HOCKING COUNTY HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY AND MUSEUM

11/03/2026

TWO LOGAN FIREMEN FELLED BY HEAT FIGHTING OIL BLAZE AT EAST CITY LIMITS
The Logan Daily News of April 20, 1972
Two Logan firemen were rushed to Hocking Valley Community Hospital Wednesday afternoon suffering from over-exposure to heat while fighting an oil storage tank fire on Old Rt. 33.
Donald Schultz, 467 Henrietta Ave., was released this morning from the hospital, while Richard Auker, 798 N. Market St., was treated and released.
Fire Chief Bob Courter said the blaze originated at an oil storage tank owned by the Sand Supply Co. of Zanesville, located less than 50 yards from the Quaker State bulk plant on old Rt. 33 at the east edge of Logan.
Firemen received the Alarm at 4:20 p.m. Wednesday. They said Nancy Abram called in the alarm. Firemen said upon their arrival at the scene an oil overflow and the adjacent grass hillside were on fire. They fought the blaze for almost two hours.
Firemen said besides the oil loss, over a quarter-acre of grass and wooded area was scorched. Four regular firemen and eight volunteers from Nelsonville fire department turned out to help Logan firemen battle the stubborn blaze.
Frank Cherry, operator of Cherry’s Texaco service station, located across old Rt. 33 from the fire scene, said he could feel the intense heat from the oil-fed blaze over 200 yards away.
He said flames were shooting out of the top of the oil tank through an open hatch as high as the trees on the adjacent hillside. “I was about ready to move out,” he said, before firemen arrived to bring the blaze under control.
The open hatch kept pressure from building up inside the tank and this apparently averted an explosion which could have been far more serious than the initial fire.
Such a blast would have endangered the adjacent Quaker State Bulk plant, Cherry’s service station and a number of homes in the immediate vicinity.

11/02/2026

Thanks for being a top engager and making it on to my weekly engagement list! 🎉 Josiah Hunsaker, Garen Eggleston, Scott Dietz, Jeanie Gillespie, James David Primmer, Cindy Hummel, Carl Lytle, Marlene Bainter Kunkler, Linda Brandt, Peggy Bush Thrush, Ted Kollister, Nancy Ellen Eddins, Patty Bush-Coakley, Karen Schmidt, Joseph Miller, Steve Yates, Loretta Wilson, Barbara Stivison, Timothy Poling, Melody Eggleston Pesta, Terry Blackstone, LouAnn Keirns, Tim Myers

11/02/2026

NOTICE.
The Ohio Democrat of June 8, 1889
All persons are hereby notified that the dumping of garbage and rubbish or throwing dead animals into the Hocking River or any stream of water in Falls Twp., must positively be stopped. Any person doing so will be fined no less than Five Dollars ($5) and are liable to a fine of Five Hundred Dollars.
All persons throughout the Township and especially those of Gore, Oreville and Enterprise are ordered to remove all garbage from their premises within the next 30 days.
By Order of Board of Health of Falls Township.
I. Voris, President
J.J. Shaw,
G. Amendt,
Edwin Hartley, Sec’y

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11/01/2026

Up to our Elbows in Newspapers! And We Love It!
Where we find out History.
A year ago, we received the newspaper collection of George B. Johnson, a longtime member of the Hocking County Historical Society. The collection filled at least 17 tubs and documents Logan’s history, with a few newspapers dating back to the 1920s. Some are so fragile they crumble when touched, while many remain in good condition.
Over the past year, Kay Wilson, the Hocking County Historical Society’s military and cemetery expert, has reviewed the newspapers for military information and obituaries, greatly expanding the museum’s records. Nearly a third of the newspapers remain to be reviewed. Although Kay began with military records and obituaries in mind, she soon became fascinated by the stories of Logan’s past as well.
After reviewing the papers, Kay passes them to Nyla, who gathers local history for the museum’s records and Facebook. Nyla then passes them to Cindy Coss to research the caves, CCC, and other topics of her interest.
These newspapers offer a fascinating glimpse into local history. Their wording differs from today’s reporting, and their stories range from amusing to unsettling. Together, they reveal how Hocking County has grown and changed over the past century. There is history in every paper.
The papers were given to the museum by Mr. Johnson's family.

GEORGE B. JOHNSON (1927 – 2025) June 4, 2025
It is with a saddened heart, we announce the passing George Johnson. George was one of the first members of the Hocking County Historical Society and continued a dedicated member until his death. He spent many years as a member of the Board of Directors of the Historical Society. He assisted in the planning of the reenactment of the Lord Dunmore’s 250th anniversary of the crossing of the Hocking River on October 19, 2024.
George Bernard Johnson, 97 of Logan, Ohio passed away Friday, May 30, 2025. Geroge was born June 10, 1927, in Orbiston, Ohio, he was the son of the late George Walter and Mollie Mae (Tolliver) Johnson.
George led a full life as a Professor Emeritus at Hockin College. He was a U.S. Army WWII Veteran, served with the 11th Airborne Division from 1945 to 1947. George worked at BancOhio National Bank before retiring and starting his studies in Egyptology, eventually becoming a contributing editor to KMT Journal of Ancient Egypt and making several travels to Egypt where he worked on several archaeological sites. He studied at OSU, OU, the American Institute of Banking, and John Hopkins University.
George had one true love, his wife Martha Ann (Lehman) Johnson, sons, Dr. George Warner (Jeanne) Johnson of Logan, and Mark Richard (Sandy) Johnson of Parma, Oh., daughter Jennifer Jay (George) Woollacoat of Bellefontaine, Oh., several grandchildren as well as great, great grandchildren.
George was laid to rest at Oak Grove Cemetery June 3, 2025, with a graveside military service performed by the Hocking County Honor Guard. Arrangements were by Robert Funeral Home in Logan.

10/31/2026

REMPEL’S STORE CARRIED VARIETY OF MERCHADISE.
The Logan Daily News of May 8, 1940
When Col. F.F. Rempel, former owner of the home which has now become the Stage-Coach Inn, was operating his retail emporium in the Opera House block, the story was quite generally told that he could supply any items which could be desired by a customer.
One day a jokester challenged this claim with another man inside the quite store, claiming that he was quite sure Col. Rempel would not be able to sell him what he wanted.
“Ands what is that?” asked Col. Rempel, who overheard the conversation.
“I want a pulpit,” grinned the facetious gentleman.
“Upstairs, please,” the colonel grinned back. And upstairs was the pulpit, left by a churchless congregation which had been worshipping in the Opera House auditorium.
NOTE: The Opera House is the location of Darlene’s Flowers and the Children’s Museum on West Main St.

10/30/2026

Civil War Col. FERDINAND FREDERIC REMPEL
Original info from a writing of Helen Mowrey
From LOGAN 150 (1838 to 1988 Celebrating a Century and Half of Progress
Ferdinand Frederic Rempel was born on June 20, 1824, in Prussia. His family came to America when he was 10 years old. He first lived in Lancaster, Ohio.
After he learned English, he moved to Columbus and taught English. However, he soon returned to Lancaster to work in a wholesale grocery store. After a year he was put in charge of a branch store in Logan, Ohio. At the age of 19, he purchased this branch store, which was enlarged and became the foundation of his fortune.
In 1850 he moved to Europe but returned to Logan in 1855, where he established the Hocking Valley Stagecoach Line which became part of the Columbus & Hocking Valley Railroad Co. in 1868. In the 13 years Rempel’s stagecoach line operated, a serious accident never occurred – quite a record considering it averaged 200 miles per day of travel.
For a period, Rempel was regarded as possibly the largest individual landowner in the entire Hocking Valley.
The July 5, 1860, issue of the Hocking Sentinel Newspaper described him as the mail contractor and proprietor of the coach line from Lancaster to Pomeroy, and owner and operator of the “American House,” now the Rempel Hotel. He also had a drug store and a livery comprising 98 horses, omnibuses, carriages and more, with a blacksmith and repair shop. He was extensively engaged in market gardening, was an agent for Aetna Insurance Co. and was active in the foreign shipping business among other business interests.
Originally a Democrat, Rempel severed connections with that party and joined the new Republican party. He ran for the State Legislature in 1861 but lost by five votes. But his political career was interrupted by the Civil War. Rempel was lieutenant colonel of the 59th Regiment, and he was made post commander of Camp Chase on December 4, 1861. They were mobilized two months later, with Rempel leading the regiment into the important battle of Fort Donelson and the Battle of Shiloh. He was later made Provost Marshall of the army at Pittsburgh Landing. In August 1862, he resigned his commission; due to bad health, and so were his finances as the result of the war.
Rempel returned home to serve as District Revenue Inspector, Deputy U.S. Marshall, and postmaster of Logan. He was called “the great business genius of Logan.” Afte the war ended he turned his attention to real estate, building many houses and business blocks, and structures like the Opera House in 1871, In the summer of 1882 or 1883 he erected 30 houses in Logan. In 1882 he purchased controlling stock in the Logan Gas Co., and a year later was its president.
He died in 1902.
NOTE: The fenced in area on the rooftop, was well used by Col. Rempel to enjoy the view of the city.

10/29/2026

🇺🇸 Do you have a Veteran in your life you’d like to honor? 🇺🇸

The Logan Daily News wants to recognize the brave men and women who have served our country in our upcoming Veterans Day special section — and there is NO CHARGE to participate!

Help us fill these pages with the faces of our local heroes. ❤️🤍💙

👇 See the details below and send us your Veteran’s photo by October 23!

PLEASE SHARE so we can honor as many Hocking County Veterans as possible! 🇺🇸

10/29/2026

HOME, SWEET HOME
The Logan Daily News of May 8, 1940
While busy with his many enterprises, Col. Rempel loved the big house which he had brought with the profits from his carefully considered business dealings – he found peace and quiet in the high-ceilinged rooms, in the cool study at the northwest corner of the house, the stables which included an icehouse and a “carving room” for Mrs. Rempel who was a clever artisan. He no doubt smiles as his nieces and nephews slid down the wide banisters of the main stairway or frolicked in the double ballroom where an “orchestra alcove” made an ideal hiding place. There was a spacious yard where refreshments were served under the trees on ho0t afternoons or he could retire to the little railed balcony on the very top of the house if he merely wanted to go watch the world and his neighbors go by.
On one September day ibn 1901 this busy, well-compensated life came to a close. Col. Rempel dropped dead while a case in which he was interested was being heard in the Hocking County Court room. There was a funeral, one of the largest on record here, and newspapers were elaborate in their eulogies.
Miss Rempel and her niece Miss Elizabeth Armbruster who had been brought up in the Rempel home, occupied the large brick house until 1913 when the former died. Miss Armbruster lived there alone for five years, later selling the property to the late Willard Shaw whose estate disposed of the home and grounds to the Sterling Oil Co., early this year.
This, in brief, is the saga of one of Logan’s most interesting, most stately landmarks which is now to be preserved for posterity as the Stage-Coach Inn.
The last white photo of the Stagecoach is one of Cliff Kittle’s collection and was taken in 1950.

10/28/2026

COL. REMPEL, HIS HOME
Until Mr. Rempel’s death in 1901, the large house with its grand ball room was the social center of Logan – even Southeastern Ohio.
The owner was a capital host and his guests included such dignitaries as his friend, Gov. James E. Campbell, of Ohio, Claude Meeker, Columbus financier, and a host of other prominent men of the day, many of them friends made during his service with the Union Army during the Civil War. The Logan Colonel of the 58th Ohio Regiment, leading his troops into battle at Fort Donalson, where he personally received the surrender of the Confederate artillery officers, later being elevated to the rank of Provost Marshal, and finally returning to Hocking County because of ill health, although still maintaining the rank of Provost Marshall.
It was during the war that Col. Rempel met General James Abram Garfield, later President of the United States and a friendship was struck up, although it is not recorded that Garfield ever visited Col. Rempel of Logan.
In the rear of his newly acquired home, Colonel Rempel built a two row of brick stables which are still standing (in 1940). These stables at one time quartered some of the finest horseflesh ever owned in southern Ohio, since Mrs. Rempel shared her husband’s enthusiasm for horses and was herself an accomplished equestrienne. On one occasion she won a prize for riding at the Hocking County Fair, and on another day, she disobeyed her husband’s express orders and coaxed one of his stagecoach drivers to let her manage one of the stage teams on its way through Logan.
Col. Rempel had established the Hocking Valley stagecoach line in 1855, and it became one of the largest in the state until stage service was supplanted by the railroad. In 1868, Col. Rempel was proud in that 13 years of continuous operation and with an average of 200 miles of travel each day, there never was a serious accident on the line.
After the war, Logan’s first citizen served as a district revenue inspector, deputy United States marshal and Logan postmaster, continuing to add to his fortune by wise investments which included heave purchased of stock in the logan Gas Company and the construction of the large Rempel Opera House (1871), which is still standing at the corner of Main and Spring Streets. IN the latter building, Col. Rempel operated an immense retail store which included a toy mart, which dazzled the eyes of young and old alike at Christmas time.
This photo was found hanging in Dr. Anzalone’s office.

10/27/2026

STAGE COACH INN PROPERTY ONCE OWNED BY COUNTY’S SECOND SETTLER
The Logan Daily News of May 8, 1940
Mansion Built by Captain Bowen Became Social Center of City During Life of Colonel Rempel
The history of the land and even the building now occupied by the new Stage-Coach Inn provides a rich commentary on the recorded annal of Logan – a story rich with the color and flavor of a middle western community as it struggled for a place under the sun.
According to the abstract of title prepared by Carlos Brashares, Logan attorney, for the purchasers of the “Rempel Mansion,” the land which it occupies was a part of the original grant made by President Thomas Jeffoerson to Conrad Bryan, who arrived here in May 1789, just two months after Christian Westenhaver had made the first settlement in Hocking County on the banks of Oldtown Creek. Bryan, who was accompanied by his brother-in-law, John Pence, secured in 1808 a patent for 80 acres of land which extended from what is now the corner of Main and Mulberry Streets east to Googe Greek. (Oddly enough, no record of this transaction was filed with the county recorder until 1895.)
Eight years later the pioneer landowner sold his 80 acres to Thomas Worthington, early real estate operator and entrepreneur, who broke the property up into lots and proceeded to sell the south part of his holdings to Dr. Reuben Culver who laid what was known as Culver Addition, the two lots, forming the site of the present Stagecoach Inn being sold to Thomas and Sarah Webb and to Emanuel Lightfoot.
BUILT BY CAPTAIN BOWEN
It was in 1866 and 1867 that Captain William Bowen, Logan banker, merchant, industrialist and Assemblyman, just returned from the Civil War, acquired title to Webb lot s well as to the Lightfoot lot, which in the meantime had had Mary Ann Cshing, Lemuel Drake, John Rochestyer and Raymond Bell as successive owners. Shortly after consolidating his holdings at the Main-Walnut corner, Captain Bowen built the 15-room house which was recently remodeled by the Lanning interest to house a modern super service station and community center.
Captain Bowen invested heavily in fire insurance stock during these post-war years; the Chicago fire cleaned the remainer of his fortune and he lost the magnificent home in 1879. Frank B. Baird purchased the property from the Home Insurance Co. in February 1880, and seven months later reselling to Ferdinand Fredrick Rempel, a native of Bielefield, Prussia, who had come to America in 1834, who had purchased a grocery on West Main Street in Logan when he was only 19 and who had accumulated a large fortune through his interests in merchandising, real estate, a stagecoach line, market gardening, a drug store, livery stable, gas manufacture and a dozen other fields.