20th ANNIVERSARY OF WAKEMAN ARCHIVAL RESEARCH CENTER

The Wakeman Archival Research Center is celebrating it 20th year as a repository for family history and local history of this area. We have much history of the founding of the village of Waterville until it was finally made a city when the census recorded a population of over 5000. John Pray founded the village in 1831 and we have much history on this family and his relatives along with other families that have donated their genealogy to us. We are always looking for information in the paper and donations to make this one of the best genealogy research places for Waterville residents. Of course, genealogy isn’t the only thing we have, as historical research of the area is also very much in evidence at the archives

In 1997, Waterville Historical Society bought the Wakeman Masonic building at the corner of Farnsworth and the Anthony Wayne Trail to prevent Rite Aid from buying it and tearing it down.  After extensive remodeling we were able to make a small replica of a Canal Store in the front of the building and a meeting room downstairs plus remodeled the kitchen. Upstairs we decided we wanted an Archives for all of the paper-based items the historical society owned. Members brought things that had been stored in their homes and from the Robbins and Sargent House Museums upstairs to the Wakeman. An antique table was lengthened to make a place for organizing the many pieces of paper and items. Desk were donated by the Waterville Bank, bookcases donated by BGSU, computer and printers donated and the PastPerfect Museum Software was recommended and donated. The volunteers working were Nancy Myerholtz, Neva Porter, Lora Beckwith, Steve Charter, Phyllis Witzler, Mary Agee, Verna Rose and others. We were up and running now, to go through the many boxes and items piled high on the table. We received two grants to help us learn how to archive the many items and to buy supplies. We had a grant for a college student to work with us inventorying all of the items we own. Our Collection Management requires that the Archive, with their Past Perfect Museum software, are required to inventory and photograph every item that WHS owns in all of our museums and the Archives. That was a big project and John Rose and Adam Tharp took the job on for the Robbins House. Later John would continue, with others volunteering at times, to do the Sargent House and Cobbler Shop. The program is able to place the exact location of the item so if we need it for any reason we can walk to the item and pick it up.

By 2001 we were open to the public by appointment and also answered questions by mail. In 2002 we decided to be open to the public every Wednesday and later we were open on some Saturdays as well. We will open by appointment if someone can’t come on our open days. We continue to be open every Wednesday from 10-2 and the last Saturday of the summer months from 10-2. Any updates on open days will be shown in the website at www.watervillehistory.org . Always look for the open flag or the open sign. We won’t put the flag up if it is raining or too windy. We would love to show you around and come and research your Waterville families. We have information on families that lived in the Waterville area, were buried in one of the local cemeteries, member of a church, were a member of the Masonic family or I.O.O.F. We have information on clubs, miliary members, American Legion, etc. Recreation was big in Waterville and we have records and pictures from them, plus the square dance club, school clubs, school plays from the Waterville High School, diplomas, picture of the school, teachers, and students. We have memorabilia from the Waterville and AW schools, Waterville businesses, Masonic members, scouts, WW I and WW II memorabilia.  We have lots of maps and pictures of the building of the Roche de Boeuf Bridge. We also have an extensive photograph collection. We continue to accept items from the Waterville area that fits into our collection policy.

On Wednesday, April 20th we will be having a Program at the Wakeman Hall at 7 pm plus on zoom about the Wakeman Archives. If you want a zoom code contact Julie Wiley by April 19th at jwiley@rcolaw.com