Hell & Homefront: Civil War Through Fulton County Eyes Blog

1861 Exhibit for “Hell & Homefront” is Now Open!

fultoncountyhs — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:55:11 +0000

Tuesday through Friday, 10 – 4 and Saturdays, 10 – 2 at 229 Monroe Street, Wauseon, OH 43567.

Museum Closing for Civil War Exhibit Installation

fultoncountyhs — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 14:38:53 +0000

The Fulton County Museum will close on Friday, December 24, and not open till the Grand Opening of the new exhibition, “Hell & Homefront: Civil War Through Fulton County Eyes, on Palm Sunday, April 17, 2011. Drawings of the proposed reodelling of three galleries of the museum are included in this information. When the museum opens, the exhibit may be seen Tuesday through Saturday from 10 – 4. Contact the museum for special guided group tours at, (419)337-7922 or via e-mail at, museum@fultoncountyhs.org.

1860 at the Fulton County Fair

fultoncountyhs — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 19:52:33 +0000

This year, Fulton County fairgoers were transported back to 1860 at our historic structures. The Canfield family had just moved out of their cabin, replaced with the John Butler family. Re-enactors from the National Society of Living Historians group helped play the part, and encouraged visitors to see our exhibit next April at the Fulton County Museum. Next door, our father and son blacksmiths were hard at work, just like Henry & Raphael Reighard were, over a century earlier. In the Swan Creek Township Building, Census results from 1860 and a map from 1858 accompanied a mock presidential election of 1860. We are proud to report that Abraham Lincoln won again 150 years later!

Donald and Ashley Wilhelm from nationalsocietyoflivinghistorians.com

Special Ceremony in Wauseon in August!

fultoncountyhs — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:11:27 +0000

Brigadeer-General E.L. Hayes Collection

c. 1862 – 1865

Edwin L. Hayes, circa 1862

Gift of William & Charlotte Terry, 2010

This collection of Civil War and personal memorabilia once owned by Wauseon native, Edwin Lewis Hayes, fourth cousin to President Rutherford B. Hayes, is being donated by his great-great-great grandson to the Fulton County Historical Society in a ceremony at 6:30pm on the South Stage of the Wauseon Homecoming on Friday, August 6. Hayes’ daughter, Hortensia, is attributed with naming the town after the native chief, Wa-se-on.

Among the collection is a presentation sword, commissioned by the town of Wauseon in the summer of 1862 from Tiffany & Company in New York City. The sword was presented by Mayor Jewell to then, Major E.L. Hayes, who was leaving his post as city councilman and his downtown business to recruit Fulton County men to form the 100th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The 100th fought throughout the south, and were even held as prisoners of war at one point during the war.

The collection will be part of the Fulton County Museum’s special exhibit, “Hell & Homefront: Civil War Through Fulton County Eyes”, opening in the spring of 2011 as part of the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the United States Civil War. This five year project will contain exhibits, educational programs, and a publication on the history of Fulton County from the underground railroad movement in the 1830s through the reconstruction era. The project will not be a glorification of war, or particular battles, but show visitors the viewpoints of Fulton County citizens, both on the battle field, and those left behind at home. The museum’s extensive collection of Civil War era artifacts will be the centerpiece of this commemoration.

Research Results!

fultoncountyhs — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:17:29 +0000

Attend the FREE presentation at one of three locations in the county druing the month of May and learn from scholar, John Swearingen, Jr. about his research findings on the history of Fulton County during the Civil War era. Hear the viewpoints of Fulton County citizens, both on the battle field, and those left behind at home, and how they related to and impacted the culture of Fulton County.

Monday, May 10, 7:00pm at the Evergreen Community Library 253 Maple Street, Metamora, OH (419)644-2771 www.evergreencommunitylibrary.org

Monday, May 17 at 7:00pm at the Archbold Community Library 205 Stryker Street, Archbold, OH (419)446-2783 www.archboldlibrary.org

Tuesday, May 25 at 6:00pm at the Delta Public Library 402 Main Street, Delta, OH (419) 822-3110 www.deltapubliclibrary.com

For more information: Fulton County Museum (419)337-7922 www.fultoncountyhs.org, E-Mail: museum@fultoncountyhs.org

Research Find!

fultoncountyhs — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 17:29:56 +0000

Today, April 17, we found an old letter from January 8, 1860. It turns out that a doctor from the Delta, OH area named Samuel Bell Finney wrote the lyrics to two (probably unpublished) abolition songs on this paper. The titles are, “The African’s Complaint” and “Give the Bible to the Slave”. At the time, he was married, and living in Nashville, OH in Holmes County. During the Civil War, he joined the 166th Ohio National Guard and ended up as one of the body guards for President Lincoln! After the war, he moved his family north to Fulton County, purchased a farm, and pursued his love of making herbal remedies. Eventually, he manufactured his own medicines, and shipped them throughout the world– becoming quite wealthy. What a valuable find! I plan on showing the artifact in the exhibit, and will reprint the lyrics in our commemorative pamphlet.

Bean River Civil War Round table

fultoncountyhs — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:06:21 +0000

This sunday, March 14, I participated in the first “winter civil war event” of the Bean River Civil War Round table at the Fayette Opera House. They showed the Disney film about the Great Train Race, and highlighted the stolen train’s conductor, who lived in Stryker, OH. I set up a display about “Hell & Homefront” and talked several times about Fulton County Historical Society’s efforts to recognize the Ohio 150 event that begins next year. Tom Spiess moderated a discussion of those present about what they would like to see happen during those years. Ideas discussed were: a Late Winter ball re-enactment, combining with the Fulton County Historical Society to create a Civil War Summer Camp for kids during those 5 summers, school programs, and other re-enactment activities.

Joel Burg, 14th OVI Re-enactor

fultoncountyhs — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:55:26 +0000

I listened to Joel Burg discuss Fulton County’s involvement in the Civil War on Sunday, March 7th at the Lyons Christian Church. Burg dressed as the unit’s surgeon and displayed reproduction equipment used during the period. He discussed efforts by folks at home through the efforts of the Christian Commission. Our county citizens would have coordinated their efforts through the office in Toledo. After the lecture, I met Joel, and invited him to be involved in our project.

We Need You!

fultoncountyhs — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:04:51 +0000

This statue, built by the founding members of our historical society, sits just east of the Fulton County Museum, where "Hell & Homefront" will be located.

We, the Fulton County Historical Society are proud to announce that we have been awarded a $1,500.00 research grant from the Ohio Humanities Council for our future contributions to the State of Ohio’s “Ohio Civil War 150” commemoration (2011-2015).

“Hell & Homefront: Civil War through Fulton County Eyes” will be a five year project, containing exhibits, educational programs, and a publication on the history of Fulton County from 1861 – 1865—not a glorification of war, or particular battles, but the viewpoints of Fulton County citizens, both on the battle field, and those left behind at home. Our museum’s unique collection of artifacts, documents, and books will be the centerpiece for this project.

We are scouring the web for anyone who might have information about this local history, or ideas about how we should commemorate this important time period in history. With the aid of project scholar, John Swearingen, Jr. and this blog, we will present our findings in a series of free lectures at three area public libraries and an on-line audio-visual presentation in the spring.

Introducing “Hell & Homefront: Civil War Through Fulton County Eyes

fultoncountyhs — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:29:37 +0000

As part of the State of Ohio’s “Ohio Civil War 150” commemoration (2011-2015), this is the groundwork for a series of fresh and innovative exhibitions, programs and publications by the Fulton County Historical Society. These educational methods will introduce to county residents (and a broad audience of visitors) the local residents of 1860-1865 that they have never met. Visitors will be transported through time to local and national places, and presented with ideas about a shared humanity that may have never crossed their minds.