LOUDONVILLE — On April 15, 1912 (the same day the RMS Titanic sank), Loudonville hosted famed orator — and former three-time Democratic nominee for President — William Jennings Bryan. Bryan had spoken in Loudonville twice before, but always from his train car as it passed through the area. This time, however, he would stand on […]
Kenny Libben, Cleo Redd Fisher Museum
Posted inArea History
Ashland County man was believed to be oldest in nation
The Loudonville area was once home to possibly the world’s oldest person. The following was written for the Mansfield Shield and Banner newspaper, and reprinted in the Loudonville Times (Sept. 26, 1901). “In the Ashland county infirmary, which is located 15 miles east of this city, there is an inmate named Alexander Lyons, who is […]
Posted inArea History
Intellectual Robert Bacher, a Loudonville native, helped end World War II
Overshadowed by the contributions of Charles Kettering, Loudonville native Robert Bacher was considered one of America’s most brilliant minds, who eventually helped bring an end to World War II. Robert Fox Bacher was born in Loudonville in 1905, but moved away with his family at a young age. He taught physics at Cornell before he […]
Posted inArea History
Loudonville was once home to Corell’s potato chip factory
Around 1937, Wilbur Corell and his parents opened Corell’s Potato Chips in Strasburg, Ohio. The business did well, but Wilbur went off to World War II, and when he returned he settled in Mansfield while his parents and brother continued the family operation. After a few years, Wilbur decided to strike out on his own […]
Posted inArea History
Isaly’s stores popped up all over north central Ohio in 1930s
Long before America’s love obsession with McDonald’s and other fast food began, one restaurant chain dominated the Midwest and perhaps the country: Isaly’s. The grandson of Swiss dairy farmers and cheesemakers, William Isaly purchased the Mansfield Pure Milk Company in Mansfield, Ohio in the early 1900s. The Mansfield Pure Milk Company had originally processed milk […]
Posted inArea History
Red & White supermarket was a novel concept in 1947
In 1947, Irvin Mumper introduced Loudonville to the self-serve supermarket when he opened the Red & White store. Prior to the Red & White, shoppers would provide a list or tell clerks what they wanted and the clerks would then fetch the goods and bring them to the counter. In 1916, Piggly Wiggly developed the […]
Posted inArea History
Triple murder in Pleasant Valley resonates from 1896
In 1896, a triple-murder was committed in Pleasant Valley that still lingers with a haunting chill that traditionally arises again this time each year as a true-life Halloween tale — although it took place in the heat of summer, and with a matching passion. Details vary greatly from story to story, but the case was […]
Posted inArea History
Civil War veteran became Mohican Valley’s highest-ranking officer
PERRYSVILLE — The Mohican area has raised a number of politicians and military officers, but perhaps the highest ranking was a Perrysville native born on Nov. 18, 1835. His name was Americus Vespuccius Rice, the son of Clark Hammond Rice and Catherine Mowers Rice. After being raised in Perrysville he went on to study the […]
Posted inArea History
Wolf Creek GristMill has 188-year history in Loudonville
LOUDONVILLE — In 1818, War of 1812 veteran Isaac Wolf came to Ashland County and settled on 160 acres in the northwest quarter of section 25 of Green Township. He chose a site over a mile from any other dwelling and constructed a log cabin from local timber. He married Nancy Small and had eight […]