Local History & Museum Center
The Local History & Museum Center is staffed:
Tuesdays: 1pm – 5pm
Thursdays: 10am – 2pm and 5pm – 7pm
Appointments are available outside those hours. Please call or email the Local History staff to schedule an appointment at khuffman@seolibraries.org. or call 419-898-7001. Library users are welcome to use the Reference Materials without staff, however, to get the most out of your visit it is best to schedule an appointment. Make sure to describe your question, what resources you are interested in, and your desired time.
The purpose of the Local History and Museum Center is the collection and preservation of artifacts and materials related to the natural and cultural history of the Village of Oak Harbor, Salem Township, Carroll Township, Benton Township, and the Benton-Carroll-Salem School District. These materials and artifacts represent the heritage of the Village of Oak Harbor and its surrounding areas.
General Policy
- All Reference materials must be handled with care
- Artifact collection may only be handled by Museum staff
- All materials are non-circulated and must remain within the Museum
- Food and drinks are NOT permitted within the Museum
- Minors must be accompanied by a supervising adult
Local History and Museum Center Highlights
1. The Museum houses over 5,000 artifacts and documents. A sample of these artifacts are on display including Oak Harbor etched glass, 1861 Civil War musket, and an 1878 cast iron apple peeler. New items arrive monthly, and displays will change periodically.
2. The Museum’s artifact collection is available in a searchable database. A link can be found on the Oak Harbor Public Library’s website or at http://oakharborpubliclibrary.pastperfectonline.com.
3. The Museum houses a searchable database of historical pictures of Oak Harbor along with Benton, Carroll, and Salem townships. This database may be accessed at the Museum.
4. The Museum houses a large collection of Reference Materials including rare and out- of-print books such as Cemetery Inscriptions of Ottawa County, Ohio, pub. 1976 and the Roster of Ohio Soldiers, Sailors, & Marines, 1898-1929, 25 volumes.
5. The Museum houses a collection of documents, articles, and research papers written and compiled by local historians and researchers. Most of these documents are available on a searchable database which can be accessed at the Museum.
6. The Museum houses a collection of BCS (Benton-Carroll-Salem) Oak Harbor High School memorabilia which includes, but not limited to: yearbooks, class pictures, programs, and the in-school publication “The Rocket”.
7. The Museum houses a small collection of genealogical materials for research. A complete list may be found on the Oak Harbor Public Library’s website.