About Us

Beginnings of the Historical Society

The first attempt at forming a county historical society occurred in 1924, when Ira Cole started an historical society by collecting artifacts and putting on a display at the county fair. Unfortunately, he received very little support and the society was short lived. In February, 1928, E.I Atrium, chairman of the Social Exchange Committee of the Community Clearing House, sent out a letter calling for a meeting to secure a museum for the county. The Community Clearing House and the Chamber of Commerce Committee were made up of some of the most influential families in the city: L.T. Feigert. W.P. Brumback, Horace Bonnewitz, E.C. Humphreys, Gordon Balyeat, H.L. Sidle, D.J. Gunsett, Frank Leslie, L.G. Purmort.

The first meeting was held on March 9, 1928. Those present were:

E.I Atrium President of the Van Wert Council of Social Agencies

Mrs. Anna Dirnberger General Secretary of the Y.W.C.A.

Mrs. C.G. Church Daughters of the American Revolution

Arthur S. Brooks Marsh Foundation School

Robert Gleason Izaak Walton League

Miss Mary Hardy Brumback Library

Mrs. Dr. Grothouse Nature Study Club

John G. Routzon Community Clearing House

Walter A. Zimmerman General Secretary of the Y.M.C.A.

W.C. Cotner American Legion

A constitution and by-laws were written and incorporation papers were to be filed with the state. A public meeting was called in March, 1929 but again because of the failure to acquire a permanent site for a museum, a lack of enthusiasm from the community, or the economic disaster of the Great Depression, the historical society faded.

In 1953, during Ohio’s sesquicentennial celebration people again discussed the organizing of a county historical society. Mayor Martin W. Feigert, who was also the chairman of the sesquicentennial committee, appointed a committee of five to begin the organization of the society: C.E. Drury, W.P Brumback, Eugene Feigert, Mrs. Lawrence Pennell, Mrs. Luther Gunsett. Early meetings were held at the Marsh Foundation and Brumback Library. In January, 1954, the Van Wert County Historical Society was incorporated by the state of Ohio.

On January 17, 1954, the first meeting was held and the constitution and by-laws were adopted that called for four officers and a board of twelve trustees. The trustees are elected to serve a three year term and four new ones are elected each year. An attempt will be made to represent all townships in the county. The first president was Martin Feigert and Margurite Pennell was secretary.

In 1954, the county commissioners authorized the historical society to place display cases in the courthouse and appropriated $500 to purchase said cases. As the enthusiasm again began to wane because of the lack a physical location for the museum, a local attorney William Fostnaught purchased the Victorian home located at 602 N. Washington Street. The home built by John and Tacey Viella Clark was bought for $5000.00 and gifted to the historical Society. Upon the passing of Fostnaught, he left a small legacy to help maintain the home. The Van Wert County Historical Society now had a physical location for its museum. The society continues to grow and prosper from those beginnings.