The Wood County Historical Center has been in existence for 27 years, however most students have probably never been there. From 1868 until it became the home of the Historical Center, the building was home to an infirmary. The building and thus the Historical Center was saved from certain destruction by former University geography professor, Lyle Fletcher.

The Infirmary was built as part of a national poverty relief reform movement during the 19th Century. The farm was self-sufficient, enabling the poor that lived there to learn the value of hard work.

Many historical events that happened in Wood County happened on the site of the Infirmary. One such event was that the first natural gas sight in Wood County was discovered on the grounds. The natural gas was then used to fuel the Infirmary for years to follow until the supply was used up.

Many different, useful buildings were added to the grounds of the Infirmary including a cattle barn, ice house and Lunatic House. There was also a cemetery on the grounds where the inmates, which they were called, were buried when they died.

During the final days of the Infirmary, a hospital was started to reduce the county’s cost of providing medical attention for the inmates. A lack of adequate drinking water was just one problem that the owners of the Infirmary had to face. Another problem was that the inmates started stealing eggs and walked to Bowling Green to sell them to buy liquor.

Even though a lot of hard work and people came in and out of the Infirmary, the grounds had to close due to the building of another County Home that met the modern building standards. This happened 102 years after the first inmate came to the Infirmary.

In 1971, after the building was deserted and exposed to the elements, the Wood County Commissioners decided to destroy the building. Park Commissioner, editor and archivist of the Wood County Historical Society at the time, Lyle Fletcher, persuaded the Commissioners to save the building.

In 1972, control of the Infirmary and its grounds were given over to the Wood County Park Commission for use as a county park. Some of the buildings were then allocated to the Wood County Historical Society to make a history museum.

The Wood County Historical Center took the place of the Infirmary. It is a 50-acre park along the Portage River. The Victorian style building consists of 30 rooms of exhibits that house the history of Northwest Ohio.

In addition to the park and museum, there are nature trails, a Black Swamp Herb Garden and the Fletcher Arboretum.

“You can take a naturalist interpretation of it [the Historical Center] on the nature walks,” said Brett Bossard, assistant to the director at the Historical Center. “The grounds are amazing during the summertime.”

The Historical Center has a mission “to preserve but also present the community and the county,” Bossard said. They want to educate the community with the history of Wood County, but to a certain degree, publicize for themselves, Bossard said.

The Historical Center puts together many different types of activities and events for people of all ages and interests in the community. Every May, a Civil War reenactment is held on the grounds of the Historical Center. A Wood County Day is held, celebrating everything that is Wood County, a monthly tea is held that is both entertaining and educational, a variety of family events and bar-b-que’s are also held.

This month, the Historical Center is holding a free “Halloween Folklore ‘ Funfest” for people of all ages to attend. There will be free refreshments and plenty of Halloween related activities for people to enjoy.

Last month, the second Pork-A-Lean Festival was held during Wood County Day.

“That was really fun,” Bossard said.

The Historical Center also holds holiday tours during December when the museum is decorated for the holidays.

With all the rooms that set you back into the time period they depict and all the outdoor activities that are involved with the Historical Center, it is a wonder that more students don’t know about it.

University student, Elizabeth Fine is one student who as never heard of the Historical Center.

“I never heard of it, I didn’t even know we had one,” she said. “I really have no interest in history, plus I didn’t know there was one,” said Erin Gray, University Student.

Students who don’t visit the Historical Center because they lack in interest in history, should look at all the other events and what the grounds can offer.

They could spend a relaxing spring day going for a walk along the Portage River on one of the nature trails, or visit the Herb Garden or the Fletcher Arboretum.

“The park and nature trails would interest me into going, besides the museum,” Fine said. “I would like to know about Wood County history now that I know there is something like that here.”

The main objective of the Historical Center is to educate people about Wood County’s history, but it is also there to entertain people.

“I think, now knowing about the Center, I would go for the events, but not so much for the museum,” Gray said. “The Halloween event sounds really interesting.”

For those who would like to see what the museum has to offer, check out their Web site at www.woodcountyhistory.org or call them at 419-352-6220. The Historical Center is located at 13660 County Home Road, onefourth mile east of the I-75/Route 6 interchange in Bowling Green.