Genealogical Society recognized for 50 years of preserving county history

Behind a door in the lower level of the Carroll County District Library sits one of the county's largest collections of local history, including thousands of records, photographs, newspapers and family histories preserved by the Carroll County Genealogical Society over the past 50 years.

The society recently celebrated that milestone anniversary, receiving a certificate from the Ohio Genealogical Society recognizing 50 years of preserving local history and helping residents discover their family roots.

Founded in 1975, the Carroll County Genealogical Society began when more than 25 people gathered at the McCook House in Carrollton to organize a local chapter dedicated to genealogy and historical preservation. According to a newspaper clipping from the society's founding, officers elected at that first meeting included Pauline Davis as president, Mrs. Charles E. Helfrich as vice president, Dr. Carl Crabbs as treasurer and Mrs. Stanley Beresford as secretary.

Five decades later, the organization continues to operate entirely through volunteers while serving as a resource for researchers, historians and families seeking information about Carroll County's past.

Current volunteers include Dan Ries, Camille McConnaughy, Karen Gray and Molly Winters, who help maintain records, assist visitors and preserve local historical information.

Today, the society maintains its headquarters in the lower level of the Carroll County District Library, where visitors can access an extensive collection of records and historical materials.

Among the resources available are birth, marriage and death records, probate records, wills, cemetery records, family histories, photographs, newspaper archives and courthouse documents dating back generations.

Over the years, the society has assembled an extensive collection of historical materials used by genealogists, historians and researchers.

Society volunteer Dan Ries said the society regularly assists people researching family histories, property records and local genealogy. Researchers have come from throughout Ohio and beyond to access information preserved by the organization.

The society also experienced increased demand during the oil and gas boom, when landowners, attorneys and energy companies frequently sought historical property and probate records to establish mineral ownership and inheritance histories. Ries said volunteers spent countless hours helping researchers locate records while working to digitize materials for easier access. Through a partnership with Chesapeake Energy, many probate records were scanned and preserved electronically, making them more accessible to future researchers.

The collection includes original Carroll County probate records dating back to the county's formation in 1833. Volunteers have also worked for years to organize and digitize materials, including local newspaper archives, to help preserve historical information and make it easier to access.

"I think it's always nice to know where you came from and see what your past has been," Ries said.

He said genealogy helps people better understand their families and their place within the broader history of the community.

"Every person on the street has that past," Ries said.

For society member Camille McConnaughy, preserving historical records often means documenting information before it is lost forever.

McConnaughy has photographed more than 20,000 gravestones for the Find a Grave website and said cemetery preservation is an important part of the society's work.

"Some of those headstones you're not going to be able to read in the future," McConnaughy said.

Volunteers regularly document cemetery records, photographs and historical information to ensure future generations can continue researching local families and community history.

The society currently has about 80 members and remains active through meetings, research assistance and preservation projects. Members also participate in educational programs and community events throughout the year.

While the society remains active, members said attracting new volunteers is one of the organization's biggest challenges as it works to preserve local history for future generations.

"We're going to have to start getting younger," McConnaughy said with a laugh.

Ries also noted that technology continues to change how people access information and conduct research.

"I would hope we will still have a presence 50 more years from now, but with technology the way it's going anymore, who knows if we'll even have libraries in 50 years," Ries said.

Despite that challenge, members remain optimistic about the future and hope the society will continue serving Carroll County for decades to come.

"We've been nothing but volunteers. It's never been a paid organization," Ries said. "People have put in countless hours over the years because they care about preserving the history of this county."

As the Carroll County Genealogical Society celebrates its 50th anniversary, members say the work remains as important as ever, preserving the records, photographs and stories that connect today's residents with the generations who came before them.

The Carroll County Genealogical Society is located in the lower level of the Carroll County District Library at 70 Second Street, Carrollton and is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from noon to 3 p.m. for those interested in researching family histories, volunteering or learning more about the county's past. For more information call 330-476-6411 or visit https://sites.rootsweb.com/~ohcarcgs/index.html.