Historic Heritage Village Tour
& VOLP Team/Family Picnic
@ Sharon Woods
Date: 8.11.13
VOLP Investigators Attending (Heritage Village Tour):
Victor, Shelly, Johnathan
Sunday was another eventful day for us at Victory of Light Paranormal!
VOLP Investigators Attending (Picnic):
Victor, Garry, Shelly, Johanthan, Ericka, Jon, Connie, & Chase (<-- Garry's super cute dog. Yes, I've now officially named him an honorary VOLP investigator.) ;)
First, Victor, Shelly (myself), Shelly's daughter, Aubrey, and Johnathan took a guided tour of the beautiful, historic Heritage Village nestled quietly away in the depths of the beautiful Sharon Woods.
Even though our tour through these 150+ year old homes, churches, schools, and businesses was just that - a "tour" - Victor and I were able to pick up on a few things from a medium standpoint. (... but stay tuned! VOLP investigators Johnathan & Shelly were invited by our friends and fellow investigators Lori & Robert Dennon of Shadowhunters Paranormal Investigations to help with an overnight investigation at Heritage Village! We can't wait!)
The tour was incredibly informative, and we all walked away from the tour feeling as if we had just learned so much from our wonderful 1800's costume-clad tour guide, Bob. Bob really knows his stuff! We asked several questions, but Bob always had the answers right there on the tip of his tongue, always ready for the next.
(Admittedly, we are probably one of the worst groups to give historic tours to... we have 4-5 mediums on our team, so we tend to get a little "too" into it!) ;)
I really don't have too much to write here as far as personal experiences or medium reviews go, because again, this was only a tour. But, there are a few things to note before diving into our tour-through-photos that I've provided below.
- As we began the tour I noted that there was one certain building that I felt an energy coming from. We passed the building to begin the tour, but later we went back to it. (See next story...)
- As we entered the Vorhes House, Victor and I noted to one another that we felt a feminine presence still very much present in the home. I told Victor I had felt a similar energy coming from another building we had passed on the way in, and even described it to him. Funny enough, it wasn't until after leaving that building then touring and exiting the next (the train station) that I realized that the building Victor & I had picked up the feminine energy from & the building I had felt the energy from at the beginning of the tour were one in the same! The home had two different entrances, and because of this, I mistakenly thought they were two different buildings!
- In another home, Victor felt a masculine energy.
- In another area near a home, Victor picked up on a religious-zealot type masculine energy. I confirmed that I, too, felt the energy, but wasn't able to pick up quite as much detailed information as Victor was.
- Near the woods behind where the church & school are now located, Victor and I both picked up on a very happy-go-lucky vibe/energy. Very positive, almost protective. We asked about this particular area of the woods, and Bob (our tour guide) informed us that this area was actually used as a children's 'haunted cemetery' during Halloween season - it was a "fun" and interactive area for the children, so it was the opposite of 'scary' as most Halloween attractions may be. Bob also informed us that he played a doctor, "Dr. Max Payne" (clever pun, Bob!) during last years Halloween season at Heritage Village.
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Now, please enjoy our tour-through-photos!
"Heritage Village Museum is a living history museum depicting life in Southwestern Ohio through-out the 19th Century. Homes, out-buildings and equipment on the museum grounds were moved here from other locations in the region to be preserved and aid in telling the story of our recent past. Interpreters at the museum provide the facts and stories that bring the Village to life with nostalgic glances of days gone by.
During special events at the Village interpreters demonstrate some of the historic tasks and crafts of the 19th century such as spinning, weaving, candle-dipping, soap making, hearth cooking, carpentry work, herb lore, gardening, printing, trade and bartering, and communication.
While you are here explore all the buildings, talk with the interpreters, try your hand at activities you see happening. You are a very important part of this Village. Linger awhile and enjoy your stay. That is why we have benches, for you to sit and soak up the quiet days of yesteryear. Enjoy your visits to the Village, learn something old, and come back soon."
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The Fetter General Store was originally built on Main Street in Boston, Clermont County, Ohio. Boston is now known as Owensville. It was erected shortly after the Civil War, about 1866, and was purchased by John C. Fetter in the late 1870's.
The structure was acquired by the Heritage Village Museum in 1983. The exterior was in poor condition and was endangered by deterioration. Since then, it has been restored and is currently used for interpretation and education programs.
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The Langdon medical office, built before the Civil War years, was situated on Eastern Avenue in Cincinnati in a section called Linwood. Here Dr. Henry Archer Langdon practiced medicine from 1865 to 1876. This small two-room office and its collection of medical instruments tell the story of medicine in the nineteenth century.
The building, which resembles steamboat architecture, was completely dismantled and rebuilt on its present site in the Heritage Village Museum.
Although Dr. Langdon was educated in a medical college, most doctors were not. Nineteenth century medicine was practiced in the home and, consequently, there were no regular office hours.
Grandmothers and mothers used home remedies passed down from generation to generation to cure most illnesses, and midwives delivered most babies. When a doctor was needed for more serious illnesses, he would normally treat his patients in their homes.
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From 1829-1991 the Somerset Church building stood on the Warren County side of Fields-Ertel and Montgomery Roads – where the Meijer’s gas station is now located. When commercial development in that area began, the Somerset congregation sold its land and merged with the Mason Presbyterian Church to form the Heritage Presbyterian Church at Mason-Montgomery and Tylersville Roads in Mason.
The roots of the Somerset Presbyterian Church go back to 1801 when the Rev. James Kemper, the first installed Presbyterian minister to serve north of the Ohio River, helped to organize the present Montgomery Presbyterian Church.
Somerset Church, though small, was an important part of the community and in the lives of its members. There were Sunday worship services, Sunday school, and mid-week prayer meetings. The attendance at Sunday school was large when compared with the size of the membership.
The Somerset Church has now been restored to look as it did when first built 1n 1829. As a part of Heritage Village Museum, the Somerset Church represents the role religion had in the 19th Century.
The Somerset Church is open to visitors whenever the Village is open to the public. The Church will be open for weddings and other special events as appropriate.
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(Click on any photo to enlarge it.)
Above: That's our wonderful tour guide, Bob, doing what he does best!
Above:This is a stand-alone kitchen outside of the home (pictured above with Victor). Back in the 1800's kitchens would constantly burn down because a fire had to be maintained 24 hours a day. Mom would want to get up and make the family a warm breakfast before sending them off to work/school, so the boys would sleep outside in this kitchen and maintain the fire.
Above: Shelly & Aubrey listening intently to Bob telling us all about the different things that were done in this stand-alone kitchen from the 1800's.
Above: Victor beautifully demonstrating how the children of the family would carry water back to the home using this contraption. He noted that it was actually quite comfortably fitting around his neck/shoulders. Bob said that with both water baskets it would weigh about 50-60 pounds total.
Above: The bee-hive oven located behind the stand-alone kitchen.
Below: Victor & Shelly showing one of the first form of early American currency.
Below: One-room church that was saved from destruction and moved here to Heritage Village.
Below: One room school house; not currently available for tours (in the middle of restoration), but will be available for tours next summer (2014).
Above: Johnathan snapped this photo; he thought it was particularly funny due to all of us with our arms/hands in the air blocking the sun.
Above & Below: The "Walmart" of the 1800's in Cincinnati. A general store with everything you can imagine for your 1800's needs.
Above: Aubrey & Victor intently watching Bob demonstrate how to use one of the earliest printing presses used.
Above: This is the home I referenced in the bullet points above; the Vorhes Home, where Victor & I both felt a strong feminine energy.
It is assumed that this home was built between 1820 and 1830. The actual date of construction is unknown. It is an 1820s Federal style farmhouse that was located on Cornell Road near Kenwood Road in Blue Ash.
Above: Victor patiently awaiting the next train... he's about 200 years too late though.
(Should we tell him..? Nah....) ;)
Above: The kids loved this one especially for some reason! One of the earliest "ice-boxes" used! An early refrigerator.
Above: One of the first cellars that could be accessed from inside the home versus outside!
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An amazing tour followed by an amazing lunch with some amazing friends - perfect day!
-Shelly, VOLP
Ps... ***Stay tuned!! One of our investigators recently (last night) investigated Waverly Hills Sanatorium! We also have an upcoming Prospect Place Investigation blog, and a few more on the back-burner!***
