First Floor Exhibits

The Lobby

The Lobby

The Lobby

The Lobby

Welcome to the Grove City Area Historical Society and Museum, original home to the Uber Hotel built between 1905 and 1910.  It later became the Travelers Hotel and was purchased by the Society in 2000.  First known as the Uber Hotel and then the Traveler’s Hotel,  several remnants of the hotel remain on the left side of the room. In the form of the  original registration desk, cash register, and key case.  Across from the entrance is an original Estes Pump Organ, Serial #74339, a gift to a local woman on her wedding day in 1938. To the right of the entrance on the south wall is the largest piece ever done by Grove City aluminum artist, Arthur Armour, titled the Stag and Doe.  Surrounding the piece are a many of Mr. Armour’s original dies.  Two of our commemorative Heritage Trees were painted on the east wall by Barbara Mullett, and the original Heritage Tree, on the north wall, was painted by local author and artist, Lillian Reeher.  These trees are adorned with engraved aluminum, bronze, and copper leaves produced by Wendell August and were provided in memory or in honor of loved ones.  Proceeds of this project support the preservation of the building and its artifacts for the generations to come.

The Main Activity Room

The Main Activity Room

The Main Activity Room

The Main Activity Room

This central exhibit and meeting room is the hub of activity at the society.  Meetings and events are held here, where the Museum Shoppe is also housed. The Museum Shoppe offers books, shirts, and local memorabilia for sale. Lined on two walls is a border collection of Wendell August Christmas plates, original designs in pewter and bronze, representative of the fact that Grove City was and still is the home of a bustling engraving industry. On two other walls are collections of paintings and pieces by prominent local artists such as Maude Winder, Margaret Williams, Lillian Reeher, and Jim Myford.  This room also houses memorabilia of Grove City’s renowned Highland Band, items from long-time linen business, Palmer-Smith, and an original display cabinet and items from Wardells, the browse shop that all Grove City children and their parents loved to visit.

The Kitchen

The Kitchen

The Kitchen

The Kitchen

When this building was a hotel, the travelers were served a meal with the cost of their stay. Food preparation occurred here, and guests ate in what is now the Main Activity room. Feast on the appliances and kitchen tools of the early and middle 1900’s. The G.E. refrigerator, circa 1930, houses its motor outside and on the top! In the kitchen you can enjoy an extensive collection of hand-painted china by several well-known local artists, all gifts to the society. (Rm.Mgr.-Marty St.John – saintly2@zoominternet.net)

The Lillian Reynolds Reeher Library

The Lillian Reynolds Reeher Library

The Lillian Reynolds Reeher Library

The Lillian Reynolds Reeher Library

At your disposal for research, or simply informative relaxation, this room has a vast collection of reference material on local and county history.  It houses the Civil War Diaries of Ranals Craig, an early resident.  In the library is a priceless volume compiled by Don Beightol of Broad Street businesses in the 20th century as well as a volume detailing local mining information. There are college and high school yearbooks from the early 1900’s and wedding pictures taken by local photographer Dusty Rhodes.  There’s a catalog of negatives and prints for researching the Giesman and Curry collections of photos.  If Carl Giesman or Jack Curry ever took a picture of a member of your family, we probably have the negative as the entire collection of their work is housed at the society.  Finally, the Library houses our Genealogy Lab, full of resources to be used by visitors, free of charge.  Should you desire expert genealogy assistance, our genealogy staff is available by appointment.

The Publications Room

The Publications Room

The Publications Room

The Publications Room

This room is not directly accessible to the public but serves many important functions.  It serves as a workroom used by Grove City College students as they continue digitizing the treasured Ketler Collection of papers.  It houses maps, digital files, paintings not currently being hung, and posters.  There are also files containing thousands of newspaper clippings focused on people which include obituaries, notices of births, weddings, engagements, anniversaries, and school activities of local students.  Visitors doing research can ask a volunteer to check the availability of particular information, and, if found, that information can be brought to the public room for viewing.