Our Historical Museum is closed until the coronavirus crisis ends.
15 E Columbus Street - (614)382-5989
About Us
Historical Society Mission and History:
The Pickerington-Violet Township Historical Society has been an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit organization since 1987. Its mission is to preserve our community's past for future generations to see and use.
Our Historical Society has maintained a museum in the community's Carnegie Library since 1993 -- the year the library moved into its new facility. The Carnegie Library originally opened in 1916 with the aid of a $10,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie. The building remains one of the few Carnegie-financed buildings that exist in Central Ohio.
Our Museum:
Our Museum, located in the center of historic downtown Pickerington, tells the story of Pickerington-Violet Township. Admission is free.
Artifacts include prehistoric Native American tools and weapons collected around Pickerington, an original town pump, restored 1879 Taber pump organ, the cooking stove and photos once residing inside Moore's Pool Hall, photos of our high school graduating classes from 1909-1981, and much more.
A reference and reading area is available for public research of historic documents, directories, and photos, along with a searchable database of all graves in Violet Cemetery.
Getting Involved:
We are an all-volunteer organization and depend upon the generosity of our Historical Society members, Museum visitors, and the community for support and funding of projects and programs. You can help by:
- Becoming a member. Click for Membership Application and more information.
- Volunteering to help at our Museum on Second Saturdays, for tours, special events, and Museum maintenance. For more information or to sign up, contact Volunteer Coordinator, Stephanie Johnson (right in photo) at "Contact Us" below or visit Volunteer Sign Up to choose a date/event.
- Donating an object/document of local historical interest, or making a monetary contribution at the "Donate Now" box.
Historical Society News
Reconstructing 1860's Melodeon Organ
Through the Years: May Happenings in our Community
1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic in Central Ohio
Reconstructing a circa 1860 melodeon organ is one of many projects accomplished while our Historical Museum has been closed. Historical Society volunteers, Greg Karoly (right) and Ken Planisek, have been working on this project. They hope to have the melodeon ready to produce music when our Museum re-opens. This Kinnard, Dreher & Co. melodeon, with ivory keys, was made in Cleveland, Ohio and once belonged to long-time Olde Pickerington Village resident,
Cleo Mason Richter.
1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic in Central Ohio
Through the Years: May Happenings in our Community
1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic in Central Ohio
Central Ohio historian, Ed Lentz, reported that the 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic, claiming 200,000 American lives, emerged in Central Ohio during Sept. 1918 shortly before the end of WWI. It continued into the spring of 1919.
The only mention Pickerington-Violet Township historians found of the 1918 flu appeared in Violet Township Through 200 Years: 1808-2008. In the book, Terry Dunlap relates the story of his family member, Roy Walton (pictured above), who was the first man from Pickerington to enlist for service in WWI. Along with many others, the soldier died in camp of the Spanish Flu during 1918.
Through the Years: May Happenings in our Community
Through the Years: May Happenings in our Community
Through the Years: May Happenings in our Community
May 2, 1901: Telephones appeared for the first time in Pickerington. Thirteen years later, phone numbers were assigned to customers.
May 12, 1983: Pickerington Board of Education purchased the first computer equipment for its high and middle schools.
May 17, 1984: Roxi Erwin represented Ohio in the Miss USA Pageant in Florida.
May 25, 1909: The first graduating class of Violet Township High School (later known as PHS) included Guy Fishbaugh, Rue Fishbaugh, Amy Lyons, and Perlie Milnor. All went on to attain college degrees. (See class photo above)
Donate
The generous support and contributions from people like you enable us to collect and preserve local history for future generations.
The Pickerington-Violet Township Historical Society is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Your donation may be tax deductible. Please contact your tax advisor for information.
Thank you!
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