Lucy Webb Hayes Heritage Center

01/17/2026

Join us today to make Valentine cards for Veterans, until 4 o'clock. Aside from letting a veteran at the local VA Medical Center know that you care, we have Valentine-themed snacks to reward you!

10/17/2025

Another version of our flyer for our event tomorrow afternoon: https://www.facebook.com/events/3304033003085996/

02/14/2025

Hear from a living descendent of the Hemmings at the Lucy House Saturday afternoon.

In honor of Black History Month, we’re talking about some of the remarkable Black citizens who lived in our area.

Did you know that two of Thomas Jefferson’s sons lived in our area, and some of their descendants are still here today? They were the children of Sally Hemings.

After living in France as a servant of Jefferson's daughter while he was serving as ambassador, Sally was reluctant to return to Virginia and slavery. Jefferson promised her he would free their children if she did, and so she agreed to return to the US.

Two of Jefferson’s sons, Madison and Eston Hemings, moved to Chillicothe after they were freed by their father’s will. Both boys had grown up at Monticello. Madison learned woodworking and carpentry after being apprenticed to an uncle, and Eston became a musician.

Madison married Mary McCoy, and after a few years in Virginia, he moved his young family to Chillicothe, Ohio, which had a strong abolitionist sentiment and a thriving community of people of color. Nine of Madison’s children were born in Ohio.

Madison was said to have built the stairs in the Emmitt House, which sadly was destroyed by fire in 2014 (though local historians believe another example of his work still survives.) He was well-regarded in the community. Madison and Mary’s grandson, Frederick Madison Roberts, would one day be the first Black man elected to office in the California legislature where he served for sixteen years.

After he was freed, Eston built a home with his wife in Charlottesville, and his mother, Sally, lived with them. After her death, Eston moved his family to join his brother in Chillicothe. His son, William Beverley Hemings (1839–1908) was born here. His children attended local public schools, and Eston was famed for his skill as a musician.

After the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850, Eston no longer felt it was safe to remain in southern Ohio, and so his family moved further north, to Wisconsin. There, the family took the last name of Jefferson. But many of the Hemings descendants remained behind in Ross County.

In 1873, Madison gave an interview with the Pike County Republican in which he revealed Thomas Jefferson was his father. In 2005, the descendants of Thomas Jefferson met for a reunion at Adena Mansion in Chillicothe.

03/05/2024

Ok, part 2 uploaded - if you don't have enough photos of Statehood Day yourself:

Chillicothe -- The first Saturday in March is when the First Capital of Ohio celebrates becoming the first capital in 1803. The 58th annual Statehood Day Prayer Breakfast began Statehood Day in Chillicothe last Saturday, at its new location in First Presbyterian Church. Bill and Linda Herrnstei

03/05/2024

Part one: pastors, politicians, and philanthropists:

Chillicothe, Ross County, and Ohio -- The first Saturday in March is usually when the First Capital of Ohio celebrates becoming the first capital in 1803. "Statehood Day" in Chillicothe last weekend was a popular success, with the often unpredictable late winter / early spring weather allowing for a

03/01/2024

It's like Christmas and Easter for local history, but only a month after Groundhog Day: Chillicothe Statehood Day! More information on the event, in addition to my previous story:

Chillicothe -- Statehood Day is Saturday! Christy Simmons of the Ross-Chillicothe Convention & Visitors Bureau explains the local cultural and historical event that will be Saturday, March 2nd, 2024, in the below video. (Also learn more in my previous story on the event.) She is also th

01/19/2024

You can help make hospitalized veterans happier by making valentines for them on February 3rd. Learn more in our event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/713472473884671/

05/13/2023

Some work going on in our neighboring park, the former site of Southern School:

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=563456092643669&set=a.200676192254996

The Parks & Rec Department has a variety of park upgrade projects taking place this summer. Today, the renovation of the shelter house at the Southern Park was completed. Shelter house renovations will also take will take place at Strawser Park and Yoctangee Park. In addition to shelter renovations, you will start to see new park infrastructure including trash cans, benches, and new playground equipment.

It's a beautiful day to enjoy one of the thirteen parks in the City! For a full list of parks and amenities visit https://www.chillicotheoh.gov/departments/parks_and_recreation/neighborhood_parks.php.