Centerville Washington History

Museum operations and historic buildings: asahel wright historic property/museum and visitor center for free historic walking tours designed to educate commmunity on local History and provide sense of lifestyle and work requirements in early times. Historic properties demonstrate use of limestone resources found in quarries located in area and their uses in local structures. Aaron nutt cottage is home of one of areas founders and is used as archival storage and research center by students, historians, writers. It contains displays of period antique furniture from earliest settlement of area. Museum in walton house contains exhibitis of clothing, home implements, tools, furniture and textiles from early settlement of area. The walton house is an historic structure itself and one of original buildings in Centerville area. A nearby cemetery is under active restoration to connect the public with historic local figures.

Member services include access to museums, museum gardens, participation in presentation of local historic information and forum for publication. Special programs are available to members along with a member newsletter and website which are also used to publicize the existence of the organization and encourage further public interest. Membership is open to the public.

Educational programs include monthly historic presentations, local historic home tours, studies of local geologic History with regard to stone quarries, classes and demonstrations of early trades and provision of school tours. For example; presentations have been made about quilting bees, model t ford, penny candy, local photos, historic school days, old refrigerators and local founders.school teaching modules have been developed for workshops to teachers or students over short term periods.a scholarship program has been established for 8th grade throughhigh school students interested in community and state history.the new on the road program offers speakers who are local historians to be engaged by local clubs, troops, community organizations, schools for topics about specific historic events and people related to the Centerville and Washington township area.