Staff photo / Bob Coupland From left, Howland Historical Society members Mary Jane Vennitti, president, Carole Babyak and Linda Baca, secretary, meet in the dining room of the Brown Mackey House, or Yellow House, which is being restored. The society plans to host monthly open houses for the public starting in May.

HOWLAND — Since moving to its new location in summer 2022, the Brown Mackey House — commonly referred to as the Yellow House — has been worked on by members of the Howland Historical Society with plans to host monthly open houses starting in May.

In a careful journey that took 2 hours and 15 minutes, the home was moved in August 2022 from its spot on state Route 46 to 8702 South St. SE, across from Howland Middle School. It had to be moved because of the diverging diamond project underway by the Ohio Department of Transportation. If it had not been moved, it would have been demolished.

Society members said in the spring they are planning to host a once-a-month open house, possibly each third Sunday, for the public to tour the house. The open houses would begin after work is completed in the main living room, the kitchen, bedrooms on both floors and other parts of the two-story home.

The house, which was constructed in 1836, has four rooms on the first floor and three on the second floor.

Ruth Ann Capito, vice president of the historical society, said she and Mary Jane Vennitti, president, have been working on the Yellow House while other members have been working on the Andrew Jones House, 9441 King Graves Road.

Capito said the society was able to get the fireplace and two bedrooms completed at the Yellow House.

“We have one smaller bedroom downstairs for anyone who would not be able to get to the second floor to see the bedrooms there,” she said.

She said when she has spoken to people she has found that they like a period house and like being able to “walk back in time” with turn-of-the-century items such as a woodburning stove and water pumps in the kitchen.

“We have some really unique items that people would like to see,” Capito said.

She said while the Jones House will be more of a museum on the history of Howland, the Yellow House will showcase period items from when the Brown Mackey family lived there.

Vennitti said she likes that society members are working together on the two society locations.

“We will be painting many of the rooms. There is work we will be doing in the kitchen,” Vennitti said.

She said there are plans to have a display room that showcases the Yellow House’s relocation in 2022.

Vennitti said Suzette Liddle and Cindee Mines have worked on the Jones House with exhibits there.

“We want to keep both museums different,” Vennitti said.

The Jones House will showcase families of the township, the Ernie Hall Airport, school items and a war display of local veterans.

She said she looks forward to having a once-a-month open house at the two sites, which creates a regular routine for planning events.

Vennitti said the society plans to have the inscribed brick sale twice a year with one time earlier in the year and the other in the fall. Local resident Bill Reble will help with the sale, and the bricks will be placed in the garden area and be in honor or memory of someone.

Vennitti said she would like to see the Howland school students get involved with the society and its work.

“It would be nice to have students involved with the local history,” she said.

Ideas include having Howland students help with archiving items in the house.

Last year, a dedication was held for the 86-foot long “Warner’s Walk” in memory of society founder and member Warner Taiclet as well as a 4-foot by 5-foot sign with information on it done by local scouts John and Josh Reble of Boy Scout Troop 28 for their Eagle Scout project.

Taiclet died in March 2022 before the house was moved.

The sign has the name of Brown Mackey House on it with landscaping around it. It also indicates it is the oldest house in Howland.

The walk travels northeast on the property and makes a circle where benches will be placed.

Mines, a member of the historical society, said she likes the work being done at the Yellow House.

“The main living room of the house will be more Victorian Era style. The dining room will be more 1930s period,” Mines said of ideas society members have discussed.

“The community really supported our efforts and helped us to get the house to a new location so we can continue to showcase it and the local history,” Mines said.

She said the move of the house was a huge step.

“There are people who donate regularly to the house and a lot of people who ask about the house and are waiting for the tours to start again,” Mines said.