Rock Creek Valley Historical Society

02/10/2026

RCVHS invited friends of Judy Hinrichsen to celebrate with her as she and her family have moved south to new adventures in Oklahoma. Judy and Bill and their family have lived at Westmoreland for 25 years. Judy participated with the historical society and was a member of the board of directors for 12 1/2 of those years! Twenty-six friends joined us for coffee and coffee cake as we said goodbye - and best wishes!!

12/17/2025

Christmas trees are an iconic symbol of the season. They have seen so many changes over the years! My grandmother remembered in the early 1900s when her father and grandfather lit the candles in the holders clipped to branches on Christmas Eve. It was "quite an effort" and a fire safety concern so was only done that one night of the year! She said it "seemed like a fairy land."
The candle cups below were perhaps safer than clips as they hung on the limbs, holding candles before electricity was common.
History matters because of the stories that link us. Even five-year-old Claire was aware of the stories behind the ornaments, some fifty years old!, that she hung on our tree. Use this season to share family memories with the ones you love!

12/01/2025

The Seibert family farmed southeast of Fostoria and purchased this buffet more than 90 years ago at the Cree Furniture Store in Westmoreland. The farm was eventually sold and the family moved away. This furniture piece was moved to South Dakota with a son, Don. Now in his 90s, he has recently donated it back to the museum.
The Cree family operated a furniture and undertaking business for many years in Westy. These two enterprises were often run in conjunction with each other. The former Cree business space is now the east part of the Farmers State Bank building. Several other exhibits from the Cree store are on display in the museum.

11/16/2025

It took three men and a skid loader to set this one hundred year old steel wheeled tractor into place Friday! Donated by the Straub family of Flush, there will be more to come as we add it's sawmill and history to the exhibit. The museums are open by appointment through the winter.

07/11/2025