Bellville-Jefferson Township Historical Society

05/30/2026

Today at the Bellville Cemetery, Ronny Echelberger presented an excellent program on tombstone cleaning and preservation. Each participant received the needed equipment to "professionally" clean Cemetery stones, after which we chose a stone to clean. This participant chose the stone of Mathew Reid, Civil War Vetern and one time Mayor of Bellville. A return trip will be needed to finish cleaning the rest of the stone, but progress was made! Thanks to the Bellville Cemetery board for supplying us with the cleaner. 😊

05/21/2026

Join the Richland County Genealogical Society on Saturday, May 30th at 2:00 for a hands-on workday learning to clean tombstones the right way! Ronny Echelberger is our expert instructor. Meet at the OGS parking lot at 1:45, then carpool to the Bellville Cemetery. Participants keep their equipment at the end of cleaning. Cost is $10 for members, $35 for non-members, payable at the event. Join RCGS and save $5! ($20 membership fee, $10 for the class). Space is limited! Email [email protected] to reserve your spot.

05/11/2026

The Bellville Jefferson Township Historical Society has 8 eight foot white tables they would like to trade for 8 six foot tables. Please contact us if your church or business would like to trade. Thank you!

04/20/2026

TONIGHT! Monday, April 20th at 7pm. Join us at the Museum for this month's program "Antique What's It's". Bring an antique item or two that you either truly don't know what it is, or think you can stump others with! We will solve the mystery together! Free and open to the public. 167 Main St. Parking behind the building.

04/19/2026

Today the Crestline Ohio Historical Museum hosted a program by Debra Hoover, author of "A Century of Presbyterian Dolls". The dolls were first made in 1885-1913, as a fundraiser to help in the building of the Presbyterian Church in Bucyrus. By popular request, the ladies of the church went back into "production" from 1956-1984. The program was very interesting and well attended.

04/09/2026

04/08/2026

Invitations for the Bellville Alumni Banquet will be mailed April 1st. The committee mailed only to people who have shown interest in the past 3 years. If you don't get an invitation, and you would like to attend the banquet May 2nd at Der Dutchman, contact Lynn Fox. Phone 419-295-0608 or email [email protected].
Cost is $25, and you are welcome if you attended Bellville High School through 1966. Please respond before April 22.
These two classmates from 1946 will be honored at the banquet...Gifta Bowers Snyder and Ruth Baughman Hooks.

04/01/2026

Invitations for the Bellville Alumni Banquet will be mailed April 1st. The committee mailed only to people who have shown interest in the past 3 years. If you don't get an invitation, and you would like to attend the banquet May 2nd at Der Dutchman, contact Lynn Fox. Phone 419-295-0608 or email [email protected].
Cost is $25, and you are welcome if you attended Bellville High School through 1966. Please respond before April 22.

03/25/2026

Banks Soda Grill sign. (circa late 1930s?)
The back of the photo reads: "Mary Jane Collins, Baby? '37 or '38 Ford. '37 Chevy"
Can anyone supply more information?

03/21/2026

A huge and sincere Thank You to Bruce (not pictured) Mitchell, Craig and Wilson for Volunteering (!) to clear the tree from our front lawn following the windstorm on March 13th. The school bell survived...our sign did not!