Art Gallery and Artifacts
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The Watercolor Art Gallery at the Mary E. Babcock Library
In 1982 Ohio watercolor artist Robert Brubaker (1921 - 2011) of Granville was commissioned to create nine watercolor paintings for Bank Ohio that was located at 39 S. Main St. in Johnstown. Bank Ohio became the PNC Bank. When they sold their building on South Main Street in Johnstown the watercolor paintings were donated to the Mary E. Babcock Library and are on display throughout the library. The art gallery below shows images of all the Brubaker watercolors and a bit of history about each painting. |
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The Town Hall or "Monroe Township Hall"
Architect Elijah Barton began the construction of the Monroe Township building in 1883 on the open green space that had been given to the community by Oliver Bigelow in 1817. Currently, the Johnstown Historical Society's museum is located on the 1st floor of the town hall. The Johnstown Opera House is located on the 2nd floor of the Town Hall. There are only a few Opera Houses still remaining in Ohio. |
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Buxton-Upham House
This stately Victorian Gothic Revival style home once stood across from the Town Square at 18 West Coshocton Street. Several Buxton family members who lived at this residence were: Horton Buxton, Sr., Horton Buxton, Jr., Norman G. Buxton and his sister Maude Buxton Upham and her husband George B. Upham. When Mr. Upham died in 1962 the home was given to his caretakers Fred and Fay Neely. The oldest part of this house was built “circa 1830”. The Italianate tower and rear section were built onto the house in 1868. The Buxtons named their home “The Elms” because of the many elm trees located on the property. However, due to elm disease in the 1950’s the trees were removed. Sadly, the Buxton-Upham House was demolished on May 18, 2009. Today it is a BellStores’ gas station and convenience store. |
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Old Johnstown School
This brick building is still located close to the corner of S. Kasson St. and E. College St. It once served as the local public school from 1885 until 1927. It is now divided into apartments. |
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Johnstown Baptist Church
The First Baptist Church was built in 1868 at the corner of S. Oregon St. and W. Coshocton St. However, the church was eventually torn down and replaced by an ice cream shop known by the locals as the "Dairy Isle". |
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Buxton & Stevens Drug Store
This local business served the Johnstown village in the 1880's. The drug store provided the public with glass medicine bottles that included a picture of a hot air balloon and their store name on the container. |
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The Johnstown Bank
In 1898 the building was known as the Citizens' Bank. In 1924 it was merged with the Johnstown Bank. In 1972 it merged with the First National Bank of Newark which was an affiliate of Bank Ohio. |
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Wells-Freas Barber Shop
This building was once a barber shop that eventually became the Johnstown Bank. |
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Toledo & Ohio Central Railroad Train Station
On July 4, 1880 the Toledo & Ohio Central (T. and O.C.) train passed through Johnstown and was the first train to do so. |
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Belle Hall Covered Bridge
This covered bridge, east of Croton, OH. was built in 1879. It spanned the little Otter Creek. The wooden truss bridge was built by an unknown builder. It was named for a lady, Belle Hall, who lived nearby. |
Artifacts at the Mary E. Babcock LIbrary
Gilbert Regulator No. 8 Hanging Wall Clock
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The Babcock Library became the owners of valued antiques that were once located in the original Johnstown Bank that opened up for business in 1883 on S. Main Street. You can view these interesting artifacts behind the library's checkout counter.
This very large stained glass piece was originally installed in the Johnstown Bank
(Circa 1898).
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The Moran Brick Sculpture
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Upon entering the Babcock Library, look to your right and you will see the brick sculpture that was created by Allen L. Moran. Mr. Moran was employed by the Bowerston Shale Company for fifteen years as a shipping foreman, but after the company realized his talent, he was promoted to resident sculptor. His process includes taking unfired bricks and arranging them like a mural. The bricks are then numbered, carved, separated, fired, and pieced back together later on site.
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Babcock Library's Touchscreen for Historic Johnstown Ohio
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The Babcock Library is proud of the special touchscreen that can be found to the left of the library checkout counter. The touchscreen features Historic Johnstown Ohio.
It allows the viewers a glimpse into our town’s past through scanned photos and vintage postcards of the area. Captions for each image were added to give background information and historical context. The Historic Johnstown Ohio site can also be accessed online. |