| Welcome to... The Licking County Historical Society |
| How We Began... |
Way back in May of 1867...
The "Licking County Pioneer, Historical, and Antiquarian
Society" began as the first historical society in our
community. This forerunner of our current organization
exsisted until at least 1887. The group met in the basement
of the courthouse, where they kept records, written in a
secretary's book, as well as a natural history collection.
Much of what we know of early Licking County history
comes from these records, including The Centennial
History, written in 1876, and "Hill's History of Licking
County", written in 1888.
The "Licking County Pioneer, Historical, and Antiquarian
Society" began as the first historical society in our
community. This forerunner of our current organization
exsisted until at least 1887. The group met in the basement
of the courthouse, where they kept records, written in a
secretary's book, as well as a natural history collection.
Much of what we know of early Licking County history
comes from these records, including The Centennial
History, written in 1876, and "Hill's History of Licking
County", written in 1888.
Disbanded Group...
No one is exactly sure when this first society disbanded, but
it would not be until September 2, 1947 that another group
would emerge with the purpose of preserving our local
heritage. That first meeting was held in Trinity Parrish--& a
motion was made to transfer the $6 in funds from the
inactive original Pioneer Society to the newly established
group!
So it was on Oct. 2, 1947 that Articles of Incorporation were
signed by some of the first trustees of the LCHS, including
Clarence Jones, Corrine Metz, Isaac Smucker, Shirley Webb
& Frank Woolson. And witnessed by--Laura Beggs, Roderic
Jones, & Robbins Hunter Jr. A Constitutional Code was
also written, requiring membership.
By December 1947...
Plans were put in motion to move Licking County's most
architecturally prominent residence, the Davidson House, to
Veterans' Park to become a museum. Mr. Fred Lazarus not
only donated the house, but also gave $500 towards moving
the structure to the 6th St. Park.
Enough money was raised, and the house was officially
opened as a museum in 1952 during the Licking County
Sesquicentennial.
By 1954...
To be saved from demolition, the Buckingham Meeting
House was also moved to the park. Abandoned for many
years, the LCHS was eventually able to purchase it for only
$1, then raised funds to restore it, opening it as a meeting
house in 1967.
In 1976...
One of the current society's founding members, Shirley
Webb, willed her Granville St. home and its contents to the
society to be used a a museum--The Webb House.
And in 1981...Historian and LCHS supporter Robbins Hunter
bequeathed his Granville residence to the society also to be
utilized as a museum.
And finally, in 1991...
We even gained jurisdiction over a prehistoric Indian
mound, The Alligator Mound, located in Granville.
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Where the Past meets the Present...
| Original LCHS Trustee Isaac Smucker |
| The Sherwood-Davidson House Museum |
| The Buckingham Meeting House |
| The Webb Family House Museum |
| The Robbins-Hunter Museum |
| The Alligator Mound |
| The Sherwood-Davidson House being moved from its original location in downtown Newark (where Park National Bank now stands) beside the John J. Carroll building to its present location in Veterans Park. |
| in its original state in the mid 1800's. |