Washington County Historical Society holds annual meeting

The annual meeting of the Washington County Historical Society was held April 27, 2015 in the Conservation Education Center at Marr Park with 65 people in attendance. The dinner was catered by the Shamrock Restaurant of Ainsworth.

Mike Kramme was the Master of Ceremonies.

Members who have died were recognized: Nita Lovick and Norma Sandburg The minutes of the 2014 meeting were read and approved, and the treasurer's report was given by Mary Levy. The current board members were introduced. The following board members were reelected for a three-year term: Mike Zahs, Danielle Kane, Vic Thompson and Ferd Marie. Carly Robinson was elected as a new board member. She was also recognized as the Volunteer of the Year for the work she did at Conger House last summer. Danielle Kane made the presentation.

There will be a training session given at 9 a.m. May 9, by Mary Levy for anyone interested in being a volunteer guide for Conger House tours.

Reports were given on each of the society properties.

Conger House by Mary Levy ? The past year saw the opening of the redesigned Indian Artifacts room and the Dublin Store room in the basement. Conger House now has a printer for any copying needed. The sidewalk outside the house has been improved and a new door sill was put on the outside basement entrance to keep water out of the Pioneer Room. Three trees, a larch and two spruces, have been donated by the Washington Tree Betterment Foundation and planted in the yard.

Walnut School ? The Walnut Women's Club maintains this school and gives it an annual cleaning.

Red Brick School ? Vic Thompson said that the windowsills in the school have been replaced with stone ones. This year the windows will be repaired and painted and the soffits to the school roof will be painted. A new stoop with railings was added to the school last year.

Mike Kramme announced that the Washington Community Middle School is having a "Give Back Day" on May 13. Seven students will be working at Red Brick School and Conger House.

Following the business meeting, the program was given by Mike Zahs on the History of Agriculture in Washington County. The average age of a farmer today is 56.7 years and the size of an average farm is 276 acres. There is evidence that land in this area has been cultivated for 12,000 years. Washington County probably had no year-round Indian settlements but did have summer villages at Sandyhook, Wassonville and the Washington County Fairgrounds. Some crops grown were lamb's quarters and pigweed. Indian women did the planting and harvesting.

Washington County was settled by people from the East in the 1830s. In 1858 the railroad came to this area which provided an easier way to market, particularly livestock. Washington County had two woolen mills and 15 water-powered mills, mostly on Crooked Creek. There were several cheese factories with the largest at West Chester operating from 1890 to 1900. There was a plant nursery near Haskins and a seed company in Ainsworth. There was a vegetable-canning factory in Brighton, operating from 1908 to 1947, and in 1900 more horses were exported from Washington County than any other place in the country.

Zahs also had early farm tools on display and feed sacks from local businesses. A length of twine 31-plus feet illustrated the Raddas' tall corn stalk.`