Browse Items (516 total)
Sort by:
OARDC Centennial Medal 1882-1982
OARDC celebrated their centennial in 1982 and the wheat and test tube on the front of the medal symbolizes their tradition of dealing with agricultural problems through the application of modern science.
Book of OAES Building Estimates 1894
Building on OAES’s new campus was held up by a court case, but construction began quickly in 1894 as contractors’ estimates came in.
OAES Letter About Their Budget 1894
OAES needed to make sure that they had enough money to buy equipment and pay travel expenses, so they needed to balance their budget, which can be seen in these pages from 1893-1894.
Early OARDC Wooster Campus Including Administration Building from 1911 Souvenir Booklet
The original buildings of Wooster’s OARDC campus included laboratories, a creamery, a dairy barn, and greenhouses.
Portrait of Charles E. Thorne, OAES's First Director from 1911 Souvenir Booklet
Charles E. Thorne became the first director of what eventually became OARDC from 1887-1921.
Buildings on OAES Wooster Campus from 1911 Souvenir Booklet
When OAES originally moved to Wooster none of the buildings were completed yet, but the campus eventually began to take shape in 1893.
Jacob's Lutheran Cemetery and Foundation
Photo the Jacob's Lutheran Cemetery in Franklin Township.
Jacob's Lutheran Cemetery and Foundation
Photo of the Jacob's Lutheran Cemetery and Foundation in Franklin Township.
First building on OARDC's Wooster campus, built Spring 1893.
Building a strong campus for the OARDC in Wooster took many years. The first building on campus is pictured here, erected in spring 1893.
Across the Street from the Remnants of Jacob's Lutheran Church
Photo taken across the street from the remnants of Jacob's Lutheran Church, featuring the junction signs.
Jacob's Lutheran Cemetery and Foundation
Photo of Jacob's Lutheran Cemetery.
Charles E. Thorne, OARDC's First Director 1887-1921
Charles E. Thorne started working at the OAES as a foreman right after graduating college. When he noticed the station was not near as large or successful as it could have been (mostly due to its location in Columbus), the young man started sharing…
Jacob's Lutheran Cemetery and Foundation
Photo of Jacob's Lutheran Cemetery
Painting of August Imgard
Painting of August Imgard, the man credited with bringing the Christmas Tree to Wooster. For many years, local legend suggested that he was the first to bring the Christmas tree to America.
College of Wooster German Professor, Dr. Scheiber
Photo of Dr. Scheiber, the German professor who first proved that Wooster was not the site of the first American Christmas tree by citing earlier instances in Cleveland and Buffalo, NY.
August Imgard Residence
Modern photo of August Imgard's house, the man credited with bringing the Christmas tree to Wooster. The building is now the rectory of St. Mary's Church.
Freedlander's Storefront circa 1960s
The Freedlander’s storefront changed around the 1960s and stayed in that style until its closing in 2009.
Stamps Celebrating Wooster as the "Home of the First Christmas Tree"
Stamps sold in Wooster in the late 19th century that continued the legend of Wooster as the "home of the first Christmas tree."
Tearing Down the Freedlander's Storefront in The Daily Record 2010
Wooster’s local newspaper, The Daily Record, documented the tearing down of the Freedlander storefront that had been a part of the town for more than 125 years.
Program from the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Christmas Tree in Wooster, 1947
Program from a religious celebration in Wooster's town square in 1947 to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the christmas tree in Wooster.
August Imgard House, circa 1870
Residence of August Imgard, the man credited with bringing the Christmas tree to Wooster. This photo was taken before the house was moved to it's current located at St. Mary's Church.
Opening the Freedlander's on Dollar Day Sale
Dollar Day sales were a chaotic and well remembered event in the store’s history.
Wooster Christmas Tree Lit-Up, 1999
Photo of the Wooster Christmas Tree, located in the Wooster Cemetery, lit-up for Christmas.
Herman and Harold Freedlander, managers of Freedlander's 1961
Herman Freedlander and his son, Harold, both ran the store before it was sold to investors in the late 80s.
Christmas Sign from Freedlander's Department Store
Freedlander’s was a popular place during the Christmas shopping season, especially the Toyland Department and Santa.
Hat Box from Freedlander's Department Store
Many Wooster residents still remember the distinctive hat boxes and bags from Freedlander’s Department Store before its closing in 2009.
Plaque Outside the Salem Lutheran Church
Plaque outside of the Salem Lutheran Church stating that the congregation was founded in 1828 by Reverend Weygandt.
Mary Eberhart's Charge Card from Freedlander's
Freedlander’s customers often had charge cards, but eventually these gave way to credit cards around the 1970s.
Front of Salem Lutheran Church
Photo of the front of Salem Lutheran Church, one of the oldest German Lutheran congregations in Wooster.