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Prior
to the Civil War, the Underground Railroad helped runaway slaves
on their way to freedom in Canada. Those who aided the runaways
were called “conductors” and the places they where they hid
fugitive slaves were known as “stations.” There were
at least three Underground Railroad stations in Marion County
and a portion of the exhibit is dedicated to those
conductors.
The
Knights of the Golden Circle was a secret order of Southern
sympathizers in the North during the Civil War. Its members were
known as Copperheads. In Ohio the group was largely
composed of Peace Democrats, who felt that the Civil War was a
mistake and that the increasing power of the federal government
was leading toward tyranny. Many modern-day Marionites
don’t realize the connections, Clement L. Vallandigham,
prominent member of the KGC had in Marion County early in the
Civil War. In addition, several prominent local citizens
were arrested for disloyalty and held for a time at Cleveland.
At the time of the Civil War, the Democratic Party dominated
Marion County politics. Abraham Lincoln failed to carry
the county in either of his presidential bids. Even so,
when the southern states seceded and Lincoln called for
volunteers to help put down the rebellion, Marion County men
responded. Within ten days, two full companies of Marion
County volunteers (about 200 men) went to Columbus for
training. An article in the May 2, 1861 Marion Democratic
Mirror by one of these volunteers states, “A gentleman from
Columbus informs us that the two companies from Marion are among
the finest looking and the most promising soldiers at Camp
Jackson.”
Of Marion County’s approximately 2,000 Civil War soldiers, 65
were killed in battle. Another 290 died of other causes
while serving in the military. Marion County was indeed
fortunate that so many of its soldiers “came marching home.”
Major
Collections:
Some
of the notable items in the collections are: a large collection
of political badges used during the 1920 Presidential campaign;
a complete collection of Warren G. Harding memorabilia (Marion
was Harding's home town); quilts and coverlets dating to the
mid-19th century; a wood cradle used by an early Marion County
family; twelve dinner plates from the Hardings' White House
china; a unique ink-on- paper group silhouette drawing of the
Von Heyde family, some of whom settled in Marion County; an 1879
hand-pulled pumper used by the Marion Fire Department; an
important collection of photographs relating to the Village of
Prospect, located in southern Marion County; trophies and
memorabilia related to the 1938 Miss America reign of Marilyn
Meseke, a Marionite; and a record of stock sales by the Marion
County Bank in the 1890s.
Two
large collections of tools (mostly farm tools) help create an
understanding of the type of work done on the farms of Marion
County. As fewer people have direct connections to the farm, the
significance of these collections will be even greater. Marion
was a booming city in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A
wealth of material in the collections relating to this era
reflects this. Notable artifacts include Victorian era parlor
furnishings; catalogs and promotional material produced by The
Huber Manufacturing Company and The Marion Steam Shovel Company,
Marion's leading industries during that time; records and
ephemera from the YMCA, Women's Christian Temperance Union, and
other organizations; and photographs of individuals, families,
businesses, and social and cultural events.
Major
Research Fields:
The
collections of The Marion County Historical Society preserve
important aspects of Marion County's cultural heritage and
provide valuable insight into the past. We strive to assist
Marion Countians, scholars, and researchers alike. During World
War II, the U. S. Army acquired a large parcel of land in Marion
County. There they built the Scioto Ordnance Plant, Marion
Engineer Depot, and a prisoner-of-war camp. The former owners of
the land gave up family farms, a church, and their community to
support the war effort. In the 1960s River Valley Middle School
and River Valley High School were built on the site and were
later found to have high rates of cancer among former students.
Between 1998 and 2008 the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency,
U. S. Army, and others studied the site to determine whether
cancer-causing materials were dumped there. All consulted MCHS
collections.
Permanent
Exhibits:
On permanent display is Prince Imperial is a Norman, (a
breed now called Percheron) horse born in France in 1865.
Jacob Howser obtained Prince Imperial in 1868 from the stables
of Napoleon III. Mr. Howser was a partner in The Marion
Stock Importing Company and traveled regularly to Europe to buy
stock to improve local bloodlines.
Prince
Imperial became well known because of his unusually long mane,
foretop, and tail. For many years he held the world’s
record for the longest mane. He became a family pet of the
Howser family and was shown at fairs and similar gatherings
throughout the region. When he died, his body was packed in ice
and sent by rail to Rochester, New York. There, the Ward
Scientific Company, the same company that had stuffed the famous
circus elephant, Jumbo, prepared Prince Imperial, stuffing and
mounting the body. For a time, the stuffed horse was kept
in the parlor of the Howser home. The family continued to
exhibit Prince Imperial’s body publicly. Horse lovers may
notice that in our exhibit Prince Imperial’s mane hangs on the
wrong side of his body. This was done for display
purposes. The boards on the divider behind the horse are
from the crate in which the horse was moved from place to place
to be exhibited after his death.
MCHS’s
also has two rooms filled with Harding Presidential
Collections which chronicle the life and career of Warren G.
Harding of Marion, 29th President of the United States. This
display includes a large collection of political badges used
during the 1920 Presidential campaign and an extensive
collection of Warren G. Harding memorabilia.
Rinker/Howser
Resource Center: The Marion County Historical
Society and the Marion Area Genealogy Society jointly operate
the Rinker/Howser Resource Center, a research facility for
Marion County and Ohio history. Resources include books,
manuscripts, family histories, bound Marion newspapers, videos,
audiotapes and Family Tree Maker software.
2013
Calendar of Events:
Night
at Heritage Hall Gala Opening at Heritage Hall
March
21
Thurs. 6:00-8pm pm
The
Marion County Historical Society presents our first gala event
with costumed re enactors portraying historic personalities,
hors d’ouevres, and beverages.
Tickets are $15 individual and $25 per couple. For
more info call MCHS at 740-387-4255.
Night
at Heritage Hall at Heritage Hall
March
22 & 23 Friday& Saturday
7:00-9:30pm
Exhibits Come to Life During “A Night at Heritage Hall”
Imagine
roaming Heritage Hall at night! Picture yourself, as the doors
close and the lights dim, you and your family head out with
flashlights in search of adventure.
There
are interesting characters around every corner. Courageous
participants explore the dimly lit museum with flashlights, meet
historic personalities and discover many new things about the
past as they travel among exhibits throughout Heritage Hall that
spring to life to tell their stories.
Pre-registration
for non-members is $7 per person;
Tickets
at the door are $8.
Pre-registration
for members is $3.50 per person;
Tickets
at the door are $4.
Tour
times: Friday, March 22 , 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM.
Saturday,
March 23, 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM
To register your family or group for one of the flashlight
tours, send your check or money order to NAHH Heritage Hall, 169
East Church Street, Marion OH 43302 (be sure to specify
which night) or purchase tickets online at
www.marionhistory.com.
For
more info call MCHS at 740-387-4255.
The
pre registration deadline is March 22. Registration is
limited so don’t delay!
Lincoln
and Constitution Exhibit opening at Heritage Hall
April
20 Sat. 1-4 pm
Using
the Constitution as the cohesive thread, “Lincoln: The
Constitution and the Civil War” offers a fresh and innovative
perspective on Lincoln that focuses on his struggle to meet the
political and constitutional challenges of the Civil War.
Organized thematically, the exhibition explores how Lincoln used
the Constitution to confront three intertwined crises of the
war—the secession of Southern states, slavery, and wartime civil
liberties. Visitors will leave the exhibition with a more
complete understanding of Abraham Lincoln as president and the
Civil War as the nation’s gravest constitutional crisis. This
exhibit will be at Heritage Hall through May of 2013.
A
Rebellion to Remember; Heroes, Spies and Copperheads, Panel
discussion,
dinner/winetasting
Palace May Pavilion
April
20 Sat. 5:30- 9pm
Join
MCHS at 5:30 PM on April 20 at the Palace Theater Pavilion in
Marion for our annual themed dinner and panel discussion.
This year’s event focuses on the Civil War and features costumed
re-enactors portraying key players on both sides of the
conflict. The evening includes a wine tasting featuring locally
produced wines, a dinner consisting of historic foods where
guests may dine with a Civil War Era dignitary and a panel
discussion on the war itself. This event is a partnership
between the Marion County Historical Society and Primrose
Retirement Community of Marion. For more information or to
purchase tickets go to http://www.marionhistory.com or
call 740-387-4255.
Rummage
Sale (Open to the Public) held in Heritage Hall Auditorium
May
04 Sat. 9:00am
Claridon
Prairie Tour Intersection of
SR 98 & SR 309, Marion OH
Aug.
11 Sunday 1:00pm
Learn
about Marion County’s prairie flora and history at this free
tour. The tour starts at 1PM. Go to http://www.marionhistory.com
or call 740-387-4255 for directions and more info.
Trella
Romine Prairie Preserve
Tour
Intersection of SR 203 & SR 739
Aug.
18 Sunday 1:00pm
Popcorn
Festival – Museum Open Extended Hours
Sept.
05-7
Thursday, Friday, Saturday 12–
6pm
Learn
about Marion County’s prairie flora and history at this free
tour. The tour starts at 1PM. Go to http://www.marionhistory.com
or call 740-387-4255 for directions and more info.
Travel
Through Time; Civil War
reenactment Sawyer Ludwig
Park, Marion OH
Sept.21
&22 Sat. &
Sun. 10-5
Saturday and 11-4 Sunday
The
Marion County Historical Society presents a hike through the
18th and 19th century. Meet Native Americans, militia,
early settlers and Civil War soldiers as you step back in time
with period food and vendors. Guests will also have the
opportunity to travel a dirt lane through the south and forage
with the 121st O.V.I. during the Civil War. For more information
or to purchase tickets go to http://www.marionhistory.com or
call 740-387-4255
Behind
Closed Doors Marion County
locations to be announced
Oct.
12 Sat.
1-5pm
Join
the Marion County Historical Society on Saturday, October 12
from 1-5pm as we go behind doors in Marion that are normally
closed to the general public.
Tickets
are $8.00 in advance and will be available for purchase starting
October 2 at Heritage Hall or online at www.marionhistory.com.
Each ticket purchased in advance will include a souvenir booklet
with information and pictures of the various tour sites.
Tickets will also be available for $10.00 the day of the event
at each of the 5 tour locations.
Ham
& Bean Dinner
Kingston of Marion, Marion, OH
Oct. 19 Sat. 4:30pm
The Marion County Historical Society and Kingston of
Marion present the 5th Annual Ham & Bean Supper. Tickets are
advance sales only and are available at the cost of $5.00 per
dinner. Carry Out will be available upon request. There will be
free entertainment, great food and silent auction items
available. The event will be held at Kingston Residence of
Marion, 464 James Way, Marion, Ohio. Please contact the Marion
County Historical Society (740) 387-4255 or go to
http://www.marionhistory.com to purchase your tickets.
Dinner
with the
Presidents
TRECA , Marion OH
Nov.
02 Sat. 5:30-8:30pm
Meet
and dine with various Presidents of the United States of
America November 2, from 5:30 - 8:30 PM!
The evening begins with a gala reception and the arrival of the
Presidents followed by a Buffet Dinner of dishes enjoyed by
those presidents while in the White House! Reservations must be
made by October 26th, 2013. Event Prices $25 single, $45 couple,
children's meals available at $20 each, and VIP $30 single
or $55 couple. VIP seating with presidents is limited, order
tickets early!
Holidays
at Heritage Hall –
Dec.
07 Sat. 1- 4pm
Heritage Hall Gift Shop
1:00
– 4:00 PM Saturday & Sunday, November , December,
March & April