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

News of the Society

CCHS Annual Holiday Celebration Dinner is Sun. Dec. 8

11/8/2024

Comments

 
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
Comments

Museum Begins $544,000 Improvement Project

10/31/2024

Comments

 
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.
Comments

Mike Major to Speak on Sculptor J.Q.A. Ward at History Museum on April 7

3/20/2024

Comments

 
Indian Hunter Sculpture by John Quincy Adams Ward
Champaign County sculptor Mike Major will speak on the work and life of 19th century sculptor John Quincy Adams Ward at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 7, at the Champaign County Historical Society Museum, 809 East Market St., Urbana. The presentation is free and open to the public.

Ward, born in Urbana in 1830, became known as the “Dean of American Sculpture” for his naturalistic works, including the Indian Hunter, placed in New York City’s Central Park. A replica of the sculpture, commissioned by his wife on his passing in 1910, marks his grave at Oak Dale Cemetery in Urbana.  
 
Major restored the Indian Hunter at Oak Dale Cemetery in 2018. He says that Ward got his start in sculpting as a youth in Urbana. He enjoyed sculpting small animals, figures on horseback, sawmills, and populated villages.

About the Champaign County Historical Society
The Historical Society 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 museum is open to the public 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
 
Photo caption:
This photo, of the Indian Hunter sculpture at John Quincy Adams Ward’s Oak Dale Cemetery gravesite, is from the William “Bill” Whitman photography collection in the Champaign County Historical Society’s archives.  
Comments

Big Changes Coming to Historical Society Museum

12/6/2023

Comments

 
Champaign County Historical Museum Renovations
To enable our staff and volunteers to move exhibits from the upstairs area, and to move the workspace upstairs, the museum will be closed starting December 11th. We will reopen on January 28, 2024, for our annual meeting.

We are sorry for any inconvenience this might cause and look forward to seeing everyone in the new year!
Comments

Christmas at the Museum Set for Dec. 10

11/3/2023

Comments

 
Christmas at the Museum
The annual Christmas dinner will be held Dec. 10, 2023, beginning with a social hour at 4:00 pm.  Dinner, catered by Amy Forest of In Good Taste Catering, will be served at 5:00 p.m. by the Girl Scout Troop #32191 and adviser, Ashley Skinner. The cost will be $20.00 per person paid in advance.
 
The social hour will offer beverages and a charcuterie service of assorted cheeses, veggies, and crackers. The meal will include brown sugar glazed spiral sliced ham, au gratin potatoes, green beans almondine, rolls, butter, and assorted small bite desserts. Beverages of water, tea and coffee will be available.
  
To ensure everyone can have a comfortable dining experience, we have a reservation limit of 60 people. The dinner is not limited to CCHS members. Feel free to invite your friends! Call the Museum, 937-653-6721, Mon – Fri 10-4 and Sat 10-2 to reserve your spot. (Reservations are not final until the money has been received.)
  
Holiday music, flickering candles, delicious food – who could ask for more! 

Comments

"Most Unusual" & "Most Valuable" Items at the 2023 Antique Appraisal Fair

4/6/2023

Comments

 
During the recent Antique Appraisal Fair at the Champaign County Historical Museum prizes were awarded for the “Most Unusual” and the “Most Valuable“ items submitted for appraisal.

Sue Evans Berkemeier Greg Shipley meteorite
Shown is Sue Evans Berkemeier with appraiser, Greg Shipley, and the meteorite which was discovered by her father and grandfather on the family farm in Champaign County. Found in the late 1940’s, it weighs about 20 pounds and is millions of years old. It has been verified and tested as authentic by the OSU labs  As this is such a rare find, she was the winner of the award for the “Most Valuable” item presented at the Fair.
Gary Shambaugh Antique Appraisal Fair
Taking the prize for the “Most Unusual” item was a folk- art piece described as an “iron pig”. Shown is Gary Shambaugh who found the item in a box of toys purchased at a yard sale in the 1970’s. He wanted the hot wheels which were in the box, but, on discovering the unusual figure, he decided to keep it. The figure was painted yellow with pink dots and upon removing the paint he discovered the figure had an animal body with a man’s face.  It is considered a rare piece of folk art valued between $250-300.

Mrs. Berkemeier and Mr. Shambaugh donated the cash prizes to the Museum.
Comments

Champaign County Historical Society Hosts Picnic on the Lawn

8/30/2022

Comments

 
The Champaign County Historical Society hosted a Picnic on the Lawn on August 28th. Attendees enjoyed summer breezes, live music, each other's company and a Sunday afternoon lunch of chicken salad on a croissant, baked beans, cookies, iced tea and lemonade catered by In Good Taste Catering. Pictures from the event are below. Click here to see our upcoming events!
Comments

Join Us for an Ice Cream Social on July 24

6/10/2022

Comments

 
Champaign County Historical Society Ice Cream Social
Here’s the scoop – the Historical Society is holding an old fashion ice cream social on July 24 from 2-5 pm on the lawn of the Museum.  Don’t miss this opportunity to relax under the trees and enjoy your favorite ice cream concoction. A variety of flavors and toppings will be offered along with your choice of cake or pie. There is no entry fee, just pay when you order your favorite sweet!
 
To ensure a successful event, help from the membership is needed.  We need help with set up and tear down of the tables and the popup tents. Also, volunteers to serve the “sweets” and direct parking. For the bakers in the group, we invite you to donate a cake! Let’s get those mixing bowls out and stir up a “taste of heaven”!
  
We will order pies from Stephens Orchard and will accept donations of $12.00/pie if you would like to sponsor a pie.  All donations are greatly appreciated!
 
Please contact event chairman, Sandy Gonzalez (937-408-4195) with any questions and to volunteer – we need your help! This is a fundraiser for the CCHS, spread the word!
  
Celebrate National Ice Cream Month the old fashion way – visiting friends under the shade trees while enjoying an ice cold treat on a lazy summer day!   
 
 See you July 24!
Comments

"An Artist's Memories" Presented by Michael Major at the Museum on March 6

2/23/2022

Comments

 
Picture
The Champaign County Historical Society will host artist Michael Major for a presentation at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 6. His presentation will be based on a book that he is completing for his family titled An Artist’s Memories about his career of creating drawings, paintings and sculpture. He will show pictures from the book of the artwork and explain how drawing is the foundation for painting and sculpture.

Major has completed over 200 bronze sculptures including large public monuments and small limited edition castings. Those monuments include life-size and larger than life monuments of public figures such as Simon Kenton,William Tecumseh Sherman, Abraham Lincoln, George Rogers Clark, Mother Alfred Moes (founder of the Mayo Clinic) and many more.

Michael and his wife Jane moved to Urbana in the mid-seventies for Michael to serve as an artist-in-residence for the college and county schools. Their intention was to stay one year before moving back to New York where he felt he needed to be for his art career. They fell in love with the people and environment of Champaign County including Urbana’s architecture and Urbana College. After finding and purchasing an abandoned church to renovate for a home and art studio they committed to stay on here.

Major studied art at the Dayton Art Institute from the sixth grade through his senior year of high school, has a BS, Summa Cum Laude from Ohio University and an MFA from Pratt Institute, New York.

He founded Main Graphics in 1988 in part to publish books of drawings and after thirty-three years sold the company recently to Boldman Printing.

He continues to spend most of his time at his art studio at 119 Miami Street along with the Champaign County Arts Council and Architect daughter Sarah Mackert.
Comments

Museum to Host Antique Appraisal Event

5/5/2021

Comments

 
By Rob Pollock, Volunteer with the Champaign County Historical Society.
“What is it worth?”

Do you have an old object, an antique or a family heirloom that you want to know more about? We may have a solution for you.

The Champaign County Historical Museum is hosting an Antiques Appraisal Fair between 6 and 9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 19.

The event is one of two fundraisers that help support museum operations. Freshwater Farms of Ohio and the Historical Society are sponsoring this event.

Advance tickets are $20 each and available at local Urbana banks, the Chamber of Commerce and at the museum located at 809 East Lawn Ave., Urbana. Tickets may also be purchased on the evening of the event for $25 each.

For the price of admission guests will receive a verbal appraisal for one item from one of the appraisers. (Current CCHS members may have two objects appraised). In addition, there will be a complementary wine and cheese bistro hosted by Freshwater Farms of Ohio.
Greg Shipley Antique Appraiser
Greg Shipley
There will be four appraisers at the event. The first appraiser highlighted is Greg Shipley.

Shipley has been a passionate collector of early Americana and Native American artifacts for over 50 years. He is an avid amateur archaeologist and his favorite part of collecting is hunting for artifacts in the field. Shipley is looking forward to the Appraisal fair and helping you know what your prized possession is worth.

Early Americana items include relics from the Colonial era through the Federal era (1620-1820). Native American artifacts include stone and flint arrowheads and cutting implements, trade goods, tomahawks, beads and wampum.

Dan Fawcett Antique Appraiser
Dan Fawcett
The second appraiser highlighted is Dan Fawcett of Cable. Fawcett has been a collector, trader, picker and subject matter expert on antiques and collectibles for more than 40 years. He is well known to most dealers in the region and his opinion on antiques is frequently sought by the Ohio History Connection. His has a lifetime of knowledge of Logan, Clark and Champaign County artifacts. Fawcett is looking forward to the Appraisal fair and helping you know what your prized possession is worth.

The other appraisers will be featured in an upcoming article.

The Historical Museum hopes you will participate in this event and help support our operations.
Comments
<<Previous

    Champaign County Historical Society Board President

    Terry Koster

    Archives

    May 2025
    March 2025
    November 2024
    October 2024
    March 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    July 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    July 2016
    April 2016

    Categories

    All
    1800's Day
    Agriculture
    Alicia Titus Memorial Peace Fund
    Annual Dinner
    Antiques Appraisal Fair
    Art
    Aviation
    Black History Month
    Bob Converse
    Capital Campaign
    Car Show
    Champaign Air Museum
    Champaign County Historical Society
    Chester Hooley
    Christmas At The Museum
    Chris Willis
    City Of Urbana
    Civil War
    Columbus Neighborhoods
    Dan Walter
    Dr. Elmer Curry
    Glacial Kame
    Graham Schools
    Grimes Quarter Century Club
    Hermit Of Mad River
    Historical Landmarks
    Historical Markers
    Historic Barns
    History Programs
    Holiday Hours
    Ice Cream Social
    Improvement Project
    John Quincy Adams Ward
    Kiser Family
    Kiser Lake
    Levy Committee
    Levy For Maintenance And Operation
    Local Jazz
    Logan Boggs
    Military
    Museum
    National History Day
    National Plowing Contest
    New Hours
    Newsletter
    NFL Program
    Ohio History Connection
    Ohio Open Doors
    OktoberFest
    Picnic On The Lawn
    Poisoned In Urbana
    Politics
    President's Update
    Renovations
    Roger Shroyer
    The Castleaires
    The Coconut Lounge
    The Indian Hunter
    Tuskegee Airmen
    Upcoming Events
    Urbana City Schools
    Urbana University
    Warren G. Grimes
    Wendell Stokes
    Women Of Champaign County

    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
CLOSED FOR RENOVATION UNTIL MARCH 4, 2025

Contact Us

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