Ashtabula County Historical Society
Summer Newsletter
2010
NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT:
We have two openings on the Board of Trustees. Please, if you would like to volunteer or you know someone who would be a good board member please call us.
We meet every month except December, and each board member is involved with one of the 3 museums and the other activities through the year.
Society phone number is 440-466-7337
Web site is www.ashtcohs.com snail mail ACHS, P.O Box 36, Jefferson, OH 44047
MESSAGE FROM JENNIE MUNGER GREGORY MUSEUM
CRAFT SHOW THIS SATURDAY (5/22|) RAIN OR SHINE
We opened for the summer season on May 5, 1010. Open on Wed., Thurs., and Friday 12 noon to 4 Clean up day April 28 was a huge success. Paul, Nancy, Jean M., Jean Marv and wife Liz, Marge Milliken and Jack Sargent all pitched in cleaning inside and out. Marge even took the bagged leaves to the recycling center.
We had that tree on Grandview side that was in bad shape dropped, but could not afford to have the whole job done. Then the tree on the corner of Putnum blew across Lake Rd. the next day. We had to get it cleaned up back past the sidewalk. lf you need firewood, bring your chainsaw and help yourself.
We would appreciate a call so we can be there.
We need more help in the museum over the summer's No Experience Necessary'' We have so many resources to research questions. It's volunteer of course but so much fun. If you have any time at all please call or just show up and visit. Our Yard Sale last year was sort of a fizel. It was 90 degrees, but we also heard that most people areYard Saled out by the end of August. So we thought we'd start our season with a Craft Show. Weather can get in the way but we'll crowd into the museum in case the weather is bad. Hope to see you there.
JEAN METCALF
MESSAGE FROM THE LOG CABIN
The Vo-Ed kids are just about finished on the Barn. The electrician is working on the wiring.
The cabin crew are busy putting a new shingle roof on the cabin and keeping up on the mowing.
Over--page two
Page 2
Log Cabin continued:- As most of you are aware, this is the year of the 200th anniversary of the Log Cabin. A lot has happened since it was built. We plan to have several events during the summer to commemorate this important milestone. When the barn is finished we will have a barn warming//barn dance for the members to thank you for your support over the years, We hope to have a special Log Cabin Days this year. We will keep you informed. I hope you all have fun this summer. As always we can use help if anyone needs something to do.
BARRY BOTTORF
A FEW EXCERPTS FROM THE QUARTERLY
BULLETIN PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY
VOL.28 1988, NO.4
Researched by Catherine Ellsworth and Marilyn Aho
"In 1810/1811, several families of Plymouth, Hebron and Middletown, Connecticut, left their New England homes to make a new life in the Western Reserve. Their common bond was that they were from the same area and that they were all Episcopalian, part of the congregation of worshipers at the Plymouth, Connecticut St. Peter's Church. There were at least ten families in the group, including those of Sala Blakeslee and son John Zadoc and Warner Mann, Lynus Hall, Titus Seymour, David Warren, Elias Upson, Noah Bronson, Hubbards and others. This area at the time of settlement was part of Ashtabula Township. These people were not the first settlers, but they were soon the most influential force in the community, bringing about the naming of the township when it was officially formed in 1838.
Homesites were chosen by availability of water, timber, streams and quality of land. Logs of nearly uniform size were cut to length and dragged to the cabin site. Here they were notched and saddled in one of several approved ways. Additional labor was needed to make oak or chestnut clapboards, to split and hew floor boards, to cut timbers for door and window frames, roof poles and chimney slats. Usually the cabin raising was done by the cooperative efforts of neighbors from all the surrounding area. The heavy work was sped along by the liberal dispensing of hard liquor and by the anticipation of the feasting and sporting events which would follow the cabin raising.
White ash were plentiful and chosen for the building material. The 16 inch (diameter) logs were cleared from the hardwood forest. They were hand-hewn and carefully fit together using a broad ax and an adze to square off the logs. The logs were held together by wooden pegs, the holes for which were bored with a hand auger."
History continued in the next bulletin.
Do you have a friend who would like to join to help us preserve the history of Ashtabula County?
Individual: $15.00
Family: $20.00
Business: $25.00
Patron: $50.00
Life Membership: $200.00
Name: e-mail
Address Phone
Membership category Amount paid Make checks payable to the Ashtabula County Historical Society P.O. Box 36, Jefferson, Ohio 44047 440-466-7337 www.ashtcohs.com
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Spring into Summer
Craft Show
at Jennie Munger Gregory Museum
5685 Lake
Rd. Geneva on the Lake
May 22, 2010 10-4
Crafters will be outdoors unless the weather is bad,
then we'll move indoors
Refreshments too
466-4388 or 466-7337 for more info
