225th Anniversary of the Battle of Fallen Timbers

The Battle of Fallen Timbers took place on August 20, 1794, at a location south of present day Maumee, Ohio, along the Maumee River. It lasted 2 hours and had a significant impact on Ohio history. It opened Ohio lands for settlers. Unfortunately, it was the beginning of the end for the Native Americans in this territory who eventually lost the land they had occupied for hundreds of years after the War of 1812.

This year marks the 225th anniversary of this war. A five day event (August 16-20, 2019) will be held at Side Cut Metropark in Maumee, Ohio. The actual site of the battle is a few miles south of the park but the location for the event provides more area for the large number of visitors who are expected to attend the anniversary celebration.

There will be re-enactors of the American, Native American, Canadian and British participants in the war who will be encamped at the park. It will be a good chance for visitors to view life in the area in the late 1700s. 

The Fallen Timbers Battlefield Park was opened several years ago and features a visitor center and a 1.5 mile walk thru the site of the battle. The park will be open for events during the celebration. Lantern walks are planned and golf cart tours will be available for those who can't walk the mile and a half path.

The Fallen Timbers Battlefield Preservation Commission is searching for descendants of those who were present at the battle. Descendants will be invited to participate in the anniversary and attend a reunion style event.

The anniversary celebration has been added to the schedule of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex who will be in Canada at the same time. No word yet if they will attend.

If you need information about volunteering, being a sponsor, or might possibly have an ancestor involved in this battle you can contact http://www.fallentimbersbattlefield.org/

Here's a head's up for any Sears Catalogue House Hunters in Northwest Ohio or Southern Michigan.

Sears, Roebuck sold homes in their catalogues from 1908-1940. They were modern homes delivered in a box. Some assembly required! 

These were not just tiny little bungalows. They could have maid's quarters. Front stairs and back stairs. Duplexes. Barns. Garages. A home builder could buy several homes at a discount and, who knows . . . start a neighborhood?

I cannot imagine purchasing a lot and waiting for my new home to be delivered by Amazon. Holy Cow where do I start. I can't even put a bookcase together without a few screw-ups.  

But to be honest I have to wonder how many home owners/purchasers actually assembled their kit homes. I would have to think that they hired builders, especially when we are talking about the larger homes. When you take into consideration  that many of these homes are still standing and in excellent condition today, it stands to reason that professionals were involved in the assembly.

On the other hand I do know that my two uncles built their own homes and I am pretty sure those homes didn't arrive in a box. They were and still are sturdy, well constructed homes. The reason was the walnut wood used in the construction. Even though I am sure they are not catalogue homes, I do have to admit that I have seen several floor plans from Sears homes that look like the houses where my Aunts lived and raised their families. So it would seem the plans might have been copied or used as "a suggestion".

Regardless it was an interesting period of home building in  this country.

This Saturday, June 15, 2019, Waterville Historical Society in Waterville, Ohio, will be sponsoring a homes tour, Historic Homes of Waterville. One of the five homes in the tour is a #102 1/2. It is quite a large home with both a front and a back stairway. The home has been well maintained over the years.

The tour runs from 10am - 4pm on Saturday, rain or shine. Waterville is located south of Toledo and Maumee. There are other possible Sears homes in the area: a Sears #123 across the Maumee River from Waterville and another located west of town in Neapolis (on Main Street next to the beauty salon).

So now the next question is - Do you live in a Sears Modern Home?