Walhonding Valley museum plans 25th anniversary

The Walhonding Valley Historical Society and Museum will kick off its 25th anniversary celebrations Monday, May 25.

An open house and lemonade stand will be held at the museum following the Walhonding Valley - Warsaw Parade, which will start at 1 p.m. Monday, May 25.

The museum and its volunteers will be part of several events throughout the rest of 2026.

On Saturday, July 25, the museum will be open for a poker run to raise funds for the Austin Yoder Memorial Scholarship Fund. The event will start at the park in Newcastle, and the first vehicle out will be at 11 a.m.

Volunteers also are organizing a free brown bag lunch series, which will be held the third Thursday of the month this summer starting in June.

In June Ken Smailes will discuss local history, in July there will be a make and take project and in August Bob Buxton will share history on the Coshocton County Fair. The series will be held from noon to 1 p.m. in the Walhonding Valley Fire District's community room. Bring your own lunch or call Kerby’s Diner ahead of time to order a lunch for pickup by noon. Call 740-824-4000 to reserve a spot for the series.

The museum will once again be dressed up for the Christmas season during its 10th annual Festival of Trees. The open house for this event will be held following the Warsaw Santa Parade and Candlelighting Sunday, Nov. 29. The trees can then be viewed again Sunday, Dec. 6 and Sunday, Dec. 13.

“Our goal is to highlight history from the Walhonding Valley and the western end of Coshocton County, but we have items from all over the county,” said Brenda Davis, who is a trustee with the Walhonding Valley Historical Society.

She enjoys preserving local history and sharing it with young people.

“It’s hard for them to understand the Indians weren’t just out west,” Davis said. “They were right here and using flint from right here.”

Bee Buxton Richard-Lehner, another trustee, said, “I enjoy the collections and what different folks come in to see. The arrowheads are a big draw, and so is the military room. So many people come through and say they remember things from here being in their grandmother’s house.”

The museum is open from 1-4 p.m. Sundays and is located at 102 E. Main St. in Warsaw.