JEFFERSON – Ohio has quite a legacy when it comes to Chief Executives hailing from the Buckeye State.
And now the Jefferson Historical Society is paying tribute to these native sons with an Ohio Presidents Exhibit.
It opened this past Friday and Saturday at the historical society as it was debuted to the public.
The display features life-sized cut-outs of each of the eight presidents accompanied by a panorama with information about each one.
“For (America’s) 250th celebration, we had decided to go with the eight presidents from Ohio,” Bev Follin, with the historical society, said.
Ohio can claim the following presidents: Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft, and Warren G. Harding. William Henry Harrison, who was born in Virginia, lived in Ohio when he was elected, and is also counted among Ohio’s eight presidents.
“That’s pretty good,” Follin said. “I think we were no. 2 (after Virginia), in the number of presidents we had from here.”
Kathy Housel, president of the historical society, said the exhibit was very exciting.
“Barbara (Hamilton) and Bev (Follin) did a wonderful job of organizing it,” she said.
There is also a small display of the Continental Congress presidents.
“There was a bunch of presidents before George Washington over the Continental Congress,” Follin said. “We have one (Arthur St. Clair) that actually ties to Ohio. He was not born in Ohio, but he became governor of the lands that formed Ohio.”
As part of the exhibit and in honor of America’s 250th, there is a giveaway of a small 250th flag and Ohio Tourism Guidebook, one per family.
The exhibit is open 9 a.m. to noon Fridays, 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays in June and July, and by special appointment. Free admission.
The Jefferson Historical Society is located in the former Trinity Episcopal Church, 42 E. Jefferson St. Call 440-576-5333 for more info.
