I hope you and your family had an enjoyable and blessed holiday season. Once again, the Sedgwick Museum was decorated for Christmas and an open house was held on Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8. On Saturday evening, a brief program featured Mayor Lloyd Shrodes, Rev. Joseph Sanders of the First Baptist Church, and Walt Warren and his youngsters from the Elm Middle School Chorus. We thank everyone who took time to come and share the evening with us.

     As the Martins Ferry Area Historical Society looks back on 2002, the year was a very productive one. Our most important accomplishment was the installation of a new furnace and air conditioner. We did some landscaping around the museum and prepared the back garage for a new exhibit area. We offered several successful “ghost walks” at the Walnut Grove Cemetery. Also, the Jamboree Tours group brought a busload of people to visit our museum in November. In the character of Ebenezer Martin, I presented a local history program in our school district and visited groups in Barnesville, Bridgeport, Wheeling, Tiltonsville, and St. Clairsville. Our story is beginning to reach out into the surrounding areas.

     As the MFAHS looks forward to 2003, we plan to do some work on the windows at the museum and to offer more items for exhibit within our buildings...the museum itself, the summer kitchen, and the garage/stable. Also, in connection with the Ohio Bicentennial celebration, many exciting events are being planned. The state is providing our city with an historical marker honoring our literary giants, William Dean Howells and James Wright. The marker will be placed in the small park at the corner of Fifth and Hanover Streets. In June, a wagon train will cross Ohio following the National Road. The trip will begin with an encampment near the river and a ceremony at Walnut Grove Cemetery. At the June event or at Betty Zane Days in August, Governor Robert Taft will come to honor Martins Ferry as Ohio’s first settlement. We are selling Ohio Bicentennial items, which can be seen and purchased at the Chamber of Commerce office on Walnut Street.

     2003 looks to be a great year for Martins Ferry and its citizens. Please come and help us at the MFAHS celebrate this special year.

1865 - 1867      A. D. Rice
1867 - 1869      W. H. Orr
1869 - 1870      James Eagleson
1870 - 1872      J. W. Buckingham
1872 - 1874      James Kerr
1874 - 1876      James Dean
1876 - 1878      J. W. Buckingham
1878 - 1880      James Kerr
1880 - 1882      W. M. Lupton
1882 - 1886      M. C. Mitchell
1886 - 1888      Theodore Keller
1888 - 1890      M. C. Mitchell
1890 - 1892      M. R. Smiley
1892 - 1898      M. C. Mitchell
1898 - 1900      James Shipman
1900 - 1902      John Goodhue
1902 - 1904      Isaac Newland
1904 - 1906      Frank Heinrich
1906 - 1908      James Blackford
1908 - 1910      Isaac Lewis
1910 - 1912      Heyward Long
1912 - 1916      Newton Wyekoff
1916 - 1920      James Ralston
1920 - 1922      Charles Coleman
1922 - 1926      Howard A. Duff
1926 - 1928      Charles A. James
1928 - 1930      Howard A. Duff
1930 - 1932      James M. Sweeney
1932 - 1934      T. A. Swain
1934 - 1936      Edgar H. Irwin
1936 - 1944      Lee Woods
1944 - 1946      Charles Coleman
1946 - 1948      Robert L. Goff
1948 - 1954      Charles Yoho
1954 - 1956      Dale Fulton
1956 - 1960      Edward H. Shrodes
1960 - 1984      John Laslo
1984 - 1988      John A. Regis, Sr.
1988 - 1996      Carl Mamone
1996 - 2000      Bob Krajnak
2000 - ----         Lloyd “Bud” Shrodes