The East Palestine Historical Society meets on the second Thursday of each month at the log house at 555 Bacon Avenue. The Trustees meet at 6 P.M. Regular meetings begin at 6:30 P.M. Members of the Historical Society make and sell apple butter in the fall.

The Log House is open from 2 to 4 PM on Sundays in June, July, August and December (until Christmas). Other times by appointment only.

Historical Society email :  eastpalestinehistoricalsociety@gmail.com

Historical Society phone:  330-397-7689

 

History of the Log House

The Log House was built in 1840 and stood for almost 50 years on what is now the corner of West Main Street and Walnut Street.   It is said that the first family to occupy the house was a family named Ryan.  Shortly thereafter, it became the residence of Dr. Robert Chamberlain and his wife, the former Rebecca Taggart.  Born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Robert Chamberlain came to Fairfield County, Ohio as a boy, and to Columbiana County at age 20.  He read medicine as was the custom then, under Dr. Town, and subsequently graduated from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia.  He established a practice in East Palestine as the first resident physician.  His practice lasted 30 years. In addition, he served as a surveyor for the Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroad, helping lay out the line from the Ohio River to Salem.  He established the first store of any consequence and the only one of any importance for many years.  When the post office was established in 1836, he became the first postmaster.  He also found time to serve as Township Trustee in 1834, Township Clerk in 1839 and County Surveyor in 1844.  After his death in 1876, and sometime prior to 1886, the Log House was moved to what is now 36 North Walnut Street.

Old records show that the new site was made up of property purchased from Mrs. Chamberlain and George Renshaw by George Young in 1896 and sold by him in 1903 to David and Emma Cassiday.  In 1908, it was purchased by L. L. Wilson who sold it in April of the same year to John (or Johan) and Maria Spieler.  Mr. and Mrs. Speiler sold it to John and Mary Chuck who lived there for 17 years.

The Chuck family then sold the property to Mr. Chuck’s sister and her husband, John and Mary Bozick who lived in the house longer than any of the others – 51 years.  In 1978, Mary Bozick, a daughter of John and Mary, gave the house to the East Palestine Area Historical Society.  Once more it was moved.  It is now located at this site – 555 Bacon Avenue.  This property is owned by the East Palestine City Park.  It has been restored as closely as possible to its original appearance.