The Ohio History Connection is inviting the public to tour hundreds of historical sites starting Friday and running through Sept. 15 during its fifth biennial Ohio Open Doors initiative.
More than 200 historic locations will participate to celebrate National Historic Preservation Act, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966. Ohio’s first Open Doors was in 2016 on the 50th anniversary of the act, and every two years the public gets to glean a little of the legacy of the legislation.
“This program is all about sharing stories from history,” said Neil Thompson, the manager of media and public relations for the Ohio History Connection. “And it’s imperative that we preserve these places and we learn from them, because they are part of the fabric that that makes Ohio what it is today.”
One option for piqued curiosities will be a step back in time to early 20th century Lyons, Ohio, through the Lyons & Area Historical Society.
From inside a one-time Toledo & Western train station, Mary Cooan, the president of the Lyons & Area Historical Society, has no problem leading guests through granular details of early Lyons, from the trains to farms to the Civil War to idiosyncratic residents of the area, like Edwin Smith, known for having the world’s longest beard.
“They had a lot of people coming and going constantly from Toledo,” she said of the interurban railway. “But you have to remember, not all people had a lot of cars at that time.
“And that’s basically why they stopped the interurban is because everybody had cars.”
Also part of the Ohio Open Door initiative in Lyons is the historic First Universalist Church, built in 1868.
“We’re actually proud of it,” said Burdette Bovee, a retired farmer and resident of the area for more than five decades.
Mr. Bovee and his wife, Diane Bovee, take care of the church and recently were able to restore some of the stained glass windows.
“I grew up here,” Mrs. Bovee said, adding she spent 80 of her 85 years in Lyons, watching the rural train stop wane from a community with schools and businesses to a “bedroom community now.”
“It’s the big-box churches now,” she said. “This old stuff is, well, old.”
Even if the beautiful church and train station are old, they tell a story of how Ohio developed.
Through the nine days of history, Mr. Thompson hopes the program will “give people a glimpse of the history that they might not always get to see.”
Toledo’s own museum of art is hosting one of these exclusive behind-the-scenes looks for a limited few on Friday from 3-5 p.m.
Led by the Toledo Museum of Art’s archivist, Julie McMaster, and the facilities project manager, Joseph Varallyay, the tour encompasses the history, heart, and day-to-day operations of the museum.
“It’s actually a tour from two different perspectives,” Ms. McMaster said, highlighting Mr. Varallyay’s expertise on the mechanics and operations of the museum and her own strength in its history, “what happened and and why we did that.”
Referring to the TMA as “on caliber” with other art museums in the region, Ms. McMaster said, “To understand how it came here makes it even more of a of a precious thing.”
“We started with pretty much nothing, as opposed to many institutions that started with a collection, and then built an institution around it. We started with an institution that focused on education, and then the collections came later,” she said.
George Stevens, the first real director of the museum, Ms. McMaster said, “literally had a painting of sheep, a mummified cat, and about $300 in the bank,” when he started directing the museum in 1903.
“It’s very important for us to be able to see where we were, where we are, and where we’re going through being able to visit these historic properties,” Mr. Thompson said.
Passing on the legacy of the past to future generations is what Mr. Thompson said was the essence of the art of preservation, and he hopes people will take part in the opportunity for historical immersion.
Open Doors events planned for the region include:
● Make and Take Craft Day — Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wood County Museum, 13660 County Home Rd., Bowling Green.
● Wolcott House Backstairs Tour — A 60-minute journey takes people behind the scenes to the rarely seen areas where the domestic staff worked and lived, offering a unique glimpse into the lives of those who kept one of Maumee’s finest homes running smoothly during the 1850s and 1860s. Friday, from 6 to 7 p.m., Saturday, from 2 to 3 p.m. and 4 to 5 p.m., and Sunday, from 2 to 3 p.m. and 4 to 5 p.m. at the Wolcott Heritage Complex, 1035 River Rd., Maumee.
● Henry County: 200 Years of Celebrations — Learn of past county celebrations over the past 200 years. Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Henry County Historical Society, Henry County Fairgrounds, 821 South Perry St., Napoleon.
● Toledo Automotive History: Providing the Spark to Move a Nation — Exhibit showcases various companies which manufactured automobiles or automotive parts. The Electric Auto-Lite strike of 1934 was a major event in creating the UAW and is part of Toledo’s role in labor union development in the United States. Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m., at the Toledo History Museum, 425 N. St. Clair St., Toledo.
● Beyond the Bottle — A presentation described as “everything you wanted to know about the J. Weller Company formally in Oak Harbor.” Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon at the Oak Harbor Public Library, 147 W. Main St., Oak Harbor.
● Union Cemetery Walking Tour — A cemetery walk at Union Cemetery to discuss the rich history of Oak Harbor through the tales of those who shaped it. Sept. 11, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the Oak Harbor Union Cemetery, 11565 State Rt. 105, Oak Harbor.
● Open House at the Rice House — Built in 1901 by the Toledo & Western Railroad, the building had many uses. It later became the home of the Rice family who owned the local grain elevator. Sept. 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Rice House, 343 W. Main St., Metamora.
● The Pilliord Opera House: Then and Now — Experience the charm of the historic Pilliod Opera House while enjoying the atmosphere of its current use and gain some appreciation for the architecture. Sept. 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Benfield Winery and Historic Pilliod Opera House, 102 N. Main St., Swanton.
● Museum Tour — A behind-the-scenes museum tour will introduce the community to the world of Fayette and the history of Bean Creek Valley. Sept. 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bean Creek Valley History Center, 118 W. Main St., Fayette.
● History Manor Reveal — Built in 1868 this museum was Wauseon’s first high school. Over the years it served as Fulton County’s first hospital before being transformed into apartments. It was later converted into exhibition space spanning sixteen rooms that display permanent collections as well as changing exhibits. Sept. 14 2024, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the History Manor, 229 Monroe St., Wauseon.
● Tour the Courthouse — Built in 1894, the three-story building features large hand painted murals of historic Wood County, Italian marble walls and a grand staircase, tile floors, and brass handrails There is over $200,000 worth of original stained glass on the ceiling over the staircase. Call 419-354-9211 to make a reservation. Sept. 14, from 1 to 5 p.m., at the Wood County Courthouse, One Court House Square, Bowling Green.
● Libbey House Tour — Tour all three floors of the home. Most of the original woodwork remains intact. The third floor, originally the servants quarters, now houses a history of The Libbey Glass Company, founded by Edward Drummond Libbey. Sept. 15, from noon to 3 p.m., at the Libbey House, 2008 Scottwood Ave., Toledo.
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