Exploring Ohio's Small Town Museum: A Community's Journey Through Memory

The pandemic's toll in 2020 placed smaller institutions—often operating on tight budgets—under immense pressure. For many of these museums, the struggle extends beyond mere survival; they serve as essential repositories for local stories and community identity.

Ohio's Small Town Museum in Ashville stands out, housing a rich tapestry of cultural artifacts, innovations, and local lore from a once-thriving hub now considered a forgotten outpost in Pickaway County. Despite its humble appearance, the museum encapsulates the spirit of the town, which, by the mid-1970s, had seen significant decline—with no rail service, local newspaper, or industry. A devoted group of residents rallied to preserve Ashville's social history, ensuring the past wouldn't slip entirely from memory.

John Swingle, a familiar face at the museum and a retired postal worker, welcomes visitors with an earnest enthusiasm. To gain entry, you might need to give the door a good knock. It's customary to sign the guestbook and contribute a five-dollar donation, which helps keep the lights on.

Swingle’s wealth of knowledge enriches the experience as he guides you through an eclectic collection of exhibits encased in glass, hung from ceilings, or displayed on walls. The museum's crown jewel is a remarkable piece known as Teddy Boor’s patented motorized traffic light. Although not the inventor of the traffic light, Boor holds the remarkable distinction of having the longest-operating traffic light on record, illuminating Ashville from 1932 until 1982—until it couldn't comply with state regulations, leading to its removal and subsequent display at the museum.

Visitors will want to carry along a copy of the book Amazing Ashville by local historian Bob Hines. The exhibits directly reference Hines' narratives, encouraging exploration of the seemingly insignificant but rich stories that collectively weave Ashville’s history. Each artifact paints a vivid picture of lives that, while largely unheard beyond county lines, contribute to a comprehensive understanding of this unique community.

The museum occupies what was once the Dreamland Theater, a silent film venue that ultimately shut down when its owner couldn’t switch to sound. Now, it’s an archive of Ashville’s life from inception to the present. Within its four cozy rooms, you’ll find tributes to locals like Vivian Michael, a key figure in the puppet industry in the ‘50s and ‘60s; Florence Brobeck, author of a best-selling turtle soup cookbook; and musician Corinne Welsh, who enjoyed early 1900s fame. Even John Holmes, a notorious figure from nearby Millersport, has a spot in the museum, underlining the diverse connections to the area.

What truly amplifies the charm of Ohio's Small Town Museum is the spirited folklore intertwined with its historical exhibits. From tales of a headless ghost haunting the train tracks to rumored Viking presence at Snake Den Mound, stories of UFO sightings, and the whimsical image of a rooster that supposedly paid for its meals, the narrative stretches the bounds of local color and community identity.

However, the museum doesn’t shy away from confronting uncomfortable truths. A Ku Klux Klan robe on display serves as a reminder of Ashville’s past as a "sundown town." By contextualizing this troubling aspect of its history, including the election of Harry Margulis, a Jewish mayor, in 1935, the museum provides a candid look at societal flaws, rather than sanitizing the narrative.

Ultimately, Ohio's Small Town Museum exemplifies the power of community resilience and memory preservation. It stands as a testament to the importance of acknowledging all facets of history while celebrating the everyday victories of its residents. Here, in this blend of reality and folklore, one can appreciate how even a small town, seemingly quiet today, thrives through its rich history woven from countless threads.