HOCKING COUNTY HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY AND MUSEUM

10/18/2026

Hocking County Historical Society

The Last Public Meeting of 2026 is scheduled Thursday October 24th at 7 p.m. at 64 N. Culver St. Logan.
Following a short business meeting the guest speaker for the Hocking County Historical Society’s meeting will be Dan Imhoff, OSU Retiree. Dan has focused on environmental protection, watershed stewardship, and public education.
Mr. Imhoff was born and raised in south-central Ohio. Imhoff has maintained a strong connection to the region and its natural resources.
In 2000, he co-founded Watershed Media with Roberto Carra. Their work included books and campaigns on green building, packaging bans, conservation farming, and agricultural reform.
Imhoff later worked as a surface-water specialist for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and served for many years on the Hocking River Commission. Both his professional work and recreation have centered on the Hocking River watershed.
After retiring from public service, Imhoff continued his environmental advocacy. He kayaked from the Hocking River to New Orleans and now speaks about watershed history, conservation, and community stewardship. His presentations include “The Hocking River: Our Shared Aquatic Resource.”
Come and learn how the natural history of the Hocking River watershed influences stream ecology, plants, small and larger animals, as well as human impact and uses of the river. He described how its tributaries and natural resources shaped settlement and industrial development across Ohio and the Midwest.

The museum will officially be closed close during November and reopen in April of 2027. Everyone is invited to attend.

10/18/2026

Congratulations Logan in Bloom Volunteers!

City of Logan, Ohio, USA
5 Blooms
Hocking Hills Butterfly Trail

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Montréal, Québec, October 17th, 2026 —
The City of Logan received a rating of 5 Blooms and a special mention for Hocking Hills Butterfly Trail during the 2026 National/International Symposium and Awards Ceremonies in the City of Montréal, Québec. The City of Logan participated in the International Challenge Small category along with Costigliole d'Asti, Italy.

Over the summer, trained volunteer judges travelled to participating communities to evaluate the overall contributions of municipal council and departments; industry; businesses and the private sector – including volunteer efforts – regarding the following criteria: Community Appearance, Environmental Action, Heritage Conservation, Tree Management, Landscape and Plant & Floral Displays.
Following their evaluation, volunteer judges Angela Vieth and Brad Beatty wrote: “The Hocking Hills Butterfly Trail is an innovative and engaging initiative that creatively combines public art, environmental education and community exploration. Fourteen colourful butterfly-wing installations located throughout the community encourage residents and visitors to discover Logan’s parks, gardens and public spaces while increasing awareness of pollinators and the important role they play in the environment. The interactive nature of the trail makes environmental education accessible and fun for all ages, while also creating memorable photo opportunities and encouraging people to explore different areas of the community. The initiative reflects strong community collaboration and demonstrates how creativity can be used to promote environmental stewardship, tourism and civic pride. The Hocking Hills Butterfly Trail is a distinctive project that celebrates both the natural environment and the character of Logan.”.

Within the actual context of climate changes and environmental concerns, communities involved in the program can be proud of their efforts, which provide real and meaningful environmental solutions and benefit all of society.

For a complete list of the results, please visit www.communitiesinbloom.ca.

About Communities in Bloom
Communities in Bloom is a Canadian volunteer and partnership-driven non-profit organization that uses a multi-tiered competitive evaluation process to foster community strength, involvement and continuous improvement. This is accomplished by nurturing environmental sustainability, enhancements of green spaces, and heritage conservation, in cultural and natural environments encompassing municipal, residential, commercial, and institutional spaces. For more information about Communities in Bloom, visit www.communitiesinbloom.ca.

10/16/2026

For those who don't know, we'll be hosting Little Cities of Black Diamonds Day at the Tecumseh Theater! We hope you'll join us in the historic Opera House on Saturday, October 24!

Next weekend will celebrate the history of Southeast Ohio with a day of exhibits, tours, talks on the importance of preservation, and more. Stop by from 1 to 6 p.m. at 116 W. Main St. in Shawnee for this free community event. All are welcome!

Then, keep the fun going with our Full Moon Canoe event at Tecumseh Lake from 7 to 10 p.m.! 🛶🌕 Enjoy a beautiful evening on the water, gather around the campfire and roast marshmallows. It's the perfect way to round out a day celebrating the history and natural beauty of our region. Canoes are provided!

We hope to see you there!

Poster provided by the Little Cities of Black Diamonds Council

10/15/2026

Saturday Indoor and Outdoor Yard Sale
You can purchase items by donations, or you can stuff a box for $5. (We have lots of various size boxes.)
We are cleaning out our storage building at the Hocking County Historical Society 64 N. Culver St. Logan, Ohio.
The Yard Sale will be Saturday 9 – 3 p.m. 64 N. Culver Street.
Lots of glassware sets, dishes, craft items, Christmas Decorations, purses, lamps, kitchen items, vaporizer, foot bath, kitchen utensils, highchair, baby items, etc.
Very few items will be pre-priced. Antique 1950s baby bed set and some other antiques will be fairly priced. Logan Year books from 1910s through 1960s for example are just $5. each.
Bookcase, desks, file cabinet, etc. you pick up, give what you think fair.
We are a non-profit organization and earn all our funds with flea markets, book sales, donations, and operate on a tight budget. All our workers are volunteers.
Stop by and say hi!

Send a message to learn more

10/15/2026

COMMITTEE NAMED OT LAUNCH “ONE MILLION CLUB” CAMPAIGN
Gateway Finance Drive Opens Monday; Enthusiasm Seen at Meeting Friday Night
The Logan Daily News of May 13, 1939
A campaign to secure funds for the construction of ornamental gateways near Logans east and west corporation lines, calling attention to the city as “The Gateway to Ohio’s Scenic Wonderland”, is ready to be launched Monday morning.
Final arrangements for the drive were completed Friday night at a meeting of a sub-co0mmitte on finance, named by the general Hocking Parks Committee, held at the Chambers of Commerce rooms.
Ferd Hack, Parks Committee chairman, reiterated the fact that the gateway project is intended to call the attention of the tourist to the fact that he is entering the famed Hocking Parks area. The gateways will arouse the curiosity of the motorist who has never before heard of the Hocking Parks and will serve to refresh the memory of the tourist who has already learned of the existence of the scenic area through some other advertising medium the Parks Committee points out.
“ONE MILLION CLUB”
A minimum of $2,500 will be sought to finance the gateways, which will be constructed of brick, concrete and native wood over plans drawn up by Boyd V. Wright and already approved by the Strate Highway Department officials. AS surplus will be used to pay for signboards on principle Ohio highways as well as other approved forms of advertising.
Donors will receive buttons inscribed “One Million Club” (the Parks Committee slogan is “A Million Tourists by 1940”). Buttons will be available Monday morning when the campaign opens.
Hack, in prefacing discussion of the campaign, pointed out that the benefits from increased tourist trade will make Logan a better city and county.
He pointed out that the gateway project is a community affair which will help not only Hocking County but surrounding cities to capitalize on a huge potential tourist business. Finance committeemen who solicit contributions will be working without remuneration, and all funds collected will be used directly to in park promotion work.
The campaign will be made on a classified contacts basis and committeemen have been assigned to various occupational brackets.
FACTORY WORKERS TO AID
Mayor Dallas Kinser, who has been assigned to contact Logan industries and factory workers, reported an enthusiastic interest in the drive both among industrial leaders and their employees. Vice-chairmen of the factory division, most of whom were present at the meeting Friday night are: Kennet Eaton, Sun Glow Industries, Inc.; Charles Riggs, H.C. Godman Co. main plant; Harold Voris, Codman, annex; Charles HGowdyshell, Logan Clay Products Co.; Sherman Zimmerman, Loga n Pottery Co.; Carl Littlejohn, Hocking Valley Brick Co.; Lewis Canty, Logan Foundry; Harry Nill, C. and O. Railroad; Earl Johnson, other industries.
Other committee assignments are as follows:
Grocers – Fred Gribble and Don Castell; physicians and dentists – Dr. Allan A. Cole and Dr. Harry Eastman; Courthouse employs – Prosecutor Hubert Lappen, city employs – Service Director Roy Loomis and Police Chief Lew Reynolds; rural stores and filling stations – L.K. Showalter; milk route – Jesse Frasure; Athens, Lancaster, and Glouster – Charles Pratt; barber shops and restaurants – Ed C. Paul; organizations – Curtis Cole; beauty shops, wallpaper stores and photographers- Irma Holl;
Offices – C.B. Donahue; shoes, drugs, bakeries an florists – William Woodard; funeral directors – Walter Leonard; men’s wear, dry cleaners, meat markets, furniture and hardware stores – Mel Harbaugh; filling stations and garages – Sheriff Joe Farbeann; financial institutions, insurance agencies, newspapers, ladies ready-to-wear, notions, contactors, and surrounding villages – Clarence Blosser; public service organizations – Sterling Smith; schools – Supt. George E. Carr; roofers and tinners, - C.S. Chidester; feed and farm supply stores - Hugh Meldrim; miscellaneous – Virgil Martin.
James D. Wells, of the Ohio Division of Forestry, who is a member of the publicity committee, reported that progress is being made on the scenic map project. The map, itself, has been completed except for minor alterations by Joe Jesensky, landscape artist at Camp Hocking, and text matter describing geology plant and bird life of the State Park area, is being prepared by authorities on these subjects – among them Edward Thomas of the Ohio State museum, an enthusiastic supporter of the Hocking area.
The committee is seeking clear and unusual photographs of the parks area for use on the fold of the map These may be submitted to the Daily News office or to Wells in person.

10/14/2026

Hocking Valley Railroad
By Ben Hayes
This scrap of a story was undated Columbus paper. I found it hard to follow.
In Columbus are hundreds of persons who know the hills and towns of the Hocking Valley coal field – several of them have been top dogs, in recent conversations, because I don’t know as much about it as I had thought I did. Of Glen Ebon, Cawthorne, Floodwood, Bessemer, Monday Creek Junction, Greendale, Briggleburg, and Jobs I have talked without knowing where they are or were. I heard that at Glen Ebon coal was mined by Welsh; it’s what Dylan Thomas would have named a colliery. Jobs, they tell me, had nothing to do with jobs directly. The place was named for a coal mine owner; his last name is the plural of Old Testament Job. Just last week I heard a woman say: “There are just two houses left on Jobs.”
If old Bessie Furnace still were standing it should have been pushed over on me because I didn’t know how green Greendale was.
When the Hotel Deshler was cleared from the Deshler Corner, I was told that her rich-brown bricks came from Greendale kilns. So, were Greendale and Kachelmacher in the same place? YES
Nils Louis Christian Kachelmacher, a bachelor, was a Hocking capitalist – was he actually a Norwegian count? YES
This began with the whistlestops and the shortstops on the Hocking Valley Railway between Columbus and New Straitsville.
The railroad, I was told has two ways of going to Straitsville – also there are both Old Straitsville and New Straitsville. Furthermore, there are two Straits – Isaac Strait and brother Jacob.
I speculated how far down the valley in coal’s heyday could one have rode for 50 cents – for a dollar could a passenger go all the way?
An excursion price in 1886 when Jay Gould, financier, was in Columbus, the Hocking Valley ran a see-a-millionaire excursion (obligingly, Gould sat in a Neil House window for two hours and the costively of the trip to Lancaster up and back was six bits.
Steelton and Valley Crossing must be mentioned. No valley is crossed; the name must have been Hocking Valley Crossing in the beginning because the HV does cross another railroad there. Lancaster Camp Grund might have been the busiest passenger stop at certain times of the year. After Sugar Grove, Rockbridge and Enterprise the Hocking Valley split at Logan into three lines.
Across Webb Summit was the short route to Straitsville via Winona, Gore, and Baird Furnace.
The second way the Hocking Valley took to Straitsville was out of Nelsonville, through Buchtel, and Carbon Hill. Buchtel then farther south is Chancey.
The old-time stop there may be a problem because there were salt wells.
Rails of the Hocking Valley poked into every hollow off Monday Creek on its was past Orbiston to Straitsville. Coal was loaded. Monday, where all the baseball players grew up, was different from Monday Creek Junction. Then there were Longstreth, Snow Fork Junction, Sand Run Dewey, and Paynes Crossing. And on and on. The first photo is Jobs around 1900.

10/13/2026

FALL YARD SALE
INDOOR AND OUTDOO0R
October 17, 2026
9 – 3, Rain cancels

The Hocking County Historical Society is having a huge fall yard sale. Most items are priced by donation only. Very few items will be priced reasonably.

Volunteers are needed to set up or work at the sale, please contact Nyla at 740 603-1876.
We are a non-profit organization that earns our funds by fundraisers, book sales, dues, etc.
Hocking County Historical
and Genealogical Society
64 N. Culver St. Logan, Ohio.

Send a message to learn more

10/13/2026

LETTER FROM UNION OFFICER’S NIECE RECALLS HISTORY OF ROCHESTER POST
The Logan Daily News of Feb.7, 1938
The death of Comrade James Allen, 90, commander and last survivor of James K. Rochester Post No. 140 G.A.R., (Grand Army of the Republic) Friday, bought a reminiscent letter from Miss Harriet E. Hopley, of Bucyrus, niece of the Union Officer from whom the once famed Post was named.
Lieutenant Rochester, publisher of the long defunct Morning Starr and the Hocking Valley Republican, Wing newspaper of the 1850’s was a second lieutenant of the Co. B., 31st Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which left Logan early in August 1861, under the command of Captain W.M. Bowen.
According to Miss Hopley’s account, Rochester lost his life November 25, 1863, at the Battle of Lookout Mountain (Missionary Ridge) while in command of his company (he had been commissioned a first lieutenant and had taken the place of his captain who had fallen). In fact, the battle proper had ended, and the Logan man was picked off by a rebel sharpshooter as he stood giving orders to his men.
APPEARS IN PAINTING
A large sepia copy of the painting of the battle of Lookout Mountain is valued by Rochester relatives for James K. Rochester is easily recognized from his war daguerreotypes.
According to the tales told by several late veterans of the War of the Rebellion, Lieut. Rochester is accredited with having often had a premonition of approaching battler. On these occasions he invariably sat before his tent in the twilight playing his clarinet – an instrument on which he was adept, and which is still preserved by relatives. His favorite number, it seems was “Lily Dale” a sentimental ballad well-remembered by an older generation. All of this, of course, is hearsay.
After the war between the states closed, many of Hocking County’s thousand-odd surviving veterans formed the 140th GAR post and honored the slain officer by designating their organization the J.K. Rochester Post. John C. Rochester, a brother, was one of the charter members.
HALF-SISTER LIVING
A half-sister of the soldier from whom the Post took its name still resides in Logan. She is Mrs. C.E. Bowen, veteran organist at the First Presbyterian Church, who is now in her 89th year. A namesake of the Civil War soldier also lives in Logan – James Knight Rochester, school attendance officer, who is a grandnephew.
Although Comrade George Burk, 92, is still living at his home on W. Main St., Comrade Allen was nevertheless the last of Hocking County’s own Boys in Blue. Comrade Burk enlisted in Fairfield County and did not move to Logan until 1916.
HOCKING COUNTY’S PART
Incomplete records disclose that Hocking County furnished 1,358 men for active service during the four years of the Civil War, and 1,875 were listed as Home Guards or in other branches of the service. Only 191 men were drafted, since recruiting, which was carried on constantly, brought unusually good results in Logan. From the ranks Hocking County furnished colonels, lieutenants, colonels, majors, captains, and all minor officers.
At least one member of Hocking County’s citizen soldier was killed during the conflict – Henry Kelley, a resident of Logan, was shot down at Eaglesport on the Muskingum River as he reflected the position of Morgan’s Raiders who swept through the south corner of the county.
All these defenders of the Union were not, of course, members of the historic Post which passed into memory last week as dying Comrade Allen turned the records over to officers of the American Legion.

The painting/photo is the Battle of Lookout Mountain November 24, 1863, where Lieutenant James K. Rochester lost his life. (I do not know which one was Rochester).

10/11/2026

Fall Yard Sale
October 17, 2026
9 – 3, Rain cancels

The Hocking County Historical Society is having a huge fall yard sale. Most items are priced by donation only. Very few items will be priced.

If you would like to volunteer to set up or work at the sale, please contact Nyla at 740 603-1876.
We accept donations, but no clothes or books please.

Hocking County Historical and Genealogical Society
64 N. Culver St. Logan, Ohio.

Send a message to learn more

10/11/2026

YOUNG GIRL DIES
Source was a scrap of a newspaper with the date of 1932.
Private Funeral Services Held for Alica McManaway
Alice McManaway, 15, of Haydenville died Monday at the Children’s Hospital Columbus, following an illness of infantile paralysis. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred McManaway of that village.
Private funeral services were held Tuesday at 11 a.m. with burial in the Buchtel cemetery. Two sisters and two brothers also survive, together with the parents.

RECOVERY OF TWO HOCKING COUNTIANS FROM POLIO AIDED B Y MARCH OF DIMES
The Logan Daily News of January 25, 1951
Hocking Countuyans who gave to the March of Dimes campaign last year may well feel they played a part in the recovery of two Hocking County residents stricken with polio during 1950.
As the local 1951 March of Dimes campaign continues, these two cases serve as a reminder that infantile paralysis can strike at any time in any family. Giving to the campaign provides funds with which to combat the disease. Who knows, the dime you give today might someday be used to help you or your family recover from polio.
In July last year, little Larry Tisdale, six-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Archie Tisdale, Laurelville, was suddenly stricken with the disease. One of the most fearsome aspects of polio is that it seems to strike a large number of children but as soon by the second case, cane strike all ages.
A quick diagnosis that Larry had polio brought about a swift trip to Children’s Hospital, a polio treatment center, in Columbus. After being there about a month, the boy was discharged. He had so completely recovered that the disease left almost no ill effects.
This was possible because funds from the infantile paralysis foundation could provide the best of medical care.
Willam Konkler, 28, of Marion Township, became paralyzed in his arms and legs on September 21. He had been stricken with a severe case of polio.
He was taken to Children’s Hospital where he underwent extensive treatment. Mr. Konkler was recently discharged from the hospital and although he still must use braces has shown steady improvement, another example of the foundation’s work.
The Hocking County polio chapter has played a major part in the recovery of a number of Hocking County polio victims in the past several years.
The chapter provides ambulance service, even in where polio is only suspected. It furnishes braces and pays hospital bills for acute cases. In general, it foots the bills for the best medical treatment available.
But what the group does for patients cost money – lots of money. Think of Larry Tisdale or Mr. Konkler or your own family the next time you pass a March of Dimes collection container.
Other ways of helping with the campaign would be to attend the annual March of Dimes Ball at the Isaak Walton clubhouse on Saturday or by attending a polio benefit wrestling show at Eagles Hall later.

2 HOCKING BOYS CONTRACT POLIO
The Logan Daily News of Dec. 17, 1958
A 22-month-old Logan Rt. 1 boy and a 2-year-old Murray City boy have contracted polio, it was announced today by Dr. H.M. Boocks, Logan-Hocking County Health Commissioner.
The health commissioner said diagnosis of each case was officially confirmed at Children’ Hospital in Columbus. He added that the Logan Rt. 1 boy’s illness had been tentatively diagnosed with rheumatic fever.
Neither boy had received Salk vaccine shots, the health commissioner said. Of the Murray City boy’s nine brothers and sisters, only those attending school had received the polio shots. Parents of the Logan Rt. 1 boy, an only child, and other members of the paralyzed boy’s family have started the series of polio vaccinations.
Dr. Boocks emphasized that all physicians in the county have a supply of polio vaccine and that there is some available in the Health Department office for pre-school children and pregnant women.
Members of the Hocking County Medical Society purchased $250 worth of the vaccine for use by the department. “Now is the time to begin the series of polio vaccinations so that all three can be completed before the polio season arrives in July.” Dr. Boocks said. It takes about eight months to complete the series. The health commissioner added that many authorities now advise that a fourth shot be given approximately a year after the third shot.
There has been only one other case of polio in Hocking County this year. A 22-year-old Laurelville mother of three became a paralytic polio victim last August.