Montgomery’s history is reflected in who lived here, what they did, and what they built in which to live, work, be schooled and attend church. The more one learns about the earliest families, and envisions their arrival in the wooded forests and rock creeks that we call the bustling suburb of more than 10,000 today, the more one realizes the physical courage and strength of vision these early pioneers had.
To preserve the City’s cultural heritage, the Montgomery Landmarks Commission was established in 1976. As of today, the Commission has identified 32 landmarks to commemorate the City’s historical beginnings. These landmarks will be preserved for future generations as a tribute to Montgomery’s past.
During Montgomery’s Bicentennial in 1995, the Montgomery Historical Society, now known as the Montgomery Historical Preservation Association, and the Montgomery Bicentennial Commission, funded and published a book that documented 200 years of Montgomery history from 1795 – 1995. The book, History of Montgomery 1795 – 1995 can be downloaded for free. A print version is available at City Hall.
This website was created to document Montgomery’s history from 1995 to present day and is the result of a collaboration between the Montgomery Historical Preservation Association and the City of Montgomery.
LANDMARKS
The community of Montgomery began in the spring of 1795 when six sturdy and resolute families from Orange County, New York, set out on a journey that brought them to what is today Montgomery, Ohio. The families were all interrelated with names that have become commonplace in our community. There were the three Felter sisters and their husbands Cornelius Snider, the leader; Jacob Roosa; and Nathaniel Terwilliger along with the three Felter brothers and their wives.
The closely knit group gathered together their possessions and traveled through Fort Pitt (now Pittsburgh), floated down the Ohio River to the mouth of the Little Miami River, and made their way up Sycamore Creek where it meets the present Montgomery Road just north of Bethesda North Hospital. The first winter was spent in simple lean-to shelters left by the earlier scouts. Then, in the spring of 1796, they moved to the junction of two Native American trails, which today are Cooper Road and Main Street. The growth of Montgomery was a gradual one with about a dozen homes built by 1816, and that number grew to about 500 by 1950. In 1910, Montgomery was incorporated as a village, and it became a city in 1971 having reached 5,000 inhabitants. Today, the population is 10,251.
To preserve the City’s cultural heritage, the Montgomery Landmarks Commission was established in 1976 by a group of stalwart citizens, not unlike their forebearers. As of today, the Commission has identified 32 landmarks to commemorate the City’s historical beginnings. These landmarks will be preserved for future generations as a tribute to Montgomery’s past.
This program was developed by the City of Montgomery Recreation and Community Development Departments to encourage youth and families to explore Montgomery and learn about our various historic landmarks.
The Montgomery History Explorer program is designed for ages 6 and up. Throughout the workbook, you will find a variety of activities that will engage your family in learning about Montgomery and our historic landmarks in a fun and active way. This is a great program to enjoy as a family, as younger children may need assistance in completing their activities. To assist in finding the locations of each landmark, we have included a map of the city as well as the street location of each landmark mentioned in the workbook.
We look forward to helping your family become Montgomery History Explorers. Please bring your completed workbook to City Hall located at 10101 Montgomery Road. A member of our recreation team will review the workbook and contact you to inform you when your explorer certificate and patch are ready. Your completed workbook will be returned to you to keep with your certificate and patch. This program will be ongoing, so invite your family, friends, and neighbors to become a Montgomery History Explorer with you.
