Ohio's Small Town Museum, Ashville

About Ohio's Small Town Museum

Ohio's Small Town Museum in Ashville preserves the history of Scioto, Walnut, Madison, and Harrison Townships through artifacts and exhibits housed in a former silent movie theater called the Dreamland Theater. Visitors explore collections that include railroad memorabilia from the Scioto Valley RR System, such as old tickets, handbills, flags, dated spikes, receipts, lanterns, and vintage shoes. The museum also displays old books and other historical artifacts that document the area's past. Founded in 1975 by Charlie Morrison and Bob Hines in response to the threatened destruction of the Norfolk and Western RR Station, the organization later relocated its collections to the donated Zero Locker building. The museum aims to reconnect residents and former community members with local history, preserve physical evidence of rural achievement, and help children understand the significance of older buildings and their connection to broader historical narratives.