4 • The Beacon April 15 , 2021
Museum celebrating 90 years of sharing Coshocton and Ohio ’ s past
By Josie Sellers
TheCoshoctonBeaconToday . com
Coshocton natives David M . and John H . Johnson spent their lives exploring and collecting artifacts . As adults they moved away from Coshocton but made sure in their will that their hometown would get their collection .
“ That was during the depression , and the city didn ’ t have the money for a museum ,” said Jennifer Bush , director of the Johnson- Humrickhouse Museum . “ The library agreed to be the owner and supporter .”
The Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum opened to the public on May 8 , 1931 , and is celebrating its 90th anniversary .
“ It was free to get in , and people would stay all day because it was nice and cool since they had air-conditioning ,” Bush said .
The museum showcased the Johnson brothers ’ collection of American Indian , European and Asian artifacts . The building , however , was not big enough and even experienced a partial floor collapse .
“ The Montgomerys were restoring Roscoe Village and gave $ 500,000 for a new museum , but it had to be built in Roscoe ,” Bush said .
The community rallied together and raised the rest of the money needed to complete the project .
“ One-hundred-thousand dollars came from the Coshocton Foundation , $ 180,000 from personal contributions , and $ 127,000 from businesses , financial institutions and fraternal organizations ,” Bush said . “ Clearly , a substantial portion of Coshocton had made a commitment of money and energy to the wellbeing of the museum . This is quoted from Raimond E Goerter ’ s book on the history of the Johnson-Humrickhouse family and the museum . Over 20,000 people visited the first week of opening the ‘ new ’ museum .”
According to the museum ’ s website at www . jhmuseum . org , the Johnson brothers ’ “ primary collections consisted of American
“
The Montgomerys were restoring Roscoe Village and gave $ 500,000 for a new museum , but it had to be built in Roscoe .”
Jennifer Bush
Indian baskets and beadwork ; Asian fine and decorative arts and weaponry ; and European and American ceramics , glassware and textiles . The museum ’ s collections have grown through donations , primarily in areas of local history and prehistoric Ohio Indian tools and points .”
The current museum building at 300 N . Whitewoman St . was built in 1979 . It went under its first major renovation process from fall 2019 to 2020 .
“ We changed the museum to tell more of the Coshocton / Ohio story ,” Bush said . “ We were missing that connection to the galleries .”
The new and improved galleries are Native American Exhibit — prehistoric Ohio tools and points , 19th-century North American basketry and beadwork ; Historic Ohio Exhibit — 19th-century tools and furnishing , 18th- and 19th-century firearms ; Progressive Ohio Exhibit — 19th-century decorative and advertising art ; and Beyond Our Borders — centuries of beauty , swords , décor and lost art . There also is a special exhibit room that currently features “ A Playground of Talent ,” a combination of local elementary and high school art .
“ It ’ s full of color and fun ,” Bush said . “ The kids ’ art is fantastic .”
The museum offers lectures , family paint nights , activities for children and opportunities for volunteers . Donations of artifacts are accepted too . Bush asks that people send an email with a photograph and information to see if they are interested in the item . They do not want any donations just dropped off .
“ It ’ s mostly Coshocton County stuff that we are interested in ,” Bush said . “ It ’ s helpful if you know what something was used for , what its story is and how it is connected to the area .”
The museum has more than 20,000 artifacts in its collection , and they hope to rotate items from time to time . Interactive displays also are being planned .
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 4 p . m . until Memorial Day weekend . It is then open daily from noon to 5 p . m . to Labor Day and Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 4 p . m . Labor Day through December .
Anyone not comfortable touring the museum during public hours is welcome to call and make an appointment for earlier in the day Monday through Friday . More information on hours , appointments and admission can be found at www . jhmuseum . org , by emailing jhmuseum @ jhmuseum . org or by calling 740- 622-8710 . Admission is free for Coshocton County residents on Sundays .
“ We want to tell our community story , and we want people to know about it ,” Bush said . “ If something isn ’ t right , let us know or let us know if you know something about an artifact .”
Submitted A second-floor exhibit at the museum now showcases advertising art and other Coshocton industries .
Submitted The opening of the Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum ’ s current location was celebrated in July 1979 .
Submitted The Johnson brothers ’ primary collections consisted of American Indian baskets and beadwork .