After the Civil War had ended in 1865 and the surviving soldiers had gone home, and after the horrible images had faded somewhat, many of them began to miss the friendships and camaraderie that they had shared during the war. Out of this, the Grand Army of the Republic was formed. In Delphos, Post #95 […]
Horses and Stars
December 19, 2012 by 4 Comments
Although Christmas is actually a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus, to a child Christmas is synonymous with toys. And since toys are a reflection of society at any given time, they are an important part of history. At the museum we have a nice collection of toys ranging from the mid-1800’s when […]
Second Street Iron Lift Bridge
October 20, 2012 by 1 Comment
A May 3, 1877 article in the Delphos Herald states “The frequency of accidents occurring on the steep approach to the canal bridge on South Main Street (now Second Street) should lead the authorities to adopt some protection. Only last week, a wagon and pair of horses were precipitated down the embankment, the […]
Delphos Golden Girls
September 10, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Canal Days is almost here and that means a big parade. And one of the big draws of any parade is the marching units, whether it is a band playing or a unit twirling batons, waving flags, or dancing their way down the parade route. One such group that was present at many parades in […]
Commemorative Quilt
August 22, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Hanging in our domestic arts area on the second floor of the museum is the Delphos Commemorative Quilt, a masterpiece of fiber artistry that captures in visual form the diversity and breadth of our city’s past and present. The Canal Commission worked closely with the Black Swamp Quilters of Delphos to make this quilt in […]
Jacob’s Story
July 17, 2012 by 2 Comments
There is a television show called “If Walls Could Talk.” In it, owners of older houses find something interesting in their home and research to find out more about its history, often coming up with amazing stories. At the museum, we have many items with stories to tell. While working on signage in our log […]
Crossroads of History
June 24, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The city of Delphos is truly a “crossroads of history.” Not only do we have the Miami and Erie Canal going north and south, we also have the Lincoln Highway going east and west. The Lincoln Highway later became US Route 30, the only federal route through Delphos. Route 66 through Delphos is […]
Ritty’s Incorruptible Cashier
May 18, 2012 by 1 Comment
The local hot spot in Dayton in the 1870’s was a saloon called The Pony House. James Ritty, owner of the saloon, was tired of the dishonesty of his bartenders who were pocketing some of his profits and had an idea of a way to solve the problem. In 1879 after many trials and […]
1870 Log House Model
April 21, 2012 by Leave a Comment
By 1870, Delphos had been incorporated for 20 years and had a population of almost 2000 people. The soldiers had returned home from the “War Between the States,” a new 3-story brick school building had been built on North Jefferson Street . and the Bredeick-Lang house stood as a fine example of modern […]
The Telegraph
March 15, 2012 by Leave a Comment
In 1844, about the time Delphos was being settled, Samuel Morse’s famous message, “What hath God wrought” was being telegraphed from Washington D.C. to Baltimore, a distance of 40 miles. It was the official opening of the first telegraph line. Within a few years, the line had grown to include Philadelphia and New York City […]