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 essen

For six decades, the Our Lady of Fatima statue at Indian Lake stood as a religious shrine, a local landmark, and a lasting reminder of George B. Quatman’s faith and vision. Destroyed by the March 2024 tornado, the statue’s recovered fragments tell a story of devotion, loss, preservation, and renewal. In 1924, George B. Quatman founded the Ohio Telephone Service Co. It provided service to local areas such as Botkins, Jackson Center, Greenville and Sidney. Quatman organized t

The village of West Mansfield was laid out in 1848 by Levi Southard, who owned a farm on the site. Southard began selling lots almost immediately and named the new village in honor of his one-year-old son, Mansfield. In November 1861, he enlisted in the 13th Independent Battery, Ohio Volunteer Artillery. He rose to the rank of sergeant and died in June 1863 in a hospital in Savannah, Tennessee. According to the History of Logan County, published in 1880 by O.L. Baskin, West M

Founded in 1913 by Ernest H. Harding in East Liberty, the Harding Machine Screw Company supported U.S. efforts during both World Wars, weathered the Great Depression, and employed hundreds throughout its operation. Ernest H. Harding was born in 1869 on a farm in Perry Township. After completing his studies at the local school, he continued his education at Central Ohio College in East Liberty. To afford his tuition, Harding taught mathematics at the college. H

Russells Point grew from the home and farmland of John and Mary Russell into one of Indian Lake’s best-known destinations. Its early history reflects both the quiet rural character of the area and the beginnings of tourism and recreation that would later define the community. John Russell was born in 1847 to James and Amanda Russell. The family lived near the original spring-fed area of Indian Lake known as Lake Ridge. John spent much of his early life on the family farm alon

Charles L. Robb was born on December 24, 1853, in Zanesfield, Ohio, to Dr. James S. and Elmyra Robb. He spent his childhood in Zanesfield and attended the small brick schoolhouse that once stood on the site of the present Dr. Earl Sloan Library. After completing his early education, he studied for three years at Geneva College in Northwood. Following his college years, Robb traveled through a number of western states and worked as a salesman for a shoe company. Shortly aft

DeGraff was surveyed and platted by Col. Andrew DeGraff and William Boggs in 1850, and the village was incorporated in 1864. One hundred years later, in May 1950, the village marked that milestone with a grand four-day celebration. Thousands came, filling the streets and turning front porches into natural meeting places where friends and relatives could visit, reminisce, and renew old ties. Residents entered into the spirit of the occasion by dressing in 1850s clothing, and m

The Bellefontaine Carnegie Free Library was built in 1903 at the corner of N. Main St. and E. Sandusky Ave. Before the Carnegie Library was built, Bellefontaine had a circulating library as early as 1871 that was started and maintained by Miss Lida Canby. Members paid $3 per year and were entitled to take out one book per week. Non-members could pay ten cents per book and borrow one per week. It was on the second floor of Melodeon Hall on Main Street. Rebecca Brown was the w

The Ohio National Guard Armory, located at 1021 S. Main St. in Bellefontaine, was opened in 1950. The origins of an armory in Bellefontaine date back to 1896 when Company F of the 2nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, who served in the Spanish American War, established an armory on W. Chillicothe Ave. This initial facility was a large brick home, purchased by the Logan County Commissioners. It served as the armory until 1901, when the building was sold and the armory relocated. In 190

From the 1890s through the 1950s, Bellefontaine was a thriving railroad town. It was home to one of the largest roundhouses and repair centers on the Big Four (New York Central) lines, where trains stopped to service steam engines and change crews. For a time, locomotives were built in Bellefontaine. At its peak, as many as ninety freight trains and more than forty passenger trains passed through Bellefontaine each day. The railroad was a major employer in Logan County, with

In May 2024, Don Stinson loaned one of his hand‑made band organs to the History Center for an exhibit at the Logan County Museum. The America 250‑Ohio Commission has selected this Stinson Band Organ to be part of its “Ohio Creativity Trail” under the Carousel Art Theme, a recognition that highlights Ohio’s unique artistic and mechanical heritage. Don Stinson of rural Bellefontaine is truly a master craftsman. He is one of the very few people in history to both build and repai

John and Jean Dixon earned nationwide recognition for their award‑winning Western Parade Horses and their accomplishments as respected breeders of show horses. Married in 1948, they spent nearly six decades on their farm near East Liberty. Both were deeply committed leaders in the Logan County 4‑H Horse Program, serving for more than ten years and mentoring countless young horse enthusiasts. The Dixons began their married life deeply involved with horses, not merely as a hobb

On August 24–25, 1962, the City of Bellefontaine held a grand rededication ceremony honoring Court Avenue, recognized as the oldest concrete street in America. The street was originally constructed between 1891 and 1893. Before the celebration could begin, Court Avenue required repairs. On July 22, 1962, the Bellefontaine City Street Department started restoration work on the 71-year-old roadway. Repairs included patching deteriorated joints and replacing several damaged five

Prior to the 1880s, an extensive marshy wetland, partial remains of an Ice Age lake, lay in the area east of the Rushsylvania Pike (Co. Rd. 9) south of Rushsylvania. Underlying much of this area were significant quantities of shell marl and silica-rich glacial clays. Dredging of the channel of Rush Creek in the mid-1870s revealed their existence. Information regarding the exposure reached the owners of the Alamo Cement Company in San Antonio, Texas, who sent George Bartholo

The DeGraff Canning Co. was incorporated in April 1907 to process corn and tomatoes. Early operations were substantial; one report noted forty women peeling tomatoes and the facility processing 500 bushels in a single day, with only 84 bushels remaining by nightfall. Workers were paid four cents per bucket, and their checks were accepted as cash throughout DeGraff. At peak performance, the plant produced 18,000 cans of tomatoes in a day and achieved a test rate of 76 cans per

The Bellefontaine Mattress & Upholstering Co. produced mattresses, comforts, pillows, bed springs, mattress protectors, and wagon pads for nearly twenty years. The company was founded in September 1901 by Jesse T. Langdon at 103 S. Detroit Street. The company formally organized in June 1902 with W.W. Fisher as president, E.J. Howenstine as vice president, W.C. Huston as secretary-treasurer, John C. Sullivan as general manager, and Langdon as superintendent. Later that year, t

The Logan County Historical Society traces its origins to 1930, when an earlier historical society was organized with Oswald K. Reames serving as its first president. That organization ceased operations, likely as a result of the Great Depression, but was reestablished in December 1935, again under Reames’s leadership. Surviving records include minutes from a 1940 meeting and a treasurer’s ledger from 1941 signed by F. M. Henry. No further activity is documented until Decembe

The first Indian Lake Yacht Club was organized in August 1910 with Walter Smith serving as Commodore, E. Dodson as Vice Commodore, French Leatherman as Rear Commodore, Harry Mansfield as Secretary and H.O. Huber as Treasurer. A constitution and by-laws were adopted and forty-three members answered the roll call. Membership was expected to exceed one hundred by the following season. The Club’s mission was to support the betterment of Indian Lake. Their inaugural regatta a

Dr. Charles L. Barrett dedicated fifty years to practicing medicine in Bellefontaine. He was born in Lakeview in 1909 to Dr. Van F. Barrett and Sarah Jacobs Barrett. His father, Van, and uncle, Samuel S. Barrett, grew up in Scioto County and both earned their medical degrees from Western Reserve Medical University in June 1895. After completing their studies, the two brothers established a joint medical practice in Nevada, Ohio. A short time later, Dr. Van Barrett moved to La

Bloomfield Township, established in 1832, is in western Logan County, bordered by the Great Miami River to the east and Shelby County to the west. Several waterways including Muchinippi Creek, Brandywine Creek, and Rum Creek flow through the township before joining the river. Agriculture has historically been the township’s primary industry. Early settlers held religious meetings in their homes and traveling ministers, known as circuit riders, visited the Rum Creek area to de