- John C. Larwill: This man was one of Wooster’s earliest settlers, along with his brothers William and Joseph. In 1820 he became Wooster’s first Justice of the Peace. (“Biography of John Larwill” by Ben Douglas for the Wooster Republican)
- William…
Open to the public for legal reference, the courthouse contains a Law Library on the third floor. Originally set to be in the basement, problems with humidity and document preservation led to its current home. I was designed with a meeting of time in…
The original workings of the clock have been maintained since their installation in 1879, placed in glass containers to aid in their preservation. The workings have been maintained by 7 “keepers.” The later roster of keepers consisted of 3…
These stairs lead to the highest point in the courthouse- the clock tower. The age and narrowness of the way to the top prevent it from being fully open to the public. The view from the top is simply stunning.
Mark K. Wiest is the primary judge who presides over this room. Restored to maintain the traditional style of courtroom, Judge Wiest tries general civil and criminal cases.
This is a more modern example of a courtroom in the Courthouse. Over the past decade or so, the push for technological innovation in the legal system has led to the remodeling and technological equipping of rooms like this one. To save on time and…
This is an article from the Wooster Daily Record on April 20, 1989. It covered the protest, now known as the Galpin Takeover, put on by both Black and white students after a series of violent incidences against people of color on campus. Noted as a…
The Black Students' Manifesto, known more commonly as the Black Manifesto, listed the concerns of the collective Black student community on campus and proposed solutions to address those concerns. It has served as a measure of the Black community's…
Ephraim Quinby, Jr., one of Wooster’s richest and most prominent citizens in the late 19th century. He not only led the effort to build the University, but donated the land for the new school.
This advertisement in the Wayne County Democrat from February 13, 1868 shows the urgency to build a university, and the Trustees’ feelings that the school should be built by Wooster citizens.
Although newspapers allowed Wooster’s citizens to remain informed about legal, local, national, and agricultural news, they also provided much needed entertainment through the inclusion of poems or excerpts from literature.
Many members of the public, including businesses, used the newspaper as a way of selling their goods from law books and dictionaries to livestock and farm equipment.
Wooster’s lawyers and doctors would take out advertisements in the local papers such as the Wayne County Democrat to announce their services and location to hopefully attract more business.
A Bob Evans Restaurant replaced the historic old mill that once stood near the Oak Hill Cemetery signalling the symbolic end of mills in Wooster, which were once a major feature of the local economy.
This map shows the growing number of families who settled in Wooster by 1826 and includes some familiar names of early wealthy landowners such as Larwill, Bever, and Quinby.
Letter from John McSweeney to Harold Freedlander after he accepted the invitation to join the Un-American Activities Committee. McSweeney spoke at the dedication of the Knesseth Israel Temple in 1950.
This advertisement for a local mill showcases the common services that mills such as the Stibbs Mill in Wooster would have offered, such as providing families with flour to make bread.