Howland Historical Society members, from left, Warner Taiclet, vice president; Linda Baca, secretary; and Mary Jane Vennitti, president, stand on the steps of the 1830s Brown Mackey House off state Route 46, which the society will open later this month. Photos by Bob Coupland

HOWLAND — By month’s end, the Howland Historical Society plans to open its new museum inside an historic home off state Route 46 to showcase the township’s history.

Mary Jane Vennitti, president of the historical society, said the two-story, 1830s yellow house across from Lowe’s is known as the Brown Mackey House. Several rooms already are filled with memorabilia on the schools, township, local families, and past and current businesses.

“This is the society’s major project. Our goal is to have it opened by the end of September,” Vennitti said.

On a table in one room is an Edison gramophone that plays music and a stereogram viewer, which is like an early View-Master with images in 3-D. Vennitti said as a child, she remembers her grandmother having one.

There is also a Civil War-era camera.

The main rooms of the home have display cases with items from Howland Springs and Howland schools. Vennitti said they stored items in the basement of the township administration building before moving them to the house.

She said three large rooms of the house will let them showcase many items, from historic books to clothing. There also are fireplaces with items decorating the mantels. Above one of the fireplaces is a picture of the National Association of Civil War Musicians, who had a reunion in 1918.

“We finished the Howland schools display first because we had so many items. There are event programs, trophies and pictures,” Vennitti said.

Warner Taiclet, vice president of the society, said some displays will be permanent and others will be shown on a rotating basis.

The society is renting the house from Altobelli Real Estate, but plans down the road are to purchase it.

Vennitti said the original owners of the home were Ebenezer and Rachel Andrews Brown.

The society met with Curt Dungan, a former Howland firefighter for 25 years, who had lived in the house from the 1940s to the 1960s.

Taiclet said the house has been designated as a Trumbull County Historical Site. He said plans are to display old photos of people from Bolindale at the open house to see if anyone can identify them.

Vennitti said work started on the house in October 2018 and the society soon began receiving many donations of items and artifacts from society members and the community.

She said Verna Neal purchased the home in 1975 and began restoring it.

“It was not in the best shape when she got it. She helped save the house,” Vennitti said.

Linda Baca, society secretary, said there is a display of Howland Springs. The area at the top of Howland Springs Road was once a hotel, and also had a dance hall, roller rink and bowling alley. The Howland Springs water company display includes bottles and logos.

“Howland Springs is one business people remember about Howland,” Taiclet said.

Taiclet said Howland schools were known for being the first school district in the country to have motorized school buses.

Famous people showcased include Joseph Howard, the founder of Howland, whose relatives arrived on the Mayflower.

There is a display of Donald “Smokey” Cunningham, who was considered Howland school district’s “No. 1 fan” having worked for the schools and Andrews Hardware Store.

Vennitti said a quarry sits near the house and the basement was mined for sandstone in the 1800s.

Suzette Liddle, society treasurer, and others have been busy working on the landscaping.

Plans are to host open houses once a month on a weekend to be determined with donations accepted.

The house has been made handicapped accessible with the goal of holding programs and meetings. The society now meets at Shepherd of the Valley on North River Road.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com