By Lindsey Rowland
lrowland@wbcowqel.com
Sunday was the first time in fourteen years the Bucyrus Historical Society’s Historical Day was rained out. The day usually boasts vendors and other displays outside of the historical society building in Bucyrus, but due to the downpour, they had to leave early. Despite that, however, there was good attendance inside of the museum itself as history opened its doors for an afternoon.
The old Victorian house that serves as the historical society is filled with artifacts from Bucyrus as it was being founded and built into the city that it is today. The motto behind the existence of the society is “to preserve the past for the future generation.” And people came from all over the area to enjoy the event and to celebrate the stories that the society has to tell.
One such person was Sue Norton, whose husband, Dennis “Eddie” Norton is a descendent of the Norton family that settled Bucyrus. According to Sue, the Nortons, who were both dressed in vintage outfits, their job is to welcome visitors and to share the stories that they have grown up hearing. Norton also says it’s important to make the people feel like it’s a part of their history too.
“We try to welcome people, share with them what’s here,” explained Norton. “Make them feel as though this is part of their history also because there’s so much diverse materials here for folks to enjoy that they usually go away saying they found something of their great-great grandfather’s or something that they remember which just brings a great deal of enjoyment to both of us.”
According to Norton, it History Day is a day to “celebrate history and have something they can be proud of.”
The historical society is open Mondays from one to four in the afternoon and tours are made available by appointment.