By Leigh Ann Rutledge
Accent Editor
September 30, 2008
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FINAL PREPARATION. Curator Jim Painting and The Ashton House Museum staff members are adding the “finishing touches” to built-in display cases and an original piece of furniture used by John H. and Evelyn L. Ashton when they resided in the home.
Pictured from left is Joanne Coad, Kathy Shafer, Painting and Rose Seck. |
You are invited to walk down memory lane at The Ashton House Museum.
The museum, located at 120 Third St., N.W., Carrollton, is a collection of memorabilia from the late John and Evelyn Ashton who were pillars in the Carrollton community.
John H. Ashton was born in Spencerville and graduated from Lima Business School. He began working part time at Woolworth’s, eventually becoming a full time employee and a manager. Being in a managerial position offered him the opportunity to travel around Ohio and hire employees. He hired a young woman, Evelyn L. Pool, to work at the Woolworth’s Store in Delaware.
Ashton decided to open his own store and spent most of 1932 traveling around Ohio for his opportunity. During October/November, he discovered a store in Carrollton was available. Ashton purchased the defunct J.L. Heiniger Store and merchandise in December 1932.
John and Evelyn Pool were married Dec. 5, 1932, in Delaware and held the grand opening of their store in Carrollton five days later. Ashton’s 5 & 10 Store, also known as Ashton’s Ben Franklin Store, moved to its present location in 1938 and expanded to its current size in the 1950s.
Over the next several decades, the Ashton’s raised three daughters and owned all or part of nine stores. They were travelers and collectors and spent countless hours giving back to their adopted home of Carrollton.
Museum Curator Jim Painting said, “John Ashton created this museum because he wanted his family remembered and he wanted to give something back to the community. This was the place, after all, that made him successful.”
The memorabilia is a collection of the things they loved and supported. Painting has carefully catalogued 41,000 artifacts in the Ashton’s vast collection. These items are not just restricted to Carrollton or Carroll County. There are artifacts from neighboring towns, counties and other states, such as displays of Kentucky Derby memorabilia, The Ohio State Buckeyes, Cleveland Indians and the World’s Fair. Items from Scio, Uhrichsville and Hanoverton are displayed.
In 1960, the Ashton’s purchased the museum property from Erma (Butler) Grove. Their first thought was to remodel the home but due to the amount of serious repairs needed, decided to build a new home. The new home was built to Evelyn’s specifics and the couple took residency in 1961.
Visitors can stroll through the museum and step into the Ashton’s life as you view displays from the organizations they were members of, such as the Garden Club and Rotary. The Ashtons loved to entertain people and had special lights installed in the ceiling for playing cards.
Painting explains, “These items are nostalgia. They help explain different times in American life. Personal items of the Ashton’s are on display such as shoes, jewelry and perfumes, as well as photographs from their childhoods.” Their personal furniture is arranged throughout the home and many items from John’s Spencerville homestead are on display.
An addition was built onto the museum at the end of 2007. This is the entrance to the museum but can also be used by the community. Groups of 40 or less can use the room for meetings, bridal showers or birthday parties, for a nominal fee. A kitchenette is built into the corner. Outside, the grounds have landscaping and a gazebo. Eventually tables will be installed for the public. The grounds and gazebo can be used for small, intimate weddings.
Painting stated, “We will display approximately 1,000 items at a time. Displays will be completely changed twice a year, in April and August. Each November, Christmas items will go on exhibition.”
Anyone wishing to donate an item to the museum should contact Painting. The items become property of the museum but when on display will list name of the donor. Museum personnel cannot appraise items.
The museum will be open April through December. Hours of operation are Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. The museum will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, however special tours can be scheduled on these days, in the evening or during the off-season. Admission is $3 for 13 years of age and older; $2 for ages 4-12 and age 3 and under is free. For more information, call 330-627-2682 or visit http:// ashtonhousemuseum.com.
“Our goal at The Ashton House Museum is to keep the history of John and Evelyn’s time alive but at the same time keep adding history,” stated Painting. “Everyone who walks in will either find something they remember or something to learn.” |
