About BVHS

Mission Statement:

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Promote interest in preserving information relating to area history and genealogy and provide stewardship of relevant artifacts, documents and buildings.

Bay Village Historical Society History

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Although there had been talk of forming a Bay Village Historical Society over the years, nothing materialized until Karl Schuele, a past trustee of the Lakewood Historical Society, and Bay High School history teacher Edward Wells gathered materials relating to a society from a variety of sources. An informal committee was formed to draw up a constitution and bylaws. It was agreed that the society should be open to all village residents.

There was much thought about a museum, since the library had just vacated Rose Hill and was set to dedicate its new home at the southeast corner of Dover and Wolf Roads on Jan. 31, 1960. The committee thought that the village would sponsor a museum as stipulated in Ida Maria Cahoon’s will, dated June 16, 1917. The newly formed society sponsored a Sesquicentennial celebration on Oct. 10, 1960, and offered charter membership to all interested persons, who numbered 102.

The society’s first public meeting was held in the high school band room the following January. The principal speaker was Meredith Colket, Jr., who offered the support of the Western Reserve Historical Society.

During the historical society’s first year, its achievements included establishing a temporary museum at Rose Hill and a craft hall in the Community House. Over the years, the society has distributed plaques to designate landmark homes in Bay Village. The historical society’s annual open-air antique show first lined the beautiful drive in front of Rose Hill Museum in June of 1970. This tradition continued for more than 50 years.

In March 1973, Bay Village City Council granted the Joseph Cahoon House, now Rose Hill Museum, $29,000 for refurbishing. Council then appointed the Bay Village Historical Society as managers of the property to organize fundraisers, membership drives and furniture acquisitions.

In 1995 the Reuben Osborn House, the oldest frame structure between Cleveland and Lorain, dating from 1814, was slated for demolition. A group of historical society members lobbied the city to save the building by moving it to Cahoon Memorial Park. The city was receptive to the idea, and paid to have a foundation constructed and the structure moved. That building then came under the purview of the society. It is now the Osborn Learning Center and houses the society’s collection of Dr. Sam Sheppard memorabilila, yearbooks and other ephemera.

Bay Village Historical Society Board

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Officers:

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Trustees:

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Other directors:

Newsletters

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If you would like to receive a copy of the Bay Village Historical Society’s quarterly newsletter at no charge please email your name and request to “info@bayhistorical.com.” Thank you.

Volunteer

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Please consider volunteering with the Bay Village Historical Society.

Anyone may volunteer to help the Bay Village Historical Society. You do not necessarily need to be a member to assist.

What is a volunteer? What is the value of volunteering? Is volunteering about money? Should we measure it that way? Most people would say no. Volunteering is not about money. Volunteering is about giving, contributing, and helping other individuals and the community at large. It is working with others to make a meaningful contribution to a better community.

People volunteer for an endless variety of reasons. Many people want to gain experience, acquire new skills, meet new people, or expand their network of contacts as a way to get a new job or start a career. Others just want to give back to their community, to help a friend or promote a worthwhile activity. They do it because it makes them feel good. It gives them what some people refer to as a “private smile.”

There are a number of ways to help. Maybe you like gardening. Come over to the museums and pull weeds or trim shrubs.

Maybe you like data entry. We have tons of documents that need to be scanned and put into an online database. Maybe you would like to help inside the museum, cleaning or dusting or helping to put up displays. We can always use your help.

Contact the society by calling (216) 319-4634 or email info@bayhistorical.com.

Thank you in advance for any and all assistance you may be able to provide.

Membership

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You are invited and encouraged to join the Bay Village Historical Society.

Members enjoy quarterly potluck suppers at the Bay Lodge, which feature interesting and informative speakers, as well as a quarterly newsletter.

Members also may volunteer to help the society in numerous ways, from staffing the Rose Hill Museum or Cahoon memorial cabin during visiting hours to helping out at the potluck suppers.

You may pay your dues directly through PayPal below, or you may download and print a membership application form by clicking on the link “Membership Application” below.

Membership in the society runs from June 1 through May 31. A dues-payment reminder will be sent to you in mid-April each year.

Click HERE to download a membership application form.

Donate

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The Bay Village Historical Society always needs your donations

The Bay Village Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization run by volunteers. Since membership dues only pay a small portion of the society’s total operational expenses, monetary gifts are strongly encouraged.

These donations, large and small, help the society maintain the museums and collections, provide services to the public and continue its educational efforts. Your donation builds a foundation of support – meaning your gift will be used where it is needed most.

Your financial support will help the society provide services, special events as well as new and engaging exhibits that will promote appreciation for the diverse history of Bay Village and Dover Township.

Please consider making an “investment” to keep Bay Village’s past alive and to help preserve our future. Remember, the Bay Village Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and eligible for employer matching funds.

Also, if you believe you have an item of historical or cultural significance that you would consider donating to the society, please reach out. We are always looking for items that have local history behind them, or which would help the society tell the story of the early settlers of the region. There’s no item, big or small, that we will not consider.

Please contact the Bay Village Historical Society by calling (216) 319-4634 or emailing info@bayhistorical.com for more information on donating.

Thank you in advance for any and all support you provide.

Contact Us

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Museum Email: info@bayhistorical.com
Museum Phone: (440) 871-7338
Museum Address: 27715 Lake Road, Bay Village, OH 44140
Museum Hours: The museum is open April to December on Sunday afternoons, 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Admission is free, although donations are always appreciated.
Group tours can be arranged at other times by calling (216) 319-4634.

Map

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