Labor of love: Bexley Historical Society looks to the future
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| Barbara Hysell, Ron Robins and Edie Mae Herrel work together on finding the perfect spot for antiques on display at the Bexley Historical Society. |
Volunteers with the Bexley Historical Society know the future is the key to preserving the past.
That’s why the historical society is working toward uploading pieces of Bexley’s history to the organization’s Web site so that the information will be available to a broader group of people.
“In the next year, we hope to have 100 items on the Web site so that the information won’t only be available to us, but also to people who visit the museum and who are researching,” said Mark Epstein, president of the Bexley Historical Society. “We have a lot of stuff, so we’ll have a way to keep it organized and accessible to the public.”
The move is part of a broader initiative by the historical society to reach out to the public and share some of the treasures Bexley’s history has to offer.
The organization recently extended its museum hours and is now open from 6:30 to 8 p.m. the second Monday of the month, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the first Thursday of the month and by appointment. An open house is planned as well for July 4 at the museum, located at the Jeffrey Estate Caretaker’s Cottage.
Walking through the cottage, visitors see a timeline of the city’s history - dating back to the mid-1800s - through the eyes of six families and relics of the past, including an old tool box that was taken from a covered wagon in the 1830s.
“The exciting part is you can see old blue paint. That’s buttermilk paint,” said Edie Mae Herrel, the historical society’s founder and cottage director.
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| Home of the Bexley Historical Society. |
Strolling through the museum, Herrel says with photos and other historic artifacts, residents can experience life in Bexley more than a century ago. Two photos in particular show Capital University students arriving in 1876 and the then university president - examples of a simpler time, she says.
“It was all farmland here beforehand,” Herrel said. “They wanted to get away out in the clean fresh country air away from the sins of the city.”
The histories of other popular staples in Bexley are showcased at the museum, including Jeffrey Mansion, the schools and the street car.
The historical society also has plans to work on an exhibit detailing how the Spanish American War helped develop the area, as well as an exhibit on prehistoric people who lived near Alum Creek.
Herrel said the Bexley Historical Society is working with the Ohio Historical Society to acquire artifacts from 1 A.D.
The exhibit would focus on items excavated from the Alum Creek area, Epstein said.
For more information on the Bexley Historical Society, call (614) 559-4360 or go to www.bexleyhistory.org.