Our History
The Licking County Pioneer Historical and Antiquarian Society was our community’s first historical society, formed in May 1867. The group met in the courthouse’s basement, keeping records in a secretary’s book. Much of what we know of early Licking County history from these records. No one seemed sure when this first society disbanded, but another would not emerge until September 2, 1947.
The Licking County Historical Society’s first meeting was held in Trinity Parrish. A motion was made to transfer the $6 in funds from the inactive original society to the newly established group. On October 2, 1947, the Articles of Incorporation were signed by some of the society’s first trustees: Clarence Jones, Corrine Metz, Isaac Smucker, Shirley Webb, and Frank Woolson. The witnesses were Laura Beggs, Roderic Jones, and Robbins Hunter, Jr. A constitutional code was written after that, requiring membership.
In December 1947, plans were to move Licking County’s most architecturally prominent residence, the Davidson house, to Veterans’ Park as a house museum. Mr. Fred Lazarus donated the house and $500 toward moving the structure from Park National Bank’s current location to Sixth Street Park. Enough money was raised, and the house officially opened as a museum in 1952 during Licking County’s sesquicentennial.
The historic Buckingham Meeting House was also moved to the park in 1954 to be saved from demolition. Abandoned for many years, LCHS could purchase it for just one dollar. The Society raised funds to restore it and opened it as a meeting house in 1967.
One of the Licking County Historical Society’s founding members, Shirley Webb, willed her Granville Street home and its contents to the Society to be used as a museum. The Webb House became the next addition in 1976.
In 1981, historian and LCHS supporter Robbins Hunter, Jr. bequeathed his Granville residence to the society to be used as a museum.
The Licking County Historical Society obtained its most recent historic site in 1991 when it gained jurisdiction over the prehistoric Alligator Mound, located in Granville.
A page showing members from the Isaac Smucker Scrapbook, “The Licking County Pioneer, Historical and Antiquarian Society.”
Our Staff
Howard Long | Executive Director
Howard moved to Fairfield County in January 2017 to take over as CEO of the Robert K. Family YMCA. Howard has been a part of the YMCA family for over 34 years. Howard retired in April and joined the Licking County Historical Society soon after. History has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. This new adventure will allow me to explore and learn new things.
Sheila Geiling | Curator of the Webb House
Tommy Sue Adam | Catering
Board of Trustees Officers
Denise Keefe, President
Dee has lived in Central Ohio her entire life and has spent the last 27 years in the Licking County area. For 21 years, she was a Marketing Coordinator for a Cable TV company before she decided to become a local Realtor® specializing in listing properties. Dee and her husband, Jeff, have spent over 26 years performing as historical re-enactors, focusing on the era of 1750 to 1840.
Area of expertise: Early American History
Ryan Meldahl, Vice-President
Whit Tussing, Secretary
Whitney (Whit) is an Architect and retired college professor with a long interest in local history and architecture. He has family roots in Licking County but lives on an 1840’s farm in Perry County. He graduated from Miami University with a Master of Architecture degree and began his career at several local architectural offices progressing to the Engineering Department at Central Ohio Technical College becoming a program director and professor of Architectural Engineering Technology. Whit has maintained a small architectural practice focusing on Historic preservation and residential projects.
Donna Yeager, Treasurer
Board of Trustees
Clint Eskins
Clint Eskins is a Sergeant with the Newark Division of Police and holds a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership. Clint has worked for the City of Newark since 2002 and has been a lifelong area resident. He currently lives in Newark with his wife and three children.
Area(s) of expertise: local history, American history, history of law enforcement, and military history.
Evan Daverio
Evan is a graduate of Duquesne University, earning a Master of Arts Degree in Public History in May of 2018. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and a minor in Political Science from The Ohio State University-Newark. As an Ohio State student, he was a LeFevre Scholarship recipient and worked on various projects with the Newark Earthworks Center. He has worked and interned in historical roles at Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University, Heinz History Center, Fort Pitt Museum, and The Works, among others. He currently volunteers for Flint Ridge State Memorial.
Area(s) of expertise: Oral history, Early American history, Native American history
Trace Johnson
Trace Johnson, who was born in Newark, Ohio is a prolific inventor whose innovations range from manufactured housing methods, to software, sensor technologies and water recycling systems that have been implemented in industrial environments worldwide. Since 2022, Trace has successfully integrated artificial intelligence across his companies, and founded the AI software and education company, AI OWL (the world’s first AI-centric State College). Witnessing significant improvements in efficiency and productivity, he is passionate about sharing his AI insights with fellow professionals, helping them harness the transformative power of cutting-edge tools.
Beyond his business achievements, Trace is deeply committed to the economic growth of Ohio. Appointed by Governor Mike DeWine to the Executive Order of the Ohio Commodores, Commodore Trace Johnson was commended: “this distinguished citizen, through eternal devotion, has secured for the State of Ohio an even stronger measure of world leadership and etched deeper the name “Ohio” in the hallowed pages of history.” He is also a co-founder of non-profit organizations and serves on the boards of various community organizations, demonstrating his dedication to fostering community development and leadership.
Mary Lollo
Trish Newcomb
Patricia “Trish” Newcomb became a Trustee in 2023. She currently serves as managing editor of LCHS’s newsletter, The Licking County Legend, bringing it up-to-date with a new name and appearance in mid-2023. She has served on the LCHS Strategic Planning Committee, and is currently the chair of the Communications Committee. Trish also serves as an LCHS liaison with the Licking County Historical Alliance, and participates in the 250-America project titled, “Passport to Licking County, Ohio.” She has brought her expertise in writing, journalism, graphic design, and business administration to LCHS, and has a life-long interest in both cultural and natural history. Trish is particularly interested in American history and genealogy. She recently became a member of the local DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) and learned that one of her ancestors came to America on the first voyage of The Mayflower. She is the newsletter editor for “The Buckeye,” for the Hetuck Chapter of the NASDAR in Newark, and serves on the 250-America committee. In addition, she makes baby quilts which are shipped to American military families abroad. In 2008, Trish started a home-baking business (Granville Gourmet Whoopie Pies), which she operated for 15 years.
Trish and her husband, Gary, came to Ohio from Maine in 2003, first living in Granville, then in Newark since 2014. In 2018, they renovated a second-floor apartment in an existing (1870) building in downtown Newark and enjoy the sights and sounds of Downtown. She has been a member and officer of several local organizations, such as the Granville Area Chamber of Commerce, Business and Professional Women (Granville chapter), AmSpirit Business Connections, and Downtown Newark Association. In Maine, she was the co-founder and publisher of a weekly newspaper, “The Town Line Newspaper,” which has been operating since 1989, and was the president of the Greater China Area Chamber of Commerce.
Shane Hancock
Emily Sanderell
Emily is a museum professional with eight years of experience in education and collections care. She has a Bachelor’s degree in History and Education Studies from Otterbein University and a Master’s in Museum Studies from the Harvard Extension School. Since moving to Newark in 2022, Emily has enjoyed learning more about Licking County’s history and sharing its amazing past with the community through projects like the Ohio & Erie Canal Bicentennial Celebration and the Licking County Passport Challenge. As a new board member, Emily is excited to bring her understanding of the museum field to the Licking County Historical Society and to continue sharing the stories that make our county so special.