Union Township was established in 1820. It holds the distinction of being the only township in Logan County without a village. It did have some small early settlements that had unique names such as Noodletoozy, Dogtown and Pigeon Town. Soon after the early settlers arrived, some began holding church services in their homes. In 1827, members of the Dunkard or Brethren Church, who had moved to Union Township from Virginia, organized the Stony Creek Church. The Lake Branch Metho

D.A. Liggitt served as the Logan County Representative for the Ohio General Assembly, was elected twice to the Ohio State Senate, and was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio in 1924.   David Alexander, or D.A., Liggitt, was born on September 15th, 1873, to Oliver and Catherine Shields-Liggitt in Belle Center. He graduated from the local high school in 1891. Continuing his education, Liggitt attended Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio, and earned a degree in educati

Wolfheim’s Clothing Store operated in Bellefontaine for over 120 years. They were initially known for their fine collection of men’s and boy’s clothing. When Levi’s jeans became popular, they had one of the largest selections in the area.   In 1875, Robert Wolfheim opened a clothing store for men and boys on the corner of Main St and Court Ave in Bellefontaine. Two years later, he moved his store to the Buckeye Block on S. Main St.   A September 11, 1885, Bellefontaine newspa

Logan County has two remaining covered bridges, the McColly Covered Bridge on County Road 13, spanning the Great Miami River at the Bloomfield and Washington Township line, and the Bickham Covered Bridge on County Road 38 over the south fork of the Great Miami River in Richland Township. The 130-foot McColly Covered Bridge was built in 1876 by the Anderson Green Company of Sidney, Ohio for $3,103.60. They were a reputable bridge builder specializing in Howe truss designs. The

The Glover Collegiate Institute opened in 1894 in West Liberty. Five years later, it became the Mennonite Orphan’s Home and eventually the named changed to Adriel in 1957. In 1853, J.M. Glover, a farmer who also owned a mill and dry goods store in West Liberty, built a 14-room brick mansion which he called “Oak Grove” overlooking the village. The home had balconies, a tower, and ornate chimneys.  The interior featured black Italian marble fireplaces, elaborate plaster ceiling

DeLong’s Appliance & Record Store was in business for more than 40 years. Charles and Ruth DeLong opened a radio and home appliance store in Bellefontaine in the mid-1930s. Charles DeLong Jr. was born in Bellefontaine in 1909. After graduating from Bellefontaine High School, he received a degree from Cook’s School of Engineering. DeLong then became one of the first full-time radio repairman in Bellefontaine. He was also a pioneer in refrigeration maintenance and the installat

The Hubbard family has deep roots in the newspaper publishing business. Thomas A. Hubbard Sr. founded The Weekly Examiner in 1871. His sons, Edwin “E.O” and Horace “H.K.” Hubbard, launched The Daily Examiner on December 14, 1891. The Daily Examiner and the Weekly Examiner were separate from a political standpoint. The Weekly was a Democratic paper, and the Daily was politically Independent. Another son, Frank McKinney “Kin” Hubbard became famous for his cartoon character, Abe

The History Center Archives has various Logan County newspapers from the 1800s to the 1900s. We found some interesting Christmastime articles printed by the Bellefontaine Examiner in 1945 and 1951. Canteen Ready for Holiday Rush On December 19, 1945, Logan County’s Free Canteen reported they were ready to give the traveling men and women in the Armed Forces a bit of Christmas. The Canteen was decorated for Christmas in red and green and turkeys were roasted and sliced for san

The F.N. Davidson Jewelry & Gift Shop was in operation on W. Columbus Ave. in Bellefontaine for over sixty years. They offered fine jewelry, specialty gifts, clocks, watches, and watch repair. Originally from Brown County, Florenz Newton Davidson began his watching making and repair career in Bellefontaine in 1909. He was first associated with A.P. Humphrey Jewelers, Coleman and Hines Co., and Millers Jewelers. Davidson operated a jewelry store in West Liberty for a couple of

John S. Brentlinger was one of the first professional photographers at Indian Lake, Ohio. He was also an acclaimed artist, and many times had his pet monkey on his shoulder while he painted. His oil paintings of Indian Lake scenes were very peaceful and beautiful, and he simply signed them “Brent”.   Brentlinger was born in McGuffy, Ohio in 1867. He married Elizabeth McClurg in 1892 and shortly after their marriage, they moved to the Indian Lake area.   His studio was located

Hareport was located on the site of the former Carter Field where the first airplane in Logan County successfully took off and landed on August 1, 1912. The plane was powered by a Rausenberger engine built in Bellefontaine. The property was located on W. Columbus Ave. in Bellefontaine near the corporation line. In 1946, Chester Brown was the owner of the 63-acre property. He sold it to John Hare, a real estate broker, and his business partner, Thomas Guy, for the purpose of c

The first school in the village Huntsville was built around 1861 on Wishart St. It was a two-story building consisting of two rooms. The school building served the needs of the community for nearly twenty years. As the village grew, the school soon became too small. In about 1883, a new frame school was built. It had two rooms on the first floor and two rooms on the second floor. The first eight grades were taught at the school. It wasn’t until 1887 that a high school was add

The Zane Kenton Monument and Dr. Sloan Library in Zanesfield were dedicated on September 8, 1914. The idea of erecting a monument to honor Isaac Zane and Simon Kenton, and building a library, was first discussed in 1912 when the Zanesfield Commercial Club was formed by Oswald “O.K.” Reames and Lee Pennock. Dr. Earl Sloan, who was a good friend of Reames, made a generous donation for the monument and funded the construction of a new library. Sloan also gave an additional gift

The Dr. Sloan Library in Zanesfield has continuously served the Zanesfield area for over one hundred ten years. The free-public library was built in 1914 using funds donated by Dr. Earl Sloan. Plans to build a library in Zanesfield started in 1912 when the Zanesfield Commercial Club was formed by Oswald “O.K.” Reames and Lee Pennock. At that time, the club discussed erecting a monument to honor Isaac Zane and Simon Kenton, and building a new library. Dr. Sloan, who was a good

In December 1930, 4-H boys and girls from Logan County traveled to New York City via the New York Central Railroad for the first annual Baby Beef Show. On December 8, 1930, members of the Logan Co. 4-H Steer Feeding Club, along with the calves they had been taking care of for a year, competed in an exhibition in Bellefontaine. The steers were first brought to the Sparks & Hamilton Auto Garage on S. Detroit St. and placed in temporary stalls made with lumber and lined with saw

Geneva College was located in Northwood near Belle Center from 1848 to 1879. In 1836, James Stewart Johnston, a shopkeeper in Northwood, initiated the idea to create a Christian liberal arts college in the community. The following year, Mr. Johnston’s brother, the Rev. John Black Johnston, pastor of the Miami Reformed Presbyterian Church, held a Latin class in his study for seven students. Over the next ten years, this class grew and moved to several larger buildings. Then in

Prior to 1936, only one in five rural households in Logan County had electric service. A few people who lived near towns were able to get...

The Shick Implement Co. operated in Bellefontaine for nearly forty years. They sold John Deere tractors and implements along with a...

Harold A. Dodd spent forty-three years at Bellefontaine City Schools as a teacher and football and basketball coach.   Harold A. Dodd was...

Apple picking season in Ohio usually begins late summer and runs through the end of October. Ohio produces around 50 different varieties,...