Butternut Ridge Cemetery

Butternut Ridge Cemetery
Butternut Ridge Cemetery First Burial 1821

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Thompson House Go Fund Me Site

There is a new Go fund Me site to raise money for the foundation for the Thompson house https://www.gofundme.com/psxwc55d When it gets moved it would be cheaper to set it on a foundation than leave it on transport beams and supports until the foundation is put in place. The site has raised $250.00 so far. We really would really like to build the foundation before we have to move the house. The house must be moved by April 1 or we lose it

 

The land around the Thompson house and the trees that are in the way for the new construction are being removed by the school board.  




New England Historical Society Newsletter

One Item I look forward to seeing in my inbox is the newsletter of the New England Historical Society. They always have interesting stories. In the December 3rd edition they had the story of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow who had a tragic life. And still he wrote a beautiful poem that became the Christmas Carol “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”. With what happened to him in his life most people would have never made it. Here is a link to his story: http://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/heard-bells-christmas-day-hope-surfaces-despair/. Inside the story there is a link that leads to a story of the courtship of his wife.

There are usually three to four interesting stories in each issue. The headline story of the January 28th issue is Louisa May Alcott, dangerous fanatic, kisses a baby.  She volunteered as a nurse in a Washington hospital during the Civil War. She was brought up a strict abolitionist in New England.  That really didn’t go over well with the Southern Sympathizers in Washington.  Here is the link: http://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/louisa-may-alcott-dangerous-fanatic-kisses-a-baby/  she wrote a book on this adventure called “Civil War Memoirs”

Another of the stories in this edition is about Percy Spencer and the chocolate bar that changed the way you cook. With a fifth grade education he helped the WWII effort and invented the microwave oven In this life he had over 300 patents. Here is his story: http://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/percy-spencer-and-the-chocolate-bar-that-changed-the-way-you-cook/  


Dale Thomas will be coming out with a new book this summer "Cleveland in WW I" about the Lakeside Nurses.  We have 2 of the Lakeside nurses buried in Butternut Ridge Cemetery Helen Briggs Elliott  Daughter of Henry Harrison  Briggs and Damie Henry Broadwell, daughter of Rev. Isaac Henry minister of the First Universalist Church. Isaac Henry bought the Thompson house from Alden Thompson in about 1855.

Monday, January 25, 2016

OHS Frostville enters new era

Olmsted Historical Society and Frostville Museum are starting on and era that will add a lot to the museum and to their preservation of the past. They will be building a 1830’s replica school house the ground breaking will happen this spring/summer.  And the Thompson house will be moved from Butternut Ridge road to their campus on Cedar Point road by April to make room for the construction of the new combined education complex being built by the North Olmsted Board of Education on Butternut Ridge Rd.

In the OHS by laws they are dedicated to Preserving the Past and the Present for the Future. They have an extensive archive of pictures letters and books on history of Olmsted and its families. It would be a fitting tribute if the use of the Thompson House could be as the Frostville History Center and contain the archives, Military History room and meeting area, as the Thompson's were very important to the founding and growth of North Olmsted. This is the personal opinion of sandisproject.

This will take a lot of work on the part of OHS along with a serious fundraising effort. OHS is looking for new members that would like to help them.
The core group that moved the Church to the Frostville campus is getting older (for some reason that happens) most of the work here is done on weekends.  

Along with all the construction work they will be still doing the usual events including the Farmers Market's and keeping the houses open on Saturdays. 
The Events Committee has put together the 2016 event schedule which will be posted soon.

There are scheduled maintenance items necessary to keep the existing buildings in good condition.  OHS has an awesome workshop that was completed in late 2014. 

If you are willing to help in one of the houses you will be taught the history of the house and their families. Hand books are being created for your reference when answering questions.