Historic Plaque Program

PCHS's Historic Plaque Program -- started in 2020 -- aims to draw awareness to county historic sites that are not previously registered with the National Register of Historic Places.

If you or someone you know owns or is interested in nominating a place for a historic plaque, please fill out our application to the side. Please note: failure to complete all components of the application will not result in a nomination. To be considered for the 2024 historic plaque, applications must be submitted via email to brittany@preblecountyhistoricalsociety.com or mailed to PCHS Attn: Brittany Corwin, 7693 Swartsel Road, Eaton, OH 45320. Thank you!

We would like to thank Mike and Judy Raymond for their financial contributions to this program. 

Print: Historic Plaque Program Application Below

HISTORIC PLAQUE PROCEDURE

1. Nominator/Owner: nomination submitted 

2. PCHS: nominations reviewed by America 250 Committee

3. PCHS: award recipients and nominators notified and congratulated by PCHS

4. Nominator/Owner/PCHS: confirms names and dates on plaques (maximum 176 characters for building name) 

5. PCHS: orders plaques (8” x 11”) from Franklin Bronze Plaques and allow 5-7 weeks for delivery 

6. PCHS: notifies owner when plaque has arrived and schedule pick-up

7. Owner: picks up plaque from PCHS 

8. Owner: installs plaque (PCHS cannot due to liability)

9. Owner: contacts PCHS when plaque is installed 

10. PCHS: schedules dedication ceremony (no cancellations unless there is an emergency) 

11. PCHS: posts event on Facebook 

12. PCHS: invites local officials 

13. PCHS: writes history script 

14. PCHS/Nominator/Owner: script is approved by all 

15. Nominator/Owner/PCHS: ceremony occurs at scheduled time 

16. PCHS: sends in press release to Register-Herald 

17. PCHS: ceremony posted on social media 

18. PCHS: info uploaded to website 

AMERICA 250 GRANT

Through the generous grant we received from the America 250 Committee, the Preble County Historical Society will be producing the following for America's 250th birthday in 2026: 

1. 25 historic plaques 

2. A timeline of Preble County history 

3. A map of national, state, and our 25 local historic plaques for the public to visit 

Historic Plaque Recipients

  0. Jackson Township Schoolhouse (Est. 1868) 

This one-room red brick schoolhouse was built in 1868 with the first term beginning in 1869. Schoolhouses served as the first interaction pioneers had with their neighbors on the frontier. They helped establish friendships and a sense of community among Preble County residents. The building was restored in the 1980s by Norlan and Carolyn McWhinney. The schoolhouse now serves as a meeting place for viewing original school furnishings and gazing through McGuffey Readers. 

Dedicated: August 23, 2020

1. Eaton Country Club (Est. 1921) 

The Eaton Country Club’s clubhouse was designed by architect Harvey H. Hiestand and, after being completed in 1921, was turned over to the members in January 1922. During the Great Depression, the members turned over all decisions to their board to prevent the organization from closing. Not long after they made it through the Depression, the clubhouse was nearly destroyed by fire in 1943. However, the club has survived and has remained a center of social and civic activity. 

Dedicated: December 15, 2022

2. Van Ausdal Building (Built 1822) 

The Van Ausdal Building was built in 1822 by Cornelius Van Ausdal, the most prominent merchant in Eaton at the time. Van Ausdal constructed this building to replace Preble County’s first store – also founded by him – from its original size and location. The original one was located about 700 feet east from the present structure. In its 200+ years, the building has been home to numerous local businesses and still is today.

Dedicated: March 14, 2023

3. Black-Beneke House (Built 1876) 

The Black-Beneke House was built by Samuel Black in 1876. Later, the home was purchased by Jacob Burtner in 1884, and it remained in the same family for 110 years. The last members of the family to own the home – Lawrence and Martha Beneke and their sons Larry and Gordon – worked diligently to make an exact replica of their home in the form of a dollhouse. This dollhouse was donated to PCHS in December of 2021. 

Dedicated: December 13, 2022

4. I.O.O.F. / New Paris Antique Mall (Est. 1873 / 2008) 

The New Paris Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge was founded in 1873. The organization encountered financial difficulties and was compelled to sell the property in 1899. Numerous other groups used the building over the years, including the Knights of Pythias, Delta Theta Tau sorority, Grand Army of the Republic, and numerous other businesses. The building sat empty between 1994 and 2008 before being restored and turned into the present-day New Paris Antique Mall. 

Dedicated: October 3, 2023

5. The Cedar Coffee (Located on the Dayton & Western Traction Line) (Est. 2020 / 1903) 

The Cedar Coffee, established in 2020, is the newest business on this list. However, its site’s history stretches back over a century! The Dayton & Western Traction Line, a branch of the interurban railway line, stretched from Richmond through New Paris and on into Dayton. The line began running in 1903 and continued until 1937 when the Indiana Railway lost interest in the project due to failed attempts to revive a direct route between Indianapolis and Dayton. 

Dedicated: December 6, 2024

6. Alfred & Frances Denny Home / Barnes Funeral Home (Est. 1844 / 1906) 

The Alfred & Frances Denny Home was built in 1844. Frances was a granddaughter of William Bruce, and he was the original owner of the lot. The Dennys lived in the home for over 50 years before it was sold. Separately, in 1906, the Barnes Funeral Home was founded by L.P. Barnes in Eastern Ohio. In 1920, Barnes purchased the home from Andrew Coffman, a local undertaker, upon his death from tuberculosis. The Eaton branch of the Barnes Funeral Home has been operating at this location since then, and it has remained family owned and operated for four generations. 

Dedicated: October 24, 2024

7. E.S. Stotler Building / Preble Arts (Est. 1896 / 2017) 

The E.S. Stotler Building was built for Edward S. Stotler, founder of the Twin Valley Bank in West Alexandria and president of the Eaton Banking Company in Eaton. According to Stotler, he had his eponymous building constructed to do something for Eaton in exchange for Eatonians being so nice to him. Over the years, the building has housed a hardware store, law offices, and now Preble Arts. Speaking of, Preble Arts was originally the Preble County Art Association which was previously located on Hillcrest Drive. After outgrowing the space, the organization moved downtown and renamed themselves “Preble Arts.” 

Dedicated: March 25, 2025

8. Oklahoma Schoolhouse No. 4 / Olde Schoolhouse Winery (Est. 1890 / 2016) 

Oklahoma Schoolhouse No. 4 was built in 1890. “Oklahoma” was the name for this area around that time and can be found on old plat maps. The school operated for about 30 years before closing, and the property went back to the original owners, the Montgomery Family. The family began “Mason Montgomery’s Sons Seed Company” in the late 1940s and operated until the early 1970s. The building was used for agricultural purposes for a short time and then sat abandoned until 2014. The structure was then purchased, renovated, and turned into a modern winery in 2016. They bring thousands of visitors each year. 

Dedicated: November 7, 2024

9. Eldorado Universalist Church (Est. 1849) 

The Eldorado Universalist Church was organized on June 14, 1849 by Johnathan Kidwell, a traveling preacher, and 13 other charter members. The Daniel Disher home served as the first location of worship until a log church came along. After membership increased to 98 by March of 1866, a new brick church was ordered and finished that same year. By June of 1908, this second church was condemned as unsafe. Finally, the new and present church was finished in 1911, and all debts were repaid. During the Great War, a service flag was dedicated to the seven enlisted boys in the church family. In 1950, the baby grand piano that is still played for each sermon was dedicated. Today, the church's "Ultimate hope is that all souls might grow into harmony with one another, and that which is Divine." 

Dedicated: July 27, 2025

14. Camden Commercial Center (Est. 1880) 

The present Edward Jones Building has been home to 10+ business in its existence, but those won't all fit on a plaque! Instead, we decided to refer to this building as the "Camden Commercial Center," an homage to its impact on local industry and its proximity to the center of town. Since 1880, the building has been home to the John Coons Hardware Store, the W.A. Newton Hardware Store, Camden Telephone Company, Shank's Variety Store, United Telephone Company, Wilma Brower's beauty shop, Robert Duvall's plumbing shop, Rodeffer Insurance Company, Somerville Bank, the Little Shoppe of Sharing, and today's occupants! 

Dedicated: August 7, 2025 

15. Elliott/Krebs/Wilson House (Built 1860) 

This house was built by Hugh Elliott, a conductor on the Underground Railroad. Hugh's father, Ebenezer, would hide runaway slaves in his bank barn as they journeyed north to freedom. Hugh himself followed in his father's footsteps. Additionally, he became an elder at the Morning Sun Presbyterian Church and then the Hopewell Church, both of which had abolitionist beliefs. Hugh's son Edwin likely inherited the house next before leaving for Washington state in 1880. The home was then sold to Charles and Edgar Krebs and then was passed down in their family. In 2003, current owner James "Jim" Wilson bought the home and is working to preserve it for future generations. 

Dedicated: August 24, 2025 

See the table below for upcoming historic plaque dedications!