The Waterville Historical Society
…was organized in 1964 by 34 citizens interested in collecting information and memorabilia about the history of Waterville and preserving this heritage for future generations. A constitution was drawn up and adopted, and the Society was incorporated as a nonprofit organization. Meetings were held in churches and members’ homes. A second floor of a commercial building on Third Street served as a small museum.
With a larger membership in 1981, the Society purchased a historic house on River Road for $10,000. Fundraising and renovation took more than five years, and the Robbins House Museum opened to the public on Roche de Boeuf Day, September, 1986.
In 1991, after a capital fund drive and a $10,000 matching grant from the France Stone Foundation, the Society purchased the house next door. The Sargent House Museum was opened to the public on Founder’s Day, 1992.
Free Open Houses are held the last Saturdays of June, July and August from 1 to 4 p.m., along with a guided walking tour of the historic district for a $1 donation, which includes an illustrated brochure. Waterville third grade classes visit in October. It is also possible to schedule an appointment for a museum visit, walking tour or slide program for your organization by contating the Society. The Society is an all volunteer organization with no paid employees.
Programs on historic topics are offered free and open to the public in October, November, March April and May. There is also a Founder’s Day in June, Ice Cream Socials in the summer and a Christmas Dinner Party.
The Society participates in the town’s Roche de Boeuf Day celebration each September with Open Houses, Lost Arts Demonstrations, Attic Treasures Sale and Benefit Drawing.
Membership in OAHSM, the Ohio Association of Historical Societies and Museums, which is sponsored by the Ohio Historical Society, provides WHS with valuable resources and information. Each March a delegation attends an all-day seminar at one of the locations in Region 1, Northwest Ohio.
The Robbins House Museum
…at 114 South River Road, (originally Main Street) was built in 1838 on lot 38, one of the original 50 lots laid out by John Pray in 1831, by David Robbins, constable and farmer. He married Phebe Gunn in 1826. Phebe died at age 30 after bearing six children. An 1850 census lists David, age 47, born in Canada, with children: Lucy 18, Elizabeth 16, Wellington 14, and Mary Ette 12. David died nine years later.
The home now represents a typical pre-Civil War home by its decor, furniture, utensils, ect. Many artifacts have been donated by Society members and friends.
The Sargent House Museum
…at 118 South River Road, is probably one of the original 20 or 30 homes in Waterville. It has braced-frame construction of hand-hewn oak beams and rafters held together with wooden pegs. All modern additons, including utilities and some interior walls have been removed to expose structural elements. Old tools, pioneer occupations and Native American items are exhibited. Edward Sargent built the house in 1834 as a home and his Justice of the Peace office. A list of 16 weddings Sargent performed is displayed. An 1849 census shows his wife named Rowena, son Frederick and daughter Rowena. That same year ten-year-old Rowena made a sampler which was discoverd for sale at an auction in Columbus in 2007 and purchased by members of the society.
Wakeman Hall and the Archival Research Center
With a bequest of $1,000 from Henry Hanford Wakeman in 1879 for the purpose of erecting a Masonic Lodge building Waterville, together with added donations and loans, a contract was made with Edward Hooker for its construction. A 37 by 75-foot lot was accepted from Whitcomb Haskins at a cost of $1.00. The cornerstone was laid in 1880 and the completed building was dedicated in October 21, 1881. It was built and furnished for $2,400.22. The Masons used it for over 100 years, then put it up for sale.
Threatened with destruction by a chain drugstore company, it was saved by the socitey in 1997 by purchase through a bequest from Marion Swope and a loan from the Village of Waterville. Commemorative bricks and stones were sold to help fund the years of restoration, and are displayed on an enterance wall and walk. Many volunteers helped with the labor intensive projects until it could be opened for use in 2001. Restoration is a continuing process. The stones have all been sold, but bricks are still available for $100. The Third Grade Classes of Waterville School have purchased a brick each year.
A meeting room and kitchen are on the ground floor with a replica of an early 1900s general store occupying the section facing the front windows. The first floor may be rented to groups of 75 or less. The rental rate is $30 an hour with a two-hour minimum. The Hall is located at 401 Farnsworth Road.
In 2004 The Landmarks Preservation Council of Northwest Ohio presented WHS with a Maumee Valley Preservation Award and a bronze plaque designating Wakeman Hall as a “Maumee Valley Landmark” at a meeting at the Toledo Club. The Council stated, “The Waterville Historical Society has performed a great service to the Village of Waterville by renovating a wonderful building and creating an historical archive.”
As part of the Village of Waterville’s Downtown Revitalization Program the Society was able to secure two matching Community Development Block Grants to obtain a new furnace, new sidewalks and exterior painting.
The Archival Research Center is located upstairs in Wakeman Hall. After a fund-raising drive, a chairlift was installed in 2005. Many records of the Waterville area businesses, churches, schools, organizations, landmarks, parks and cemeteries as well as family files have been collected. Ledgers, early maps, photographs, directories, yearbooks, scrapbooks, and other items have been donated or copied. A $3,000 grant from the Ohio Humanities Council enabled the pruchase of archival preservation material as well as instruction from a Bowling Green State University scholar on preservation techniques. All items are cataloged and enterd into a sofware database designed for historical museums. Temperature and humidity levels are controlled for additional protection. The center is open during the months of May through October on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and also by appointment. Volunteer genealogists and archivists offer research assistance. No item may be removed from the center but copies can be made for 25 cents a page. Ten dollars an hour is asked for extensive research.
Ohio Bicentennial Markers
Application for two historical markers were made by the Society and have been obtained through the Ohio Historical Society’s Bicentennial Marker Program. One was installed to commemorate both the Roche de Boeuf rock and the interurban bridge that is joined to it, and was dedicated at that location just south of Waterville on Roche de Boeuf Day, 2001. A second double-sided marker was dedicated May 18, 2003 in Pray Park to commemorate both John Pray the founder of Waterville, and the significance of the the Miami and Erie Canal to the history of the village. Funds were provided by The Longaberger Company, The Historical Society and the Village of Waterville.
Local History Books and Notecards Available
The Society has local history books and notecards for sale at the Smoke & Fire Company on River Road, and at the musuems or the archives when they are open, and also by contacting the Society through this web site.
Watervillore, by Midge Campbell, 1984 – $12.50
A History of the Columbian House, a cooperative effort of the Society and the University of Toledo,1993 – $8.00
Waterville, Ohio Memorial Profiles, compiled by the Society 1998 – $10.00
The Soldier Spirit of Waterville, John Lansing Pray, 1899, Reprinted 1999 – $12.00
Walking Through the Wakeman, (cemetery), John and Verna Rose, 2006 – $20.00
I Remember When, Waterville Oral Histories – 420 pages plus proper name index, Phyllis Witzler $25
Civil War Veterans Buried at Wakeman Cemetery, John and Verna Rose – $20.00
Note Cards, Waterville Sketches – $5.00
New Members Welcome!
Members receive the Society’s quarterly newsletter with information about upcoming programs, open houses and other activities, listing of recent donations and new members, and short articles about Waterville history. Tax deductible annual dues are:
$15 – Individual
$25 – Family
$100 – Contributor
$250 – Life
$35 – Organizations/Business
Historical Society 2011 Calendar of Events
prwitzler@roadrunner.com or vjr12938@aol.com
Contact Us
The Waterville Historical Society can be contacted at P.O. Box 263, Waterville, OH 43566 or by e-mail to
