Museum brings life in the 1700s to Ironton

By Terry L. Hapney, Jr.
The Ironton Tribune

Life during the 1700s took over the Lawrence County Museum this past Saturday.
Ohio was the frontier in the mid 1700s, according to Museum representatives, and Lawrence County folks got a taste for what life was like then for settlers and Native Americans.
Mary Jo Martin, a member of the Lawrence County Museum and Historical Society, said history enthusiasts showed up before 9 a.m. Saturday, while the event was scheduled to begin at 10.
“Everything went great,” she said. “Normally, they wait until we’re open. They were excited.”

People of all ages, races and backgrounds came from across the Tri-State and beyond to see history brought to life firsthand. Martin said two attendees are direct descendants of Mary Draper Ingles—the historical figure Martin portrays.
“Both of them are Ingles,” she said. “One was from Gallia County. They were cousins. They didn’t know each other was coming.”
The reenactors, according to Martin, “loved it.”
“By the time it was over, they were asking if they would be coming back next year,” she laughed. “Museum folks were asking if we could invite them back next year. Yeah!”
Attendees were still there when the event concluded at 4 p.m.
“We were supposed to close at 3 p.m.,” Martin said. “People were still there at 4:30.”
The reenactors “loved the museum,” and they want to come back, Martin said. “It was unreal the number of people.”
Martin said of the reenactors who participated some came from as far away as St. Albans and Nitro in West Virginia and Wheelersburg in the other direction.
“The lady from Wheelersburg was in the building for five minutes and she asked how she could join the Historical Society,” Martin said.
Nicole Cox, president of the Lawrence County Museum and Historical Society, said around 50 people attended the event.
“I think they’re already planning next year’s,” she said. “Any time we do something that brings history to life—demonstrations and reenactments—people are enthusiastic for that, versus just seeing pictures or reading it in a book. It brings it to life and makes it more realistic.”
“The young people—it sticks with them a lot more when they can see it and hear it that way,” Cox said.
The living history day leads into the Museum and Historical Society’s annual cemetery walk next month.
“That’s along the same lines,” Cox said. “That draws a huge crowd.”
The annual Woodland Cemetery Historic Walk is scheduled for 5 p.m. on September 28, at 824 Lorain St. In Ironton.
Cox said the organization’s members hope to make the living history day an annual event and make it even bigger.
“We had originally wanted more,” she said. “We closed the side street. With the weather looking like it wasn’t going to cooperate, it was scaled down and mostly brought inside. The war reenactment (French and Indian War) was something people really wanted to see. Hopefully, we can do something along those lines next year.”

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