Scrapbooks

I have been working in the archives of the Olmsted Historical Society at Frostville Museum. I am now in the process  of scanning a scrapbook* that was put together by Amelia Merriam Ames. It contains newspaper clippings from 1883 to 1888.The newspapers of the days were The Berea Grindstone Advertiser and The Ridgeville Republican. It is interesting what they were printing: trips into and visitors from out of town, deaths. births, marriages, family reunions, and even in the 1800's there were scams and thefts.    

North Olmsted items were listed as Butternut Ridge or just the Ridge or as Coe Ridge. Westlake was known as Dover and Fairview was Rockport. Occasionally they used the term North Olmsted this was to differentiate from the rest of Olmsted. They sometimes used South Olmsted for the Falls area.   

Here is a story from the clippings.  It has a connection to the  "Mystery of Rienzi Austin" 

"Disappointment lies in many a prize,

As bees in flowers, and stings us with success.  

This aphorism of old poet was happily illustrated a short time since in the elite and pleasant neighborhood of Coe Ridge.  On the evening of Oct 15th, Mrs J. S. Knowles  was surprised by the sudden entrance into her pleasant home of a number of her relatives and friends with baskets and parcels, who without ceremony took possession of her rooms and proceeded to business. When the mystery was cleared up, it was found they had brought a nice supper and a number of valuable articles in honor of her 40th birthday." 

"Among the presents were the following: A nice set of dishes,from her mother Mrs Austin, of Coe Ridge and brother and sisters; a sofa lounge from her aunt Lucretta Coe; a bedroom set of china, from her uncle Andrew Coe's people; some glassware from her cousins, Mary Williams and Mrs. L. D. Benedict, of Cleveland. A very pleasant surprise and a merry good time."

Mrs J. S. Knowles is Annette Austin Knowles a sister of Rienzi. Mrs Austin is Lucina Coe Austin.   

 * The scrap book is property of the OHS Frostville archives. 

What is the value of an archive?  Frostville is a beautiful collection of 19th century buildings and furnishings but, what was the life like in those days. Some of their hardships we would not even think about. We are able to see what the people looked like. Did you ever wonder why people never smiled. Some say it was because of the hard life or it would be wrong to smile. The logical answer is it took to long to take the picture. You were not to move or the picture would be spoiled. 

To preserve a historic house you need wood and paint. To preserve an archive you need a temperature and humidity controlled room.  You also need containers and folders that are acid free. The temperature is to be no warmer than 75 degrees and the humidity about 30%. A historic archive is as important as a historic house if not more important.