Medina County Historical Society
Medina County is fortunate to have many societies dedicated to preserving our local history. As a new feature on the MCDL Genealogy Team blog, we’ll be highlighting one local society a month.
Brian Feron
The first society we decided to feature was the Medina County Historical Society. MCHS president Brian Feron was kind enough to answer our questions about the society. Here are some MCHS developments you can look forward to in coming months!
MCDL Librarian: Tell us a little bit about yourself... How long have you worked with Medina County Historical Society? What sparked your interest in local history?
MCHS Brian Feron: I've been a volunteer at MCHS for over 20 years. I've always had an interest in history and was asked to join the board by Helen Waite in 1998 or so. I was born and raised in Medina and was active in service clubs from High School on ( Key Club, Jaycees, Rotary) so I saw the benefits of making our community special and preserving the nature of our town. The all-volunteer board at MCHS has talented people to help manage the archives and museums. Joann King and Tom Hilberg are both retired curators yet find many hours a week to help with the administrative work.
MCDL Librarian: MCHS has made great progress on the preservation of the McDowell-Phillips home. What are the next steps in this project?
MCHS Brian Feron: The phase one projects are complete and that list included many projects to secure the exterior and interior (repairs, paint etc.) The next phase is to develop a master plan for the driveways, parking, gardens and replacement of the large barn to construct a small event building and retain the look of a barn/carriage house.
MCDL Librarian: The John Smart home includes an archive and library: how can people access this collection?
MCHS Brian Feron: The current plan is by appointment. People can call 330-722-1341 to request an appointment and also say what type of research is needed so we have a trained volunteer on hand to assist.
MCDL Librarian: As the community seems to be returning to "normal" post-pandemic, what impact does this have on MCHS? Do you have upcoming programs for the public? Will open houses and tours of the sites become available?
MCHS Brian Feron: The John Smart House was open June 6 for tours. It will be open the first Sunday of the month starting August 1. The McDowell-Phillips House Museum will be open to the public starting Thursday July 15 from noon - 4 PM for guided tours. The monthly schedule is still being worked out to manage the visitor volume on a regular basis. Both museums are scheduled to be on the Community Design Committee Home tour Dec 5th and 12th.
MCDL Librarian: MCHS is coming up on its 100th anniversary -- are there any plans in the works to commemorate the milestone?
MCHS Brian Feron: Yes, we have several activities planned by our centennial committee throughout the year 2022.
MCDL Librarian: Anything else you'd like everyone to know about the MCHS at this time?
MCHS Brian Feron: We initiated an admission donation to tour the museums. The operating expenses must be covered and we researched surrounding museums to set a rate. So far, our guests have felt it very reasonable and fair in light of the numerous artifacts to see.
In addition to our mini-interview above, you can learn more about the MCHS’s recent restoration of the McDowell-Phillips House with the presentation entitled “Medina’s House of Treasures: The Restoration of the McDowell-Phillips House.” Watch it on YouTube at https://youtu.be/Zs6k6q2N6jE.
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