Tour of the Grounds

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Note:  The Museum is NOT handicapped accessible.

The Wolcott House

The Foot of the Rapids (Maumee) of the Maumee River was an important transshipment point serving Indian, French, English and American traders throughout the 19th century. The Battle of Fallen Timbers (Maumee) in 1795 secured the Northwest Territory for the settlement and a lively lake trade developed in the years following the War of 1812.

A proposed canal to connect Lake Erie with Ft. Wayne stimulated speculative interest and attracted Eastern entrepreneurs. Among the earliest emigrants was James Wolcott of Connecticut. Wolcott traveled to Missouri, where he met and married Mary Wells. Mary Wells Wolcott was the a daughter of William Wells and his wife Sweet Breeze, and a granddaughter of the great Miami Chief, Little Turtle. William Wells was kidnapped by Indians near his Kentucky home, was adopted by the Miami and fought alongside the Indians during the Indian Wars, 1790-1794. He later went over to the Americans to serve with General Anthony Wayne. He was present at Wayne's victory at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794 and served as the interpreter for the Miami at the Treaty of Greenville in 1795. Wells was killed during the Ft. Dearborn massacre in 1812.

Reports of the growing commercial opportunities at the Foot of the Rapids promoted James and Mary to travel to the Maumee in 1826. They purchased 300 acres for $1.25 an acre in 1827 and began construction of their handsome home. The house is a blend of federal and classic architecture. Wolcott built wharves and warehouses on the river just below his home and constructed two steamships -- the General Harrison and the James Wolcott -- to transport his merchandise. By 1837, Wolcott's retail and wholesale businesses were booming and his fortune increased with the completion of the Wabash and Erie Canals.

James and Mary Wolcott had five sons and a daughter. Their home passed through three generations to Wolcott's great-granddaughter, Rilla Hull, who passed away in 1957. She requested the home be preserved as a museum for local history.

 

The Log House

This cozy cabin, built c. 1850, has housed a succession of Maumee families. It was originally located on the banks of the Miami-Wabash Canal (Anthony Wayne Trial) and was moved to this property in 1962. It is typical of the many log houses still in use throughout Ohio in the late nineteenth century.

 

 

Depot

The 1888 depot was moved from the center of Maumee to this site in 1971. It was a frantic hub of activity when serving as the passenger and freight station for the Clover Leaf Railroad. Construction is typical of the period.

 

 

The Gilbert-Flanigan Farmhouse

Gilbert-Flanigan Farmhouse was built by Jarvis Gilbert in 1841. It is an Ohio derivative of the traditional New England saltbox house.  The sloped roof, one and a half story structure reflects Greek Revival architectural elements. A wide frieze board runs under the roof, above the two identical front doorways. One provides separate access to the working area by family members going about everyday tasks. The other opens into the parlor and was used primarily by visitors. The Gilberts raised six children on the outskirts of Maumee. Daniel Flanigan purchased the property in 1871, and his granddaughter, Minnie Flanigan, was the last inhabitant. After her death in 1965, the house was moved to this site. Restoration began in 1977.

 

Monclova Country Church

The Monclova Country Church, built in 1901, was moved to this site in 1985.  Originally constructed to house the United Brethren congregation, it served a rural population for many years. Its Gothic architectural features were common in the late Victorian period and have remained unchanged over the years. It is available for weddings and meetings, click here for rental information.

 

Museum Store and Maumee Valley Historical Society Office

The Frederick House, c. 1840, was originally a private residence in the center of Maumee. It is a typical townhouse reflecting the Greek Revival architecture that was so prevalent at that time in Northwest Ohio. The building now houses the museum store, which carries a full line of local history books and merchandise, cards, and children's toys.

  

Copyright 2005 City of Maumee, Ohio. All rights reserved.