Eloise Ridgeway Noonan House
The Eloise Ridgeway Noonan House was built in 1999 after a bequest from the estate of Eloise Noonan, long-time board member and supporter of the Society and museum. It is safe to say that without her help over the years, the museum would not exist today.
The Noonan House is the administrative hub of the museum. The offices of the Executive Director, the Curator, the Event Coordinator, Administrative Coordinator, and Maintenance Technician are there. The Betty Plank Research Library materials are housed here. The library holds books of general interest regarding antiques and collectibles, as well as items pertaining to Ashland specifically, such as city directories and histories of the county. Our archives hold clippings and photos of events, people, businesses and homes. The library and archives are accessible during business hours, either by stopping in or by contacting the office. Our office staff is always glad to look something up for interested parties.
The Streetscape rules the second floor. When you step off the elevator, it is as if you were transported to downtown Ashland at the turn of the 19th century. Shops, doctor's offices, banks, and much more await you. As you stroll through, you see products that you haven't seen in years, and some you have never seen. The children marvel at what the people of the past used instead of the conveniences we now enjoy.
The lower level houses the Ashland County Sports Hall of Fame, honoring great athletes from our county. It is also home to our Veterans History Committee’s collection of weapons and other military collectibles from the Spanish American War, the Civil War, and both World Wars. The Veterans History Committee is busy recording the experiences of veterans from the county. Many veterans opt to make a videotape of their interviews, and these are kept in our library. The public can watch them to learn about a specific time period or theatre of action.