Our History…

250th
  • Formation FEB 6, 1929
    About 100 Greene County residents met at the Greene County District Library with Dr William Albert Galloway presiding over the meeting. He spoke briefly of highlights in Greene County history, and of the danger of losing such a wealth of personal and general history unless it were collected by organized effort. The first officers of the Greene County Historical Society were: Dr. W. A. Galloway, President; Prof. H. C. Aultman, Vice President; Miss Florence Swan, Secretary; and Mr. George Dodds, Treasurer
  • Historical Marker 1930
    A historical marker was placed at Old Town, site of the Shawnee village Old Chillicothe, with the help of Thomas Wildcat Alford of Oklahoma, a descent of Tecumseh.
  • Museum Created APR 1930
    King House Donated. Miss Emma King donated a house and lot at the corner of Second and Monroe Streets in Xenia to the county commissions for a museum. In response to this generosity, the Greene County Museum Association was organized, and the house was remodeled and fireproofed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The County Commissioners agreed to fund the museum's operating expenses in 1935. The original Museum Association officers were: Dr. Benjamin R. McClellan as President, as well as Fred Anderson, C. R. Titlow, R. O. Wead, Katherine Shorey, and Mrs. Wilson Galloway.
  • Galloway Home Moved JUL 7, 1937
    Galloway Home moved from Goes Station
    In 1936, arrangements were made to move the Galloway Log House from it's original location near Goes Station to the lot at the corner of Second and Monroe. It was reopened for visitors on July 7, 1937.
  • 100th County Fair 1939
    County Pageant held
    The Greene County Agricultural Society celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Greene County Fair with a pageant commemorating the county, in which members of the Historical Society took an active part. The original Museum Association officers were: Dr. Benjamin R. McClellan as President, as well as Fred Anderson, C. R. Titlow, R. O. Wead, Katherine Shorey, and Mrs. Wilson Galloway.
  • County's 150th Birthday 1953
    Museum Association combines with Historical Society
    The Historical Society took part in the joint 150th birthday celebrations of the state and count by repairing the log house and helping with the publication of the book, "Out of the Wilderness." The Greene County Museum Association decided to merge with the Greene County Historical Society, transferring all of the Museum Association's property and entrusting the property's care to the Historical Society. The Historical Society also provided an exhibit in the Greene County Fair for the first time.
  • Growth of Museum 1954-1973
    Four-Building Complex Established
    An expansion of the Historical Society's property was made possible by the donations of Charles Snediker of Fairborn and John Glossinger of New York via Xenia, and the property at the corner of West Church Street was acquired. The Historical Society complex comprised: William G. Moorehead house at the corner of North Detroit and West Church, which held artifacts Snediker Museum, a brick carriage house on the Moorehead property which housed pioneer tools and implements John Glossinger Culture Center, which was used for meetings and contained the offices of the Historical Society Galloway Log House, which was moved to this location in 1965
  • Major Exhibits Hosted 1954-1973
    Louis F. Clark brings special collections
    Mr. Louis F. Clark took office as the Society president in 1970; at which time the Society also hired its first full-time director, Andrew Jaros. In October 1971, a moon rock collected by Apollo 12 was displayed in the Snediker museum in an exhibit prepared by NASA. Another notable display during Mr. Clark's tenure was a showing of work by world-renowned photographer and Yellow Springs resident Axel Bahnsen. When Mr. Clark retired, Dr. Richard Thomas assumed the presidency and hired Mrs. Peggy Shoals as Executive Secretary. Mrs. Shoals roomed in the upstairs of the Glossinger Center and also served as hostess.
  • Xenia Tornado APR 3, 1974
    Historical Society sustains major damage
    damage to galloway log house In the afternoon of April 3, 1974, Xenia was struck by an historic F5 tornado that tore through the center of town - including the four buildings of the Greene County Historical Society. The Galloway Log House was the only of the four buildings to ultimately survive, although heavily damaged. The Glossinger Cultural Center, Moorehead House, and Snediker museum were destroyed.
  • Restoration 1975
    Putting the pieces back together
    Joan Baxter joined the Historical Society staff as secretary, and Dr. Thomas resigned as president due to the demands of his architecture business. Delmer Bone took over as the President and guided the Society through the process of rebuilding. A grant was obtained to restore the Galloway Log House, which was the primary and immediate goal. During the restoration, offices were temporarily housed at the Greene County District Library annex, and artifacts saved from the damaged buildings were stored in various locations such as old warehouses and members' homes. Membership meetings were held in various places throughout the county - and not one was missed! The Galloway Log House was reopened to the public in December 1975.
  • Queen Anne House 1977
    A trade with the city to preserve history
    queen anne vicorian house As part of the restoration work after the tornado, the Historical Society came to an agreement with the city of Xenia to trade a portion of their property for the Queen Anne Victorian house at the corner of Detroit and Church Street. This house, now known as the Trebein-Flynn Victorian, was relocated to the corner of Church and King, placing it next to the log house where it remains to this day. The move took two days and was completed by the Paul Gertler Co. of Reynoldsburg at a cost of around $15,000 (about $75,000 now).