05/16/2026
You may have seen a post of ours, stating that we have recently figured out about some Deaths that have occurred in the building throughout history where The Ohio Museum of Horror is in Galion, OH!
Well here’s the answer, but first let me give you a rundown on the property so it makes sense.
The building is marked 1881 at the top, the year it was built.
The whole building is actually divided down the middle into four separate addresses.
For example, The Last Meal is currently on the 227 Harding Way E side, and The Ohio Museum of Horror is setup on the 229 Harding Way E side.
The second floor is divided this way as well. It was used for residential properties throughout history, and was equally divided into 227 1/2, and 229 1/2.
The street name has had three different variations over the last 195 years including East Main Street, Lincoln Way E, and finally Harding Way E.
The third floor was in operation as well, and it has been rumored for many things throughout time, mostly evil.
That’s another story.
Though we haven’t been able to find any information on that floor having its own address, it was clearly used for something that required multiple rooms numbered off like old apartments.
There are also some very creepy hand painted images on the wall that look to be as old as the building itself. Nobody has been able to explain that yet.
The first confirmed business we are able to see advertised here in old newspapers and archives, was “The Big 4 Clothing Store” in 1893.
The building also housed a medical professional in the early 1930’s, named Dr H.H. Rouzer.
Dr H.H. Rouzer was advertised as operating a Rupture Clinic that also performed surgeries here.
I made this graphic to better represent the names of the people that passed here, as well as which floor and side they were found on.
The first reported death in the building, was that of Geo Ridenour.
His wife found him breathing his last breath when she entered their room on the 229 1/2 side, right above the Museum in 1928.
At that time, The Museum was actually the most popular theatre in the city called “The Mystic Theatre”.
How fitting that a whole Century later, and it’s again now one of the most popular attractions in the entire city.
Fun fact, it was one of the first to play Lon Chaney’s earliest horror films.
While Geo Ridenour was technically the first reported death with the address listed publicly, Geo also had a 10 year old son who passed three years earlier in 1925.
His name was Carl Eugene Ridenour.
Usually back then, whenever a family moved it would be reported in the newspaper. We have no record of Geo Ridenour, or the Ridenour family, moving from a different location during the years 1924-1928.
That leads me to believe there’s a good chance Carl Eugene passed here as well, and may have been the first.
In his obituary, his family went out of their way to thank the doctor, which sounds like the doctor was involved heavily in some way with the treatment.
Also knowing that Typhoid Fever and other illnesses ran abundant during this time period in the early 1920’s, it would also make sense.
Though since it’s not confirmed with an address of death listed, it’s hard to say for sure.
The next confirmed death however, was a lady named Jennie M. Rowe who passed away around 2:00am in 1948.
Jennie Rowe and her husband John Rowe were one of the very first documented residents of 227 1/2 dating all the way back to 1910’s and potentially earlier.
They are first documented as the Rau Family in old newspapers and Consensus records, a spelling variation of Rowe.
Jennie loved the place, staying there literally for the rest of her life.
She was also prominently known for hosting many parties, gatherings, and woman’s groups.
There was also gatherings held for the local Church!
What’s very interesting about figuring out this detail, is ever since I first acquired the building, I always heard stories about how the previous owner saw with his own eyes a Lady in White.
Now it seems like everyone has a story like that, so I admit I was a little cautious and skeptical to take that information in without seeing anything myself.
Well the last year of experiences we’ve had at the building personally, along with the news about this lady, really starts to add up with the description of who she was.
So all in all, two deaths total. Potentially three.
At least, that’s been reported.
This is just a few pieces of very interesting building history I learned about The Ohio Museum of Horror in Galion, OH!
I encourage you all to stop out and visit, and who knows, maybe you’ll be the next to see the Lady in White!
