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Logan County History Center, 521 E Columbus Avenue, Bellefontaine, OH (2026)

08/08/2026

William Kauffman, Architect
by Beth Marshall

Architect William Kauffman designed some of Logan County’s most remarkable buildings. His work reached well beyond the county, leaving a legacy of architectural beauty and distinctive design.

James and Elizabeth Kauffman moved to a large farm in Harrison Township, Logan County, in the1830s. The youngest of their eight children, William, was born in 1857. When he was eleven years old, the family moved to Bellefontaine. His father was director of the County Infirmary. After graduating from Bellefontaine High School, William studied architecture at MIT in Boston. He established his firm in Pittsburgh in 1884 and designed many buildings, becoming very successful and well-known for his “originality and the architectural beauty of his designs.”

One of the buildings he designed in Logan County was the Children’s Home. Built in 1886-1887, it was a large three-story brick building which stood until 1907 when it burned.

In 1887, he designed the Methodist Episcopal Church on the corner of Main Street and Sandusky Ave. in Bellefontaine which is still being used for its original purpose.

The Bellefontaine National Bank hired Kauffman to design their new building in 1892. It was an imposing three-story building on the corner of Main St. and Columbus Ave. that was described in the newspaper as “a most handsome edifice, an architectural beauty, and is a great improvement to the town.” It was razed in 1966 to make room for a new bank building.

Memorial Hall, built as a home for the Civil War veterans’ organization, Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.), was built in 1894. Designed by Kauffman, the three-story red brick building still stands on the corner of Court Ave. and Opera Street. It was reported that the County Commissioners paid him $20,000 as the architect.

An 1896 newspaper article tells of Kauffman working with G.W. B. Ferris, inventor of the Ferris Wheel, on a reproduction in miniature of the great 1893 Columbian Exposition to be built in Cincinnati.

In 1903, Kauffman submitted plans for the new Carnegie Free Library in Bellefontaine. Andrew Carnegie had promised $12,000 for the construction of a town library. Kauffman donated the plans as his part of the effort to secure a library for Bellefontaine, saving the committee approximately $500. Since his original plans were slightly more than the appropriation would cover, he revised them and they were gladly accepted. The new library was a single story of buff brick and limestone with a basement. It had art glass windows and oak interior trim. The new Bellefontaine Public Library opened in 1905.

One of the most impressive buildings designed by William Kauffman is the Westmoreland County Courthouse in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, built in 1906-1907. It cost $1.4 million and has an ornate eighty five-foot dome which can be viewed from the building’s interior. Kauffman was paid $50,000 for his services.

A memorial stone gateway to Rutan Park was designed by Kauffman in 1917. It was dedicated to the memory of the donor, Rebecca Rutan Williams, by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Kauffman retired and returned to Bellefontaine in 1931. He died in 1945, being the last of his immediate family, with only four nephews and a niece remaining as heirs. He had a large estate, which included a 966-acre farm in Harrison Township, several lots in Bellefontaine and investments. Provisions in his will left the income from his estate to his heirs. Upon the death of his last heir in 1967, Logan County received the farm property and Bellefontaine the remainder of the estate. The farm was auctioned for $1.2 million in 1977, with the proceeds used to build the county office annex behind the Courthouse.

Visit the Logan County History Center to learn more interesting aspects of Logan County History. The History Center is open for tours Wednesday - Sunday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Admission is free.

Our history articles are also available on the History Center Blog page at www.loganhistory.org/blog and Sunday mornings at www.peakofohio.com.

08/04/2026

Tourism Week continues Tuesday with history, sweet treats, and a reason to explore downtown Bellefontaine!

Looking for something fun, free, and family-friendly to do this week? Add Tuesday’s Logan County Tourism Week stops to your list.

Tuesday, August 4

1:00–4:00 PM
FREE History Scavenger Hunt at the Logan County History Center! Explore local history in a hands-on way with a free scavenger hunt through the History Center.

All Day / Passport Coupon Required
FREE Buttercream Cookie from City Sweets & Creamery! Stop by with your Tourism Week passport coupon and enjoy a free buttercream cookie while supplies last.

Tourism Week is all about finding new favorites, visiting local gems, and celebrating the places that make Logan County special. Grab your passport and make Tuesday a sweet little adventure.

Logan County Tourism Week: Summer Sendoff
August 1–8

08/01/2026

Back 40 Campground
by Mary E. Mortimer

Dick and Pat Stanford fulfilled their dream of owning a family campground in August 1973 when they purchased 50 acres on County Road 111 in Rushcreek Township. Their vision included not only an RV park, but also a venue for western square dancing. As they traveled down the narrow half-mile lane in their little Volkswagen, anticipation grew about their new purchase. When they reached the end of the lane and saw how beautiful the land was, they knew they had made the right choice and decided to name their new campground The Back 40.

Using an old dump truck, backhoe, and mower, they cleared a five-mile entrance, installed electrical service, drilled a well, and ran water lines. In October 1973, they placed a mobile home on the property as their residence.

In 1974, a 48-by-84-foot concrete slab was constructed to support western square dancing, with significant assistance from Fred Endsley, a concrete finisher and square dance caller. Prior to the completion of the clubhouse, open-air dances were held with Mr. Endsley serving as caller. The construction of the clubhouse was a collaborative effort with help from many volunteers. The completed facility included an office and concession stand and later served as a regular practice and event venue for the Hi Point See Saw Square Dance Club. The Stanfords also hosted line and round dances for many years.

The Back 40 Campground initially opened with approximately 50 campsites. The Stanfords constructed two lakes, one designated for fishing and the other for swimming. Each year, they hosted a Bittersweet Festival on the final weekend of the camping season, typically around Columbus Day in October. Dick pulled a wagon with a tractor for the hayride, and they gathered bittersweet along the roadsides to decorate the clubhouse. The celebration also included a potluck dinner and hog roast and served as a gathering to express appreciation to family, friends, and campers for their continued support throughout the season.

The Stanfords enjoyed managing the campground for more than twenty years, leaving a lasting legacy through their dedication and hard work. The campground’s success was built on word‑of‑mouth referrals that cultivated a strong community of loyal, returning campers, many of whom formed lasting friendships. After the Stanford’s retirement, they sold the Back 40 Campground to longtime employee John Forrest.

In 2017, Duane and Michelle Dancer purchased the Back 40 Campground from John Forrest. Since then, the campground has continued to expand, now offering more than 80 campsites and enhanced amenities, while preserving the welcoming atmosphere established by founders Dick and Pat Stanford.

Information and photos courtesy of Pat Stanford and Duane & Michelle Dancer from a September 2021 interview.

Visit the Logan County History Center to learn more interesting aspects of Logan County History. The History Center is open for tours Wednesday - Sunday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Admission is free.

Our history articles are also available on the History Center Blog page at www.loganhistory.org/blog and Sunday mornings at www.peakofohio.com.

07/25/2026

Governor’s Island
by Mary E. Mortimer

Governor’s Island at Indian Lake was named for Ohio Governor Alvin Victor “Vic” Donahey, who built a house on the island in 1929. Vic Donahey was the first governor of Ohio to serve three consecutive terms. He was a candidate for elective office eleven times and was defeated only once.

Vic Donahey was born on a farm between Cadwallader and West Chester in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, on July 7, 1873. He left school during his junior year to learn the printing trade. In addition to working as a newspaper editor, he owned his own print shop. Shortly after his marriage to Mary Edith Harvey in 1897, Donahey began his public service when he was elected clerk of the Goshen Township Board of Trustees. In 1904, he was elected to the first of two terms as Tuscarawas County auditor.

In 1912, he served as a delegate to the Fourth Ohio Constitutional Convention, where he attracted the attention of Democratic Party leaders who nominated him for state auditor.

Donahey served two four-year terms as state auditor, becoming a household name throughout Ohio for his diligence in examining and inspecting the accounts and expenditures of public offices at all levels of government. Nominated for governor in 1920, Donahey suffered his only defeat at the polls, but he ran again in 1922 and was elected to the first of three consecutive terms as Ohio governor.

The Donaheys had ten children, and around 1925 they leased a cottage at Indian Lake on an island across the bay from the Lake Ridge Hotel as a summer home for the family. The cottage consisted of three one-story cottages joined together, with no electric lights or telephones. Mrs. Donahey furnished it with her collection of antique furniture, making it the perfect place for the governor to relax. The island soon became known as “Governor’s Island.” In 1928, Donahey purchased the property and built a year-round home. The next year, he retired from politics and spent his leisure time at his Indian Lake home fishing, whittling, and cooking.

His retirement at the lake lasted until 1934, when he decided to run for a seat in the United States Senate, which he won by a wide margin. Refusing to seek re-election in 1940, Donahey again retired to his island home. In addition to serving as governor and U.S. senator, Donahey founded and became president of the Motorists Mutual Insurance Company of Columbus. He also authored the book “The Beak and Claws of America” in 1931.

After several years of failing health, Vic Donahey died on April 8, 1946.

Visit the Logan County History Center to learn more interesting aspects of Logan County History. The History Center is open for tours Wednesday - Sunday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Admission is free.

Our history articles are also available on the History Center Blog page at www.loganhistory.org/blog and Sunday mornings at www.peakofohio.com.

07/18/2026

Clarence H. Gibson
by Mary E. Mortimer

Born in 1884 at Pottersburg in Union County, Ohio, Clarence H. Gibson built a remarkable career out of moving what most people would have considered impossible. Beginning at just 14 years old, he spent more than five decades razing and relocating buildings, retiring in 1956 at the age of 73. Among the many jobs that made him locally known, none was more memorable than his 1914 move of a 60-ton boulder from the J.B. Adams farm on Bristle Ridge to Zanesfield for the Zane Kenton Monument.

The boulder’s three-mile journey was a feat of patience and ingenuity. Using a horse, a capstan, and a large platform fitted with rollers, Gibson took two weeks to bring the massive stone into Zanesfield. Once there, it required another five days to set it upright. The monument’s foundation was equally substantial, requiring 32 barrels of cement. The completed Zane Kenton Monument was formally dedicated in September 1914. For his work, Gibson received $325.

Gibson’s reputation rested not on a single accomplishment, but on a long list of extraordinary moves. In 1927, he turned the brick home at the corner of Sandusky Street and Bellefontaine Street in Zanesfield by 90 degrees. Afterward, the building served for years as a gas station and later became known as Artom’s General Store before eventually returning to residential use. During the 1930s, Gibson moved the Slemmons’ family farmhouse on County Road 44 from a location 2,000 feet back from the road to a point just 150 feet away. Using a team of horses and a windlass winch, he completed the move so carefully that the dishes left in the cupboards remained unbroken.

Stories about Gibson’s skill continued to circulate for years. In 1943, Edgar Hall recalled that Gibson had moved a barn for him near Rushsylvania and transported a building for Lew Taylor four miles across fields to a property southeast of Marysville. Hall also remembered “Gibson moving a house down a hill near Zanesfield with green poles used on the steel wheels as pries and brakes.” Though buildings sometimes blew off their jacks after being moved, Hall noted that Gibson never lost one while it was on rollers. In 1948, Gibson relocated Lyman Means’ gas station building from East Liberty to Rushsylvania, a distance of 12 miles, where it was converted into a residence.

Living most of his life in East Liberty, Gibson spent more than 55 years moving barns, silos, churches, houses, and other oversized structures. He died in 1957, leaving behind one of the most unusual and impressive careers in Logan County history.

Visit the Logan County History Center to learn more interesting aspects of Logan County History. The History Center is open for tours Wednesday - Sunday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Admission is free.

Our history articles are also available on the History Center Blog page at www.loganhistory.org/blog and Sunday mornings at www.peakofohio.com.

07/14/2026

The History Center will be closed on Thursday, July 16, so our staff and volunteers may attend the funeral of our dear friend and longtime volunteer, G. Bruce Norris. Bruce was part of the Historical Society family for more than 38 years, generously sharing his time, kindness, and love of local history as a board member, docent, and committee member.

Bruce and his wife, Louise, were members of the Historical Society in 1988 when the Orr Mansion and the attached former Latham Nursing Home were purchased. Through all the changes and milestones that followed, they remained steady, faithful, and willing to help wherever they were needed. Whether it was a special event, group tour, school tour, or behind-the-scenes task, Bruce and Louise were often among the first to volunteer. They worked every Wednesday, as well as any fifth Wednesday or Thursday, and Bruce also served as a docent one Friday each month. He was a long-time board member and was serving as Assistant Treasurer.

Bruce’s presence will be deeply missed, his wisdom, his gentle spirit, and his remarkable knowledge of Logan County history. Our hearts are with Louise, their family, and all who loved Bruce during this difficult time. We are truly grateful to Bruce and Louise for their many years of dedication, service, friendship, and leadership. Their commitment has meant so much to the Historical Society and to all of us who had the privilege of working alongside them.

07/11/2026

The Grand Opera House
by Beth Marshall

Starting in the early 1860s, a variety of performances including theatrical troupes, musical groups, lecturers, and local school and church productions were held at Melodeon Hall on South Main Street.

In 1879, a group of investors including Gen. Robert P. Kennedy, W.V. Marquis, Capt. T.L. Hutchins and James Cowman, decided that Bellefontaine could attract some of the best performers from all over the country. The railroad had opened the town, and what was needed was a larger performance hall. The Opera Block was constructed on the east and south sides of the Empire Block, on Court Ave. and Main Street south of the Courthouse, in 1880. The Grand Opera House was situated in the rear and was reached through a main entrance on Court Ave. The first performance was the operetta “The Chimes of Normandy” on December 23, 1880. As an added attraction, Prof. L.G. Wooley, Electrician, from Ridgeway, Ohio, lit up the Opera House with the first electric lights in Logan County. He hired a traction engine to power the lights, with one hanging from the dome inside and another on the street outside. It was said that the light could even be seen in the eastern suburbs and created great excitement. This was 17 years before Bellefontaine had an electric light plant.

A hallway with light grey decorations and hanging brass light fixtures led visitors to the Grand Opera House. The hallway walls were decorated with photos and lithographs of famous actors, actresses and plays, including one of Bellefontaine’s famous “Flying Jordans” aerialist troupe who performed with major circuses including Ringling Brothers.

The Opera House seated 956 on the main floor and balcony. An asbestos curtain in accordance with fire laws was across the stage. When it went up, there was a red velvet curtain that matched upholstery on the chairs in the boxes on either side of the stage for the “elite” guests. Around the stage were frescoes with scenes from Greek mythology, plaster cherub faces and two large mirrors in elaborate silver frames. There was an orchestra pit in front of the stage for the six musicians, and two dressing rooms on either side of the stage.

Some shows counted on local stage sets, with furniture often borrowed from Kennedy’s Furniture and Funeral Parlor. Other shows brought their own sets with local workers hauling them from the railroad. Bellefontaine was on the “New York circuit” with many well-known actors and programs coming to the Opera House, including Buffalo Bill Cody, John Philip Sousa, Lillian Langtry, the Chicago and Pittsburgh Symphonies, and magicians, Kellar, Bancroft, Durbin and possibly Houdini. In addition, there were many local performances with area talent, school commencements, benefits, and church sponsored programs at the Opera House.

The Grand Opera House operated for more than twenty-five years with many changes in management. Curtis V. Smith was manager from 1905-1917 and collected stage bills and programs from many of the early performances. His scrapbook has been donated to the Logan County Historical Society archives.

Daniel Gutilla was the next manager, and in addition to having stage shows, he converted the Opera House into a movie theater for silent pictures with the first ones being accompanied by a Victrola. In the late 1920s, Harry Moller remodeled the theater and equipped it for sound pictures, calling it the Court Theater. Due to poor sound conditions and various other factors, the Court Theater soon closed. A movement was started in the 1930s to restore the Opera House but had no success. The Grand Opera House was torn down in 1956, saddening many area residents whose memories were of the wonderful times they’d had there.

07/10/2026

Come see us at the Logan County Fair! Our booth in the Merchants Building is set up and ready for opening day on Sunday, July 12th. We’ll be there daily from 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm, so be sure to stop by and say hello!

We are once again featuring Senior Class Composites from Logan County schools across various years. Stop by to look for former classmates, or maybe even find your own photo! We do not have every class, so if you have a class composite from a missing year, we would love to hear from you. We can scan it at our office and add it to our collection.

While you are there, test your Logan County knowledge on our Trivia Board and browse the photo binder featuring our America 250 exhibits throughout the History Center.

If you have an extra three hours a month, enjoy history, and like meeting new people, we have a wonderful opportunity for you! We are always looking for volunteers to serve as docents and tour guides during museum hours, Wednesday through Sunday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. We also need help with special events, including school group tours, Halloween KidFest, Christmas Open House, and more.

Our Archives Department also needs volunteers to help scan negatives, digitize files and photos, index materials, and assist with research. Flexible days and hours are available.

Interested in joining our team? Stop by our booth at the Fair to learn more!

07/04/2026

Freedom On the March
by Beth Marshall

In 1938, there was a sesquicentennial celebration to commemorate the Ordinance of 1797 that opened the Northwest Territory for settlement. As part of the celebration, O.K. Reames, historian from Zanesfield, Ohio, wrote and directed a pageant called “Freedom on the March”. This was produced in conjunction with the “Northwest Territory Expedition”, which re-enacted the trek of the original pioneers from Massachusetts to settle the new territory.

According to Reames, “The essential purpose of the Northwest Territory Celebration is to recall to the minds and thoughts of all Americans the humble heroism and the constructive determinations of the plain American citizens who first determined the type of government under which they willed to live,”. The plan was to inspire Americans with “the courage and resourcefulness of those determined men from the east to settle the vast wilderness west of the Alleghenies”. It was sponsored by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). There were 36 men from 11 different states, mostly college-age, in the caravan. Although most had some dramatic experience, they were chosen from over 700 applicants mainly for their “physical hardihood and general character”. One of those chosen was Robert Brown from Zanesfield, and another, Graham Johnson of Zanesville, was a descendant of one of the original pioneers who came on the trek with the Ohio Company. The caravan and pageant, under the direction of O.K. Reames, was recognized for historic correctness and authentic costumes.

The expedition started in Ipswich, Massachusetts, on Dec. 3, as the original pioneers had one hundred and fifty years earlier. After extensive research on what was needed, the oxen had been purchased in West Virginia. Tom and Jerry pulled the Conestoga wagon 650 miles from Ipswich to West Newton, Pennsylvania, only having trouble on icy modern pavement. The caravan was also accompanied by five horses purchased from the US Cavalry, and a dog named Buck (named for the dollar a day the men received) who joined the troop in Pennsylvania and stayed for the whole trip, even learning a part in the pageant.

The 8-part pageant was given every night except Sundays with the 36 men portraying 114 characters. The group came to the Youghiogheny River where they stopped for forty-five days to cut down trees and build boats. The oxen proved very capable at pulling the large logs out of the woods. Poplar logs were used in making two dugout canoes, each twenty feet long and three feet in diameter. Thirty-nine oak trees were cut to furnish the lumber for five boats, the cutting and shaping done using hand-tools like those of the original pioneers. The largest boat, the “Union Galley”, was 15 by 30 feet with a cabin. They also built three flatboats. After floating down the Ohio River, they reached Marietta, Ohio, on April 1.

From April 3 through October 1, 1938, the caravan visited towns throughout the States of the old Northwest Territory, being followed by two trucks carrying costumes and a portable stage.

They arrived in Bellefontaine on May 13. The festivities started with a mammoth parade,

featuring floats from each Logan County village that were designed to represent the date that community was established. Many bands, an original Wells Fargo stagecoach, and costumed mounted and marching troupes from all over the county participated. The unsuspecting caravan was greeted by a surprise when it was surrounded by local “Indians” as it entered the fairgrounds where the pageant was to take place. The “pioneers” were captured but later “permitted to live and smoke the pipe of peace” in an additional pageant of Logan County’s making. It was estimated that 7,500 people attended the “Freedom on the March” pageant that night.

The caravan proceeded through the states of the old Northwest Territory, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, giving the program six nights a week. They returned to Ohio in October 1938 after having presented the pageant more than 200 times, making the Bellefontaine celebration one memorable stop in a much larger commemorative journey.

It was estimated that between 7.5 to 10 million people saw the caravan during its travels. The Martins Ferry Daily Times said that “in duplicating, with such historical accuracy, the original expedition and in presenting pageants in portrayal of early Ohio history, the ‘Pioneers of 1938’ presented history in a manner calculated to impress the people much more forcibly than historians could ever hope to by the written word.”

Visit the Logan County History Center to learn more interesting aspects of Logan County History. The History Center is open for tours Wednesday - Sunday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Admission is free.

Our history articles are also available on the History Center Blog page at www.loganhistory.org/blog and Sunday mornings at www.peakofohio.com.

07/02/2026

The History Center will be closed July 3rd and 4th in observance of Independence Day. Have a safe and enjoyable weekend!

Logan County History Center

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