The Shelby Museum Of History

23 East Main St., Shelby, Ohio 44875

 

 

The Shelby Museum of History was organized by a group of women who were members

of "The Questers' Inc.", an organization dedicated to preserving the past. The Museum

was incorporated on March 16, 1976, as a non - profit organization. The dedication was

on June 11, 1976.

 

The dedication served as a tribute to the memory of Raymond Wilkinson, a well-known

historian and former Shelby mayor, who often expressed the wish that Shelby have a museum.

 

At the time of his death, a fund was created by a group of citizens to start the museum

and the city agreed to provide space. His heirs donated his Shelby photographs, paper

and memorabilia collection that pertained to this project and these dedicated Gamble's

Mill Quester members saw the museum come to life.

 

The museum started in one room, provided by the city of Shelby in what was then the city

building (old Shelby Mutual building) at 23 West Main Street. The museum immediately

outgrew that space and in 1979 moved to the Sutter-Roush room at 23 East Main Street,

which is also owned by the city of Shelby.

 

The Shelby Museum of History, Inc. is governed by a Board of Directors. The

original members were: Leonard Waines, Kort Broomhall, Kathryn Douglas,

Ronald and Janet Scheid, Zorada Bussom, and Corene Humphrey.

 

Volunteers serve as museum caretakers.

 

 

 

Sally Maier arrived in Shelby from Beaver Co., Pa. in the very late 1940s and

immediately claimed Shelby as her hometown and was intent in knowing her new

town's history to the finest detail. She was a major component of those who became

"The Questers' Inc."who were discussed above.

 

Sally Maier soon became the face of the Shelby Museum and served as curator

of the museum for 37 plus years. She was the spark plug who pursued any lead

that could produce new (old) Shelby historical information that would add to the

growing trove of knowledge being collected in Shelby's museum.

 

She was the major"interior designer" of the museum that can now be visited at

the rear of 23 East Main Street, next to Sutter-Roush room.

 

 

Shelby Museum, Shelby, Ohio (Photo 6/2023)

 

 

 

Shelby Museum, Shelby, Ohio (Photo 6/20/23)

 

 

The museum houses a collection of artifacts and memorabilia from businesses and

the people of Shelby, Ohio. Across the street from the museum, in Central Park, is a

log cabin discovered under the siding on a house being razed at 16 Walnut Street. The

cabin was moved and restored in time for Shelby's Sesquicentennial celebration in 1984.

 

 

Shelby Museum, Shelby, Ohio (Photo 7/2000)

 

 

Shelby Log Cabin, Shelby, Ohio

 

Shelby Museum, Shelby, Ohio (Photo 7/2000)

 

Life in Early Shelby (Log Cabin Interior) - as re-enacted for a Shelby Bicycle Days Festival.

 

---

Admission to the museum is free, but donations are greatly appreciated.

The museum is open from 2 pm to 4 pm, the first Sunday of the month, May - Oct.

and also by appointment. Groups are welcome!

 

For appointments, please contact Tom Clabaugh at: tclabaugh@proteuselectronics.com

 

 

You may also email your questions to:

Tom Clabaugh at: tclabaugh@proteuselectronics.com

 

 

 

HOME

 

Copyright © 1999 - 2026 - The Shelby Musuem Of History, Inc.