CHAMPAIGN COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM
  • Home
  • About
    • Looking Back
    • Search Our Archives
    • Artifact Donations >
      • Collection Application
    • Donations- Main >
      • Links
    • Events >
      • Antique Appraisal Fair
      • OktoberFest
    • Governing Documents & Newsletters
    • Resources for Students & Scouts
  • Join Us!
    • Volunteer
    • Become a Member
  • News of the Society
  • Board of Trustees
  • Contact
  • Historical Markers

Looking Back at Champaign County

Looking Back – Runkle Family Singers

2/3/2022

Comments

 
This looking back features the Runkle Family Singers of St. Paris. The photos are from a 1923 promotional brochure outlining “A Tentative Program” that could be presented by the Runkle family which would be suitable for Chautauquas, Churches, and organizations of various kinds. The brochure includes photos of Mr. & Mrs. Glen Runkle, their daughters Harriet & Helen and their sons Roderick, Norman, & Dick. Later Dick Runkle formed a dance band which included his son and his sister Harriet and her sons. The Dick Runkle Orchestra performed locally in the 1960s.
The Runkles Band St. Paris Ohio
The Runkles Male Quartet and Ladies Trio
Runkle Family Band St. Paris Ohio
On Sunday, February 6 at 2 p.m. in the museum at 809 E. Lawn Ave., Marty Reich and Dan Walter will present a related program focusing on local jazz history. Click here to learn more..

The Champaign County Historical Museum is a not-for-profit organization that depends upon donations and dues to preserve, protect, archive and display the artifacts that tell the Champaign County story. The free public museum located at 809 E. Lawn Ave., Urbana, is open to the public Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Comments

Looking Back – Gravel Pit School

10/27/2021

Comments

 
Champaign County Gravel Pit School
This is a circa 1912 photo (#1867) of the Gravel Pit School (built 1874) located at the northeast corner of N. state Route 560 and Millerstown Road in Concord Township, Champaign County.

This photo was contributed in 1952 to the Champaign County Historical Society by A.B. Graham, 4-H club founder. Mr. Graham noted that Gravel Pit School was one of the first one-room schools in western Ohio to be abandoned. In 1898 students were transferred to the centralized school in Westville which was a mile south in Mad River Township. Sometime later the Gravel Pit school building was converted into a residence, which it remains to this day. Many of the photos of people, places and events in Champaign County have been donated to the museum, just as Mr. Graham has donated this photo.

Such photos, when accompanied by relevant information – including who, when, and where – document Champaign County history.

CCHS encourages you to donate photos with relevant information which document people, places, and events of Champaign County. You can donate the photo itself or have it scanned and digitized and returned to you.

In either case it is preserved indefinitely as a permanent part of the museum’s archives.

The Champaign County Historical Museum is a not-for-profit organization that depends upon donations and dues to preserve, protect, archive and display the artifacts that tell the Champaign County story. The free public museum located at 809 E. Lawn Ave., Urbana, is open to the public Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Comments

Looking Back - Arrowsmith Homestead

10/6/2021

Comments

 
Arrowsmith Homestead Mad River
This Looking Back installment features the homestead of Ezekiel Arrowsmith. This is a photo of a print of a painting of the Arrowsmith Homestead. The date and artist of the painting are unknown. The homestead was in Mad River Township at 1051 N. State Route 560. The house sat on a hill facing east overlooking the Mad River valley.

Ezekiel was born on March 26, 1771, near Baltimore, Maryland. He married Elizabeth Kenton, a niece of Simon Kenton, on April 6, 1797, in Mason County, Kentucky. The marriage resulted in 10 children. Ezekiel and Elizabeth came to Champaign County in 1801 where they lived the remainder of their lives. Ezekiel died in 1849 and Elizabeth in 1867.

The Westville Methodist Church is the offspring of the first religious organization in Mad River Township. The first class was organized on Ezekiel Arrowsmith’s property. In 1801 a sermon was preached by Rev. James Davidson under a sugar tree on the land of Ezekiel Arrowsmith. Soon after a society was organized which eventually became the Westville Methodist Church. After meeting for several years in members’ log homes, a log house of worship was erected on the land of Christian Stephens in 1820. About 1826 due to increased membership a one-story brick church building was built in Westville.

Source: The History of Champaign County, Ohio W. H. Beers & Co. 1881
____

The Champaign County Historical Museum is a not-for-profit organization that depends upon donations and dues to preserve, protect, archive and display the artifacts that tell the Champaign County story. The free public museum located at 809 E. Lawn Ave., Urbana, is open to the public Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Comments

Looking Back - Weaver Building

9/17/2021

Comments

 
Urbana Weaver Building
This Looking Back features the northeast corner of Monument Square at Scioto Street. It was at this site that Henry Weaver erected a building (Photo 1 circa 1866) in 1833. It was regarded as one of the finest brick buildings west of Columbus. Mr. Weaver with his son Lemuel operated a business on the first floor of this building. At the time of his death in 1872, Henry Weaver was regarded as the wealthiest man in Champaign County.
Urbana Monument Square History
Sometime early in the 20th century this building was remodeled and became the location of Moore’s Business College (Photo 2 circa 1923). Note the changes in the buildings to the east along Scioto Street in the two photos. The Moore’s Business College building was demolished in 1961. Peoples Savings Bank now occupies this location.
​

The Champaign County Historical Museum is a not-for-profit organization that depends upon donations and dues to preserve, protect, archive and display the artifacts that tell the Champaign County story. The free public museum located at 809 E. Lawn Ave., Urbana, is open to the public Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Comments

Looking Back - Hitt & Fuller

8/25/2021

Comments

 
As with recent “looking backs” we feature another business on Monument Square in Urbana
Fountain Square, Urbana Ohio
Hitt and Fuller Urbana Ohio
Hitt & Fuller was a general merchandise store located at 19 Monument Square (southeast quadrant). Photo #1 is a postcard photo of the store in 1913. In the foreground of this photo is the “Man on the Monument” whose 150th anniversary will be celebrated this year. (Note: there is no record of Monument Square, formerly Public Square, ever being known as Fountain Square). Photo #2 is a photo of this building just prior to its demolition in March of 2000.

Initially, at this location stood a two-story dry goods and general merchandise store built and operated by John & Isaac Reynolds. In 1852, Samuel W. Hitt, a longtime clerk in the store, bought an interest in the business. In 1868, he added a third floor to the building and in 1895 a walkway over the alley connecting to the Endowment Building. Subsequently the business was known as Hitt & Fuller closing in 1937. In 1938 Marsh Dry Goods moved into the building and in 1968 Main News occupied the building until its demolition in 2000.
​
Source: Then & Now in Downtown Urbana, Ohio from 1805 by Barbara Stickley Sour 1998.

The Champaign County Historical Museum is a not-for-profit organization that depends upon donations and dues to preserve, protect, archive and display the artifacts that tell the Champaign County story. The free public museum located at 809 E. Lawn Ave., Urbana, is open to the public Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Comments

Looking Back - The Citizens National Bank

7/13/2021

Comments

 
This is a looking back at the Citizens National Bank located at 1 Monument Square, Urbana. The first photo is a postcard photo of the bank building circa 1910.
Urbana Citizens National Bank, circa 1910
Citizens National Bank, circa 1910

The second photo (#1719) is a circa 1940 postcard photo of the building. At the time of the second photo Miller Hardware was just north of the bank building. Note that during the time between the photos the cupola had been removed and the façade of the building, particularly on the first floor, had been altered.

In 1860, James B. Armstrong, a former county treasurer, founded the Armstrong Bank in this building. In 1864, the bank was chartered as a national bank becoming the Citizens National Bank. The first stockholders were all local people. The five original directors were: Abner Whitely, James B. Armstrong, Daniel Blose, Edward Jennings and William Wiley. The early success of the bank resulted from good management and conservative banking methods. This success resulted in rating the Citizens National Bank 7th of all National banks in Ohio by the State Banking Commission in 1911.

James B. Armstrong also played a prominent role in establishing the Civil War Soldiers Monument in the Square in 1871.

Citizens National Bank, circa 1940
Citizens National Bank, circa 1940
Comments

Looking Back - Hatton Drug Store

6/23/2021

Comments

 
Hatton Drug Store Urbana
This is a circa 1910 postcard photo (#A139) of the C.B. Hatton Drug Store at the corner of Monument Square and North Main Street (40 Monument Square).

At this time Otway Cooper Saddlery Co. was located on the first floor of this building just west of Hatton’s (#1690) and a clothing store, a building currently under renovation, was immediately west of that.

The pharmacy was started in 1881 at 34 Monument Square by Frank Valentine who sold the business to Charles B. Hatton in 1897. The store was moved in 1907 to the location shown. This became known as “Hatton’s Corner.” Nearly a century before, Doolittle’s Tavern had stood on the same site and served as the headquarters of Gov. Return J. Meigs during the War of 1812.

In 1910 at the age of 13 John J. Enright began working for Hatton. Shortly after earning a pharmacy degree in 1918 at The Ohio State University, Enright became a partner with Hatton and the business became Hatton & Enright. In 1928 the store moved to 205 N. Main St. next to the Champaign National Bank (#2898). In 1940 upon the death of Charles B. Hatton, Enright became sole owner of the pharmacy. Also about this time John Enright purchased the Bunnel Monument Co. on E. Church St. which had been started in 1868. The name of the business was changed to Urbana Monument Co. which is still in business making it one of the longest continually-operated businesses in Urbana.

Thomas J. Crowley came to work at Hatton & Enright while in high school. He continued to work at the drug store and earned a pharmacy degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1951. The store moved to 108-112 N. Main St. in 1963. Crowley became Enright’s partner in 1977 and sole owner in 1985 and served several terms as Mayor of Urbana.

The Champaign County Historical Museum is a not-for-profit organization that depends upon donations and dues to preserve, protect, archive and display the artifacts that tell the Champaign County story. The free public museum located at 809 E. Lawn Ave., Urbana, is open to the public Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Comments

Looking Back - Ewing's Restaurant

6/3/2021

Comments

 
Ewing's Restaurant in Urbana Ohio
This is a circa 1974 photo of the southwest corner of Monument Square in Urbana showing Ewing’s Restaurant and Cafeteria.

Ewing’s was not only well known in Champaign County but throughout west-central Ohio. The Pooler family operated the business which included a coffee shop and a bakery. Often on Sundays at noon patrons would be lined up from the entrance around the corner on Miami Street; once inside, they would often find Carl Pooler himself carving prime rib. At the end of the line uniformed waitresses would meet patrons at the cash register and carry each tray to a table.

Ewing’s served large family meals on special occasions, such during the Christmas holiday, on the second floor of this building.

In the mid-19th century, the third floor of this building served as a meeting space known as Union Hall. It was the site of theatrical performances as well as church bazaars and political speeches.

In 1863, the Ladies Aid Society of Urbana’s St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation arranged for Frederick Douglass, the great abolitionist, to speak at Union Hall. However, it is uncertain whether Douglass spoke there as there is no documented account of him having done so. In 1910 there was a motion picture theater in this building, presumably on the third floor.

An interesting note regarding the building is that embossed on a cast iron support column within is “Willcox & Gwynne.” Perhaps this came from a local foundry as the Gwynne family members were early prominent merchants in Urbana.

The Champaign County Historical Museum is a not-for-profit organization that depends upon donations and dues to preserve, protect, archive and display the artifacts that tell the Champaign County story. The free public museum located at 809 E. Lawn Ave., Urbana, is open to the public Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Comments

Looking Forward – Urbana's First Jail

4/28/2021

Comments

 
Urbana's First Jail
A 2021 photo shows the former site of the first jail in Urbana, located at the NW corner of E. Market and S. Locust streets. This Looking Forward is from the perspective of Simon Kenton, who was the jailer and prisoner here at the same time. We know that the original jail was built as a single-story building sometime before 1808 because the Champaign County Commissioners’ meeting minutes of July 22, 1808, include a proposal to enlarge and add a second story to the existing jail building. The second story provided quarters for the jailer.

In 1811-12 Simon Kenton was the jailer. Under the law at that time, imprisonment for debt was permitted. Kenton, having been “arrested” on an execution issued by Kentucky creditors, thus became his own jailer.

At this time, persons imprisoned for debt were allowed to be in an area designated as the “prison bounds.” The “prison bounds” were probably High St. to the west, Ward St. to the north, Reynolds St. to the south and perhaps to the east edge of town, basically the city limits. During the year or so of his confinement Simon Kenton frequently walked this area with a long walking staff. It is said that even when his daughter Elizabeth died, he had to observe her burial in the Old Graveyard just north of Ward St. without crossing the street.

Some years later the Kentucky Legislature remitted the charges against Kenton. The original jail served until 1832 when a new jail was built near the current courthouse. On April 14, 1832, the original jail building was auctioned off to Matthew Magrew and John Owen for $390.

The Champaign County Historical Museum is a not-for-profit organization that depends upon donations and dues to preserve, protect, archive and display the artifacts that tell the Champaign County story. The free public museum located at 809 E. Lawn Ave., Urbana, is open to the public Tues. - Fri. 10-4 and Sat. 10-2.
Comments

Looking Forward: The Patrick House

1/19/2021

Comments

 
Patrick House Urbana Ohio
The Patrick House
This is a 2020 photo of the southeast corner of Scioto and Kenton streets. Circa 1811, a small log schoolhouse was erected here. This Looking Forward is from the perspective of Joshua Antrim, author of The History of Champaign and Logan Counties – From Their First Settlement, written in 1872. Antrim attended this subscription school. He recalled teachers including William Stephens, John C. Pearson, Henry Drake and George Bell. Schoolmates surviving at that time included Col. Douglas Luce, Joseph A. Reynolds and Mrs. Horace Muzzy. This address now is 301 Scioto, known as The Patrick House, built in 1855. 

The Champaign County Historical Museum is a not-for-profit organization that depends upon donations and dues to preserve, protect, archive and display the artifacts that tell the Champaign County story. The free public museum located at 809 E. Lawn Ave., Urbana, is open to the public Tues. – Fri. 10-4 and Sat. 10-2.
Comments
<<Previous

    Looking Back at Champaign County

    The Champaign County Historical Society strives to highlight historical people, places and events throughout Champaign County.  If you have photos of historical significance that you believe would be of interest to Champaign Countians, please Contact Us.

    Archives

    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018

    Categories

    All
    1952 Urbana Fire
    A.B. Graham
    Addison
    Arrowsmith Mills
    Baseball
    B & B Service Station
    Bill Saxbe
    Billy Clifford
    Bob Martin Band
    Brand Whitlock
    Bright And Son Grain Elevator
    Brush Lake
    Bud Brown
    Bunnell Monument Works
    Cable
    Champaign County Chamber
    Champaign County Fair
    Champaign County Politics
    Champaign Livestock Sales
    Chowning's Art Studio
    Christiansburg
    Chrysler Auto Sales
    Citizens National Bank
    Civil War
    Clifford Theater
    Concord Twp. High School
    Congressional Medal Of Honor
    Dentist
    Douglas Hotel
    Dr. Poffenberger
    Egenberger Building
    Elisha C. Berry
    Ewing's Restaurant
    Fifth Third Bank
    Goertzig IGA
    Grace Fern Heck
    Grace Methodist Church
    Graham
    Graham Schools
    Grimes Field
    Harness Racing Sulkies
    Harrison Township
    Hatton Drug Store
    Honeywell
    Howard Supply Company
    Jimmy Mattern
    John Quincy Adams Ward
    Joseph C. Brand
    Joseph C. Vance Sr.
    Judge Middleton
    Kennard
    Lantz Grocery & Gas Station
    Longfellow Residence
    Looking Back Champaign County
    Looking Forward
    Mad River Valley
    Marion Ross
    Mechanicsburg
    Mercy Memorial
    Miami Granite Co.
    Military History
    Mohrlite Co.
    Monument Square District
    Moore's Business College
    Mumford's Potato Chips
    Museum
    North Lewisburg
    Oak Dale Cemetery
    Ohio
    Ohio Caverns
    Orbis
    Parllete Electric Company
    Rosewood High School
    Runkle Family Singers
    Scioto Street
    Shepard Grain Co.
    Springhills Jail
    St. Mary School
    St. Paris
    Strapp Furniture Store
    Sycamore House
    Terre Haute School
    Thackery
    The Boston Store
    The Patrick House
    Tornado
    Triad
    Uhlman's
    United Paperboard Co.
    Urbana
    Urbana City Building
    Urbana Daily Democrat
    Urbana Firehouse
    Urbana Fly-in
    Urbana High School
    Urbana Jail
    Urbana Manufacturing Company
    Urbana Post Office
    Urbana Public Library
    Warren Grimes
    Washington Hotel
    Weaver Building
    West Liberty
    Westville
    White-Valentine Co.
    Wilkins Trucking Service
    William Egan Sr.
    Woodstock
    World War I
    WWII
    W.W. Rock

    RSS Feed

Champaign County Historical Society Museum

Our Location

Visit Us!

809 E. Lawn Ave.
Urbana, OH 43078
HOURS
Tue-Fri: 10am - 4pm
Sat: 10am - 2pm

Contact Us

937.653.6721
DONATE
  • Home
  • About
    • Looking Back
    • Search Our Archives
    • Artifact Donations >
      • Collection Application
    • Donations- Main >
      • Links
    • Events >
      • Antique Appraisal Fair
      • OktoberFest
    • Governing Documents & Newsletters
    • Resources for Students & Scouts
  • Join Us!
    • Volunteer
    • Become a Member
  • News of the Society
  • Board of Trustees
  • Contact
  • Historical Markers