In these tough economic times, many people are cancelling family vacations and looking for more affordable weekend getaways. We found one such spot along the Ohio River in Columbiana County, in the village of Wellsville.
Nestled along the banks of the Ohio River, a one time hub of activity because of its proximity to water, sits the River Museum, run by the Wellsville Historical Society. This little gem is only about 45 minutes southeast of Youngstown.
Robert "Brassy" Beresford, who is with the Wellsville Historical Society, describes what you'll find upon entering. "We have three floors here. There are thirteen rooms in the house and they're filled with things about Wellsville and the area here." The museum's collection has been growing for six decades and includes relics from Wellsville's rich historic past which includes a rail line that runs right past the museum. "We have a room on the second floor with nothing in it but railroad articles. We've had two train stations here. One was at Third Street, and one was at Twelfth Street. We have articles that came from the those stations," Beresford added.
The railway isn't the only industry that played an important role in Wellsville's past. Pottery was also a key factor. Over the years, the tiny town has seen nearly 50 different businesses dedicated to the craft. "We had Sterling China, Wellsville China. The pottery that was U.S Pottery at the lower end of town, they made small objects, like animals and things," Beresford said.
The museum, which was originally built as a doctor's office back in 1870, is filled with everything from Indian Arrowheads that date back thousands of years, to Civil War memorabilia. There is truly something for everyone and Beresford hopes there always will be. "It has an awful lot of history in this town, and we want to preserve this museum, and let people see things that along time ago, that we still have."
The River Museum is open Sundays from June through the end of August from 1pm until 4:30pm.
