• Posts Tagged ‘history’

    Galion Places: First United Church of Christ

    by  • February 2, 2012 • Life in Galion • 0 Comments

    GalionLive is pleased to shared another in our continuing look at “Galion Places” — buildings, streets, landscapes, and other features of our community that contribute to Galion’s unique sense of place. Each place in this series is highlighted through pictures, words, video, or some other means.

    Today our focus is on the landmark church building sitting proudly on Galion’s main street. With its two massive towers, decorative stonework , and imposing presence, First United Church of Christ is definitely a visual icon of our community. We’re pleased to present this overview of the history of the congregation and building, as shared by congregation member Mary Court…

    In 1831, and for about a decade after, large numbers of immigrants came from Germany and Switzerland to the new village of Galion.

    As … Read the rest

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    An Evening Walk Through Uptowne Galion

    by  • January 22, 2012 • Life in Galion • 0 Comments

    How long has it been since you have heard Galion described as “gorgeous?”

    Some years ago, this collection of Galion photographs was posted on UrbanOhio, likely the busiest place online for discussion of Ohio cities, urban issues, architecture, and community development.

    Entitled “An Evening Walk Through Uptowne Galion,” these images reflect our community on a single summer evening some years ago. Each is accompanied by a short narrative.

    For anyone who might wonder how our community can seem to those from the outside, the unsolicited reader comments following the photos provide some food for thought.

    To view this unique collection, click here.

    Photos: Thomas Palmer, used with permission

    … Read the rest

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    The Rivalry to Showcase Lincoln-Douglas Debates

    by  • January 9, 2012 • Life in Galion • 0 Comments

    The Renaissance Performing Arts Association and Children’s Theatre Foundation present The Rivalry on Saturday, February 4 at 7pm in the Renaissance Theatre in Mansfield, the third event in the Richland Bank Family Series. The Rivalry, Norman Corwin’s riveting depiction of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, uses dialogue from the original debate transcripts to bring to life the fierce competition between the future President and the incumbent Senator as they tackled the day’s most controversial issues – slavery and the American concept of freedom.

    This production of The Rivalry features Robert Parsons, who starred in the acclaimed production of The Rivalry at Ford’s Theatre in Washington last year and who will recreate the role of Abraham Lincoln. He has been seen in the films Black August and Almost Famous and on television in … Read the rest

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    Gill House Stabilization Project Nears Completion

    by  • January 3, 2012 • Life in Galion • 0 Comments

    The first snow of the season held off just long enough.

    Efforts to winterize the landmark Gill House have been largely completed, with property owner Preserving Galion History, LLC now turning its attention to the next step in securing its future.

    Purchased less than three months ago on October 4, the house was then in precarious condition. Substantial water infiltration was taking place, in large part due to interior and exterior gutter system clogged with debris. The largest culprits contributing to that packed material were the beautiful copper beech trees, which overhang the house.

    In addition to cleaning and repair of gutters, the roof has been patched in key locations, the several large window air conditioner units have been removed, and the front porch “overhang” has been reinforced and boxed … Read the rest

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    Galion, Christmas Eve, and the First Lady

    by  • December 24, 2011 • Life in Galion • 2 Comments

    It’s a cautionary Christmas tale of sorts, one taken from one of the more obscure annals of Galion history.

    In 1880, Galion was a community of growth and increasing wealth. Hundreds of local men worked for the railroad, with two rail lines – the Erie and the Big Four – having major operations locally that included large roundhouses for service on engines and train cars. At the time, Galion was a place of promise; its population of 5,635 had swelled some sixty percent in the past decade to place the town among the forty largest municipalities in Ohio. As is the case in all such locations, however, prosperity did not reach all sectors of the community.

    In the spring of that year, a young couple in love left their respective … Read the rest

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    Seneca County Courthouse Demolition Underway

    by  • December 22, 2011 • News & Views • 1 Comment

    Crawford County’s neighbor to the north is making history starting this week – by removing history.

    Late yesterday afternoon, the Ohio Supreme Court issued a 6-1 decision declining the motion by some 44 county residents to stop the demolition of the venerable Seneca County Courthouse in downtown Tiffin, which was built in 1884. The request for relief was made based on a handful of legal arguments, including the assertion that the County Commissioners have continued to fail to provide adequate courthouse facilities for several years, and a proposed Courthouse renovation was the least expensive option available.

    The Courthouse has been the focus of intense debate and dialogue for at least the last decade. On two occasions, county taxpayers had refused to pay for publically-funded renovation projects, and renovation proponents had … Read the rest

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