.champaigncountyhistoricalmuseum.org/news-of-the-society/mark-evans-to-present-free-program-on-underground-railroad-on-saturday-aug-30-2025-at-2pm
A historical marker dedicated to conductors on the Underground Railroad in Champaign County is now part of the National Park Service’s Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program as a National Underground Railroad Memorial.

Mark Evans, a descendant of Underground Railroad conductors Lewis and Susan Adams, and whose research led to the historical marker’s installation at Freedom Grove in Urbana, will speak at a free presentation at the Champaign County Historical Society, at 2 p.m. Saturday, August 30.
]]><![CDATA[Descendant to Share Story of Addison White’s Flight to Freedom in Mechanicsburg Free Program July 27 at Historical Society]]>Tue, 15 Jul 2025 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.champaigncountyhistoricalmuseum.org/news-of-the-society/descendant-to-share-story-of-addison-whites-flight-to-freedom-in-mechanicsburg-free-program-july-27-at-historical-society
The often-shared story of Addison White, who escaped enslavement in Kentucky and found refuge and freedom in Mechanicsburg, despite the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, will be told from a new perspective at 2 p.m. July 27 at the Champaign County Historical Society Museum.

John Booth, White’s great-great grandson, will share his famous ancestor’s story, passed down through the generations, and through his original poetry. Booth’s presentation is free and open to the public. In June, Booth, a blues musician, performed at the CCHS Picnic and Concert on the Lawn.

Booth now lives in Yellow Springs, but grew up in Mechanicsburg, where, a century earlier, Addison White made history. After White escaped slavery in Kentucky, federal marshals caught up with him in Mechanicsburg, where abolitionist Udney Hyde, a conductor on the Underground Railroad, sheltered and employed him.
Mechanicsburg citizens revolted against the marshals. White was ultimately freed when Mechanicsburg residents agreed to purchase his freedom.

About the Champaign County Historical Society
The museum collects, preserves, and interprets artifacts, documents, and other resources from Champaign County to educate current and future generations about our history.

The museum has been located at 809 East Lawn Ave., Urbana, since 1972. It recently reopened after being closed for a capital improvement project. Originally established in 1934, the CCHS Museum first housed its collection at the former location of the Champaign County Library on West Market Street, and then moved to the Nutwood Barn, south of Grimes Field on North Main Street.

The Historical Society is open to the public 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
]]><![CDATA[Museum Closed for Renovation Until June 24, 2025]]>Wed, 07 May 2025 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.champaigncountyhistoricalmuseum.org/news-of-the-society/museum-closed-for-renovation-until-march-4-2025CLOSED FOR RENOVATION UNTIL JUNE 24, 2025

Read more about our improvement project here!
]]><![CDATA[Historical Society Museum Reopening Delayed Until April]]>Sat, 01 Mar 2025 14:10:37 GMThttps://www.champaigncountyhistoricalmuseum.org/news-of-the-society/historical-society-museum-reopening-delayed-until-aprilReopening of the Champaign County Historical Society (CCHS) Museum has been delayed due to a vendor’s holdup in manufacturing and shipping new display cases for the museum’s collection.

The museum, which closed to the public on December 20 to accommodate improvements to the facility, will not reopen as planned on March 4. The museum will now have a soft opening on Sunday, April 6, in conjunction with a 2 p.m. program, free and open to the public.

Regular museum hours will resume on Tuesday, April 8: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

At the April 6 program, Kalen Howell Sr. will speak about the legacy of his grandmother Barbara Howell, who was appointed in 1967 as the first director of the Head Start program in Champaign, Logan and Shelby counties.

Her memory lives on through Barbara Howell Park, 213 E. Market St., named in her honor in 1998. The Barbara Howell Park Conservancy, of which Kalen Howell Sr. is executive director, has been formed to revitalize the park and Urbana’s historic Black neighborhood, empower youth, support the vulnerable, and promote unity across diverse communities.

When the museum reopens, work on improvements will continue, CCHS Executive Director Cheryl Ogden said. Painting and recarpeting are complete and some, but not all, of the museum’s new display cases will be set up. The new cases are designed to exhibit at least 50 percent more artifacts than the museum’s previous display cases and will provide visitors a better view of the museum’s collection. Updated interpretive exhibit signage will also enhance visitors’ experience.

“We look forward to welcoming back visitors and apologize for the delay, though it’s something we couldn’t control,” Ogden said. “Once all work is complete, we will invite the public to a grand reopening event.”

About the Champaign County Historical Society
The museum collects, preserves, and interprets artifacts, documents, and other resources from Champaign County to educate current and future generations about our history.

The museum has been located at 809 East Lawn Ave., Urbana, since 1972. Originally established in 1934, the museum first housed its collection at the former location of the Champaign County Library on West Market Street, and then moved to the Nutwood Barn, south of Grimes Field on North Main Street.
The Historical Society is open to the public 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
]]><![CDATA[CCHS Annual Holiday Celebration Dinner is Sun. Dec. 8]]>Fri, 08 Nov 2024 20:52:15 GMThttps://www.champaigncountyhistoricalmuseum.org/news-of-the-society/cchs-annual-holiday-celebration-dinner-is-sun-dec-8
Celebrate the Holidays with Us!
Make your reservations now to celebrate with us at the Champaign County Historical Society’s Annual Holiday Celebration Dinner, Sunday, December 8, at BrownRidge Hall, 220 E. Court St., Urbana (the VFW building).

The fun will begin with a social hour at 5 p.m. A delicious dinner, at 6 p.m., will be served, buffet style, by In Good Taste Catering, featuring chicken and ham. And a dessert bar! Water, tea, and lemonade will be provided, and we’ll have a cash bar for other refreshments.

Make your reservations here, at $25 per person. Or you may make your reservations in person at the museum. In either case, reservations are due by December 2.
At the dinner you can place bids in a silent auction, to support the Historical Society. Auction items will include the creations of Oktoberfest craft vendors. Also during the evening, we’ll update you on the capital improvement project of the CCHS Museum and other plans for the upcoming year. 
Purchase Tickets
]]><![CDATA[Museum Begins $544,000 Improvement Project]]>Thu, 31 Oct 2024 17:33:40 GMThttps://www.champaigncountyhistoricalmuseum.org/news-of-the-society/museum-begins-544000-improvement-project
Picture
The museum's research and volunteer work area was moved from the first floor, by the entrance, to the second floor, to provide more exhibit space on the first floor. New computers and workstations will be added to this area for use by volunteers and the public (by appointment).
The Champaign County Historical Society (CCHS) is making substantial improvements to its museum at 809 East Lawn Ave., Urbana, with the support of an Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) grant of $474,243 and $70,000 raised in the society’s capital fundraising campaign.
​
Entry doors and windows are already being restored on the north end of the building, facing East Lawn Avenue, which will enhance the exterior appearance of the museum. The doors and windows are expected to be reinstalled before the end of November.

Many improvements will be made inside the museum, including the first-floor collection galleries and the second-floor work, research and meeting space.

“With these improvements we’re turning a corner,” CCHS Executive Director Cheryl Ogden says. “We’re not just a repository of historical artifacts, but a place where people can learn about our history.”
New display cases will begin arriving mid-November, and the collection galleries will be repainted and get new carpet.

The new cases are designed to exhibit at least 50 percent more artifacts than the museum’s current display cases, in the same amount of floor space, Ogden says. And they will provide visitors a better view of the museum’s collection. Updated interpretive exhibit signage will also enhance visitors’ experience.

Earlier this year, in preparation for the improvements, the museum’s research and volunteer work area was moved from the first floor, by the entrance, to the second floor. This provides more exhibit space on the first floor.

Electrical work upstairs will accommodate new computers and workstations, where volunteers and the public (by appointment) will conduct research. The work area will also include a new copier and printer, which, among other tasks, will be used to create new interpretive panels for exhibits.

The second-floor area will also be available for meetings and programs.

Several changes will be made to the layout of the museum’s first floor:
  • A new reception desk will be installed at the entrance, with a gift shop
  • The museum’s Woodstock Post Office exhibit will be moved to the front of the museum, by the gift shop
  • The agricultural history section, now in the addition on the east side of the museum, opposite the entrance, will be moved to the area now occupied by the post office
  • The current agricultural space will be developed into a “small town” scape that will bring together a variety of existing exhibits related to small-town life, such as the bankers window, tin smith shop, grocery store, switchboard, theater seating, jewelry repair shop, an antique car, a display of railroads in the county, and horse buggies displayed in front of historical photo murals of Mechanicsburg, St. Paris and Urbana, where the buggies were manufactured

“These improvements have been made possible by the generosity of individuals, families and businesses who have supported our capital improvements campaign and the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC), through their cultural facilities grants program,” says Terry Koster, president of the CCHS Board of Trustees. “We also are grateful for the continuing support of the Champaign County Board of Commissioners.”

The OFCC oversees capital improvement funds appropriated by the General Assembly for planning, construction, renovation and expansion projects at Ohio's theaters, museums, arts education facilities, historical sites, and publicly-owned professional sports venues.
]]>