Roscoe Village (Coshocton, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Roscoe Village
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Distant view from the south
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Whitewoman and High Sts., Coshocton, Ohio |
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| Built | 1816 |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival, Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001403 |
| Added to NRHP | April 3, 1973 |
Roscoe Village is a special historic town located in Coshocton, Ohio, United States. It's a place where you can experience what life was like in the 1800s, especially during the time of the Ohio and Erie Canal. It's like stepping back in time to see old buildings and learn about the people who lived and worked there.
How Roscoe Village Began
Roscoe Village was first planned in 1816. It was originally called Caldersburgh. This name came from its founder, James Calder. After some financial trouble, Calder moved across the Muskingum River. He set up a store and named the new place after himself. He thought farmers would prefer to do business in Caldersburgh. This was because it cost twenty-five cents to take a ferry to Coshocton.
In 1830, two important citizens asked the state to change the village's name. They wanted to honor William Roscoe. He was a famous English writer and a person who worked to end slavery. So, the village was renamed Roscoe.
Life on the Ohio and Erie Canal
Roscoe was a small, quiet community for a while. But everything changed when the Ohio and Erie Canal arrived. The first canal boat, named the Monticello, landed on August 21, 1830. The canal was a big deal! It made it cheap to move people and goods. This brought a lot of economic growth to towns along the waterway.
Roscoe became a very busy port. It was the fourth largest wheat port on the canal. This success led to many new businesses. There was a blacksmith, a cooperage (where barrels were made), a hotel, a mill, and several stores. Today, State Route 16 runs right next to Roscoe. This road is built where the original Ohio and Erie Canal bed used to be.
The canals kept running until a big flood in 1913. However, trains were becoming more popular. This meant the canal's best days were over. As the canal industry declined, Roscoe also lost its prosperity. The once-busy canal port and its beautiful buildings started to fall apart.
Bringing Roscoe Village Back to Life
The idea to restore Roscoe Village came about in 1960. This happened when a famous American artist, Dean Cornwell, painted a mural. It was for Coshocton's 150th birthday celebration in 1961. Cornwell chose a lively canal scene from Roscoe Village in the 1850s for his painting. This large mural, which is 24 feet by 8 feet, is now in a bank in Coshocton. A smaller copy is in the Roscoe Village Visitor Center.
Edward E. Montgomery, a retired business owner from Coshocton, was fascinated by the painting. He and his wife, Frances, were inspired. In August 1968, they bought the old Toll House, which was built in 1840. This was the start of bringing Historic Roscoe Village back to life.
Mr. Montgomery wanted Roscoe Village to be "a living museum." He hoped people from the 20th century and beyond could visit. He wanted them to enjoy a trip back to the 19th century. He imagined old brick buildings, women in hoop skirts, and charming shops. All of this would bring the canal era back to life. Today, Roscoe Village is the result of over 35 years of hard work and dedication.
The Roscoe Village Foundation also works to teach people about life along the Ohio and Erie Canal in the mid-1800s. They have "living history" displays. This means people dress up and act like people from that time. There are also yearly events that attract visitors from all over the country.
The Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum is also located in the village. It shows off decorative arts, items from pioneers and Native Americans, and displays about local history.
