Guernsey County History Museum Dressed for Christmas
Explore the history of the area by visiting Guernsey County Museum.
All 17 rooms at the oldest frame home in Cambridge have been tastefully decorated with a touch of the Christmas season. The Guernsey County Museum enjoys having people stop by to wander through its vast collection. Curator Judy Clay will escort visitors through each decorated room and explain the history of many of the artifacts that are left on display for the holidays.
The museum, the former McCracken-McFarland home, was moved down North Eighth Street, a half block from the corner, to its current location in 1915. Outside the house, the yard has some interesting features. There is a 4′ tall National Trail mileage marker, and the original steps from the 1823 house.
Many of the older generation from the area will remember Mrs. McFarland, a Brown High School English teacher, and Mr. McFarland, the banker who always wore a carnation in his buttonhole.
Volunteer Madelyn Joseph stands by the pot-bellied stove in the one-room school room.
Recent additions to the museum include a room from a one-room schoolhouse showing desks and books used at that time. At the back of the room stands the pot-bellied stove, which appeared in some form in every one-room school to keep the room somewhat warm on cold winter days. On special occasions, retired teachers will describe the lessons and activities that happened in a classroom where one teacher taught all eight grades.
Dave Adair tells the story of the difficult life of a coal miner.
Another added attraction is an entrance way to a coal mine. In the early 1900s throughout Guernsey County, over 5,000 people were employed in the mines. Here, Dave Adair, local historian, explains to groups the life of a coal miner and at this time of year presents “A Coal Miner’s Christmas”, telling how they celebrated Christmas with very little money. Most gifts were handmade or perhaps purchased at the company store – an orange or walnuts were special treats.
Museum Curator Judy Clay explains the beautiful table setting, which includes Cambridge Glass and a Tiffany lamp overhead.
The home has been expanded and updated through the years without destroying its 19th Century charm. Many remember the time when homes had two sitting rooms – one for the family and the other to use only for special guests. While this was the first house in the area to have gas heat, they still read by candle light. Throughout the museum, you will see beautiful pieces of Cambridge Glass and Universal Pottery, as these two companies provided an important means of earning a living during the early years of Guernsey County.
Friendly volunteers at the museum prepare for visitors by decorating the tree and preparing to serve refreshments.
The walls in the hallway are covered with pictures of people who have made a difference in the area…the Guernsey County Hall of Fame. These community leaders have all contributed something special to make this world a better place.
The ice bike made travel possible in the winter with its sharp prongs in the back and sled-like runner in the front.
Every room upstairs had a special theme. The Military Room contained items from Civil War days to WWII. A small sewing room held a spinning wheel and a weasel, which when it got filled with thread – went pop! That was the basis of the song, “Pop Goes the Weasel”. A dentist’s office, Dickens’ room, and rooms packed with antique ladies’ clothing finished off the top floor. The waistline on some of those dresses seems unbelievably small.
This old mail cart actually carried mail from Cambridge’s Union Depot to the post office.
Bountiful treasures reside inside this old frame house. Perhaps you would like to roam the halls and revive some old memories. If you have any pieces of history you would care to share, please contact the museum. Every small town should take pride in having a special place to keep the history of their area alive for future generations.
The angel topped Christmas tree is decorated with old ornaments trimmed with lace.
Holiday hours for the Guernsey County Museum are Tuesday and Thursday 4:00 – 8:00, and Saturday from 10:00 -8:00. Admission is $5 per person. Come explore some old memories of days gone by.
The Guernsey County Museum is located at 218 N Eighth Street off Steubenville Avenue in Cambridge, Ohio. It’s on the street directly behind the courthouse.
American Gas Pump Heaven Museum overflows with memorabilia from the past.
Roger prides himself on his Americana touch to his displays. Everything from American flags to an American eagle and a scaled down model of the Statue of Liberty can be found throughout his museum. There’s so much to see that one trip through will probably not be enough.
This is more than just a collection of gas pumps from 1910 to 1962, it is a collection of memories! Take a walk through gas station history as well as the history of that time. While there stop and play the 1920s Nickelodeon, which works at the drop of a quarter.
“Roy Rogers is my hero,” Roger explains as he points out piece after piece inside the museum related to his hero. A life size picture of Roy easily stands out among the gas pumps.
American Gas Pump Heaven Museum contains favorite memorabilia that remind him and visitors of the happy days of their youth. He has a little bit of everything and can’t think of anything that he really wants. But he always seems to be ready to make a deal on something that appeals to his fancy. Quite often he would point out a recent purchase and say, “I’m not sure what I’m going to do with this.”
You’ll definitely be surprised by the variety of items you see even from the outside. Since Roger is retired, he can’t be there all the time, but if the parking lot intrigues you, give Roger a call at (330) 343-6883. and he will find the time to stop down and unlock the door to a room filled with treasures of yesteryear. It’s what keeps him going!
The crow holds a special attraction to her as she feels it has a magical quality. It holds the magical key to the womb of fundamental energy where all possibilities exist. Crows live all around the world, reminding us that magic can be found everywhere. They often are associated with healing and the universal law.
Owl is Mindi’s dream-time guide helping to navigate the unconscious world. The Owl serves as the keeper of ancient wisdom and can see the secrets and agendas of others. The Owl is a prophet who can see, hear, and feel events before they transpire. 
Her dream catchers are up-cycled art with the center web being a doily, with a hand macrame hoop and fringe made with cotton twine and yarn. Dream catchers have been part of Native American culture for generations. They are usually hung by the bed at night to catch bad dreams before they disturb your sleep. There is a hole in the center to let the good dreams slip through.
Feathers are important in the Native American tradition also, as they are seen as gifts from the sky, the sea and the trees. Often a feather has a message as it lands on or near someone. It reminds them of a spiritual connection that we all have to our creator and with passed loved ones. The gift of the feather is represented by passion – passion for your gift from the Creator – Mindi’s passion being artistic vision.
Upon leaving the art show, a beautifully decorated Christmas tree glowed in the hallway. The Mound Museum Christmas tree is decorated with plants that were important to those prehistoric Native Americans living in the area. The people who built Grave Creek Mound probably grew small gardens, which included squash, sunflowers, pumpkins, gourds, and goosefoot – the decorations on this tree.
Gypsy Road Trip 