The Champaign County Historical Museum received “new” benches just in time for last weekend’s Oktoberfest thanks to the Urbana Parks and Recreation Department’s desire to recycle, and Urbana High Vo-Ag teachers Mallory Zachrich and Steve Wilhelm’s desire for a community service project for their students.

When the city donated 12 aging benches to the museum, Historical Society board member Candy Gilliam suggested contacting the school to see whether repairing and painting the benches would qualify as a school project. The teachers responded that it certainly would qualify.

The Historical Society provided the paint and now has 12 refurbished benches for museum visitors.

Read about what's happening at the Champaign County Historical Museum this summer in the latest edition of the Champaign Chronicles!

Shipley has been a passionate collector of early Americana and Native American artifacts over 50 years. Early Americana items include relics from the Colonial and Federal eras (1620-1820). Native American artifacts include stone and flint arrowheads and cutting implements, trade goods, tomahawks, beads and wampum. Shipley is an avid amateur archaeologist whose favorite part of collecting is hunting for artifacts in the field. He looks forward to the Appraisal Fair and helping people learn the approximate value of their prized possession.

About the event
The price of admission is $20 in advance, $25 at the door and includes one appraisal and a wine and cheese “bistro” provided by Freshwater Farms so that folks can socialize during the event and tour the museum rather than simply wait in line. Regarding the “show” component, an appraiser will be announced at five times throughout the evening; he will then present a special item to those gathered in the main meeting room.

Tickets may be purchased at the museum (Mondays and Tuesdays), at local banks – Civista, First Central National, Peoples, Perpetual, all county Security locations – and online until 11am on April 25th. In addition to benefiting the museum and preserving its artifacts, this will be a fun event for people of all ages to enjoy and hopefully one that will build from year to year. This is an excellent opportunity to have a family heirloom, an item from the attic, or perhaps something found when spring cleaning to be evaluated.

The recently-restored “Indian Hunter” sculpture was rededicated Saturday morning Oct. 27, 2018 at
Oak Dale Cemetery, Urbana.
 
Mayor Bill Bean presided and first introduced Marty Reich who described the project and how it came
about.  He thanked all sponsors who are listed on a plaque attached to the base of the sculpture.
Mayor Bean then introduced Dr. Ward Lutz who distributed copies of the original program held
June 29, 1914.  
 
Dr. Lutz went on to list some of the accomplishments of John Quincy Adams Ward, America’s premier sculptor in the Nineteenth Century and suggested that Ward, an Urbana native, would have been pleased to have this sculpture marking his grave.  He then read a letter lauding Ward written for the 1914 dedication by sculptor Daniel Chester French, a student of Ward’s, and noted that French was best known for his design of Abraham Lincoln’s statue in the Lincoln Memorial.  
 
Artist Mike Major then spoke to the aesthetic details of the sculpture and the restoration process
which he did.  
 
About 35 people attended in inclement weather.

We have worked hard to increase our presence throughout the county and people have noticed! If you have not had a chance to take our 10-question survey on our website, please do so. We are receiving valuable input and welcome more of the same. Moreover, we received many visitors at the fair and learned a lot from them.

A number of supporters weighed in on our levy campaign and suggested that many voters do not realize just how small the millage is. Others seemed to think that it will apply to all citizens, not just property owners. We’re listening and will highlight:

3/10 of a mil
in our promotional materials and further explain that this equates to about
$10 per year on a property appraised at $100,000.

More than ever, we need the support of all members to pass this issue and thus stabilize our museum operation. Contributions made to the CCHS Campaign Committee will be deposited in the First Central National Bank of St. Paris and may be sent to:
CCHS
P. O. Box 65, Urbana, OH, 43078.

As always, we thank you for your support.

-Dan Walter 

The 5th Annual Harmony Lodge No. 8 Free & Accepted Masons Car & Bike Show is coming to the Champaign County Historical Museum on Saturday, Aug. 25th. More details included in the poster below.

In 2014, the Champaign County Historical Society, the City of Urbana, and others dedicated an Ohio Historical Marker at the northeast corner of Kenton and Ward Streets in Urbana commemorating the city’s first graveyard (1805-1855) and the War Council of 1812 which took place about 100 yards to the west.
 
However, last year the marker suffered significant damage and had to be returned to the manufacturer for repair.  

“We sincerely appreciate Director Brugger and the City of Urbana taking the initiative to repair and reinstall this important marker,”  said Walter.  “People need to understand that considerable research and monies go into the creation of Ohio Historical Markers and that they need to be protected.”
 
Anyone noticing attempts to damage an Ohio Historical Marker is asked to notify local law enforcement.