HISTORY + MISSION

The Beginning: Founding of Massillon

James Duncan, born in 1789 in Concord, New Hampshire, took to the sea at an early age, as did many of his contemporaries, and rose to the command of a merchant ship. Like many of his contemporaries he gave up seafaring and took to exploring and establishing the West. At that time, Kendal was being settled by a Quaker community, led by Thomas and Charity Rotch, just east of what is downtown Massillon today. Although Mr. Duncan and his friends were complete strangers when they came here, they were soon made to feel at home by Mayhew Folger, another retired sea captain. They apparently were impressed with the situation for within three days they concluded to make a number of purchases.

When, in 1824, the legislature of Ohio enacted the Internal Improvement Law, he foresaw that whenever a canal was built in Ohio, it would be in the Tuscarawas Valley. The canal, after much maneuvering, was located in that valley due largely to Mr. Duncan’s untiring energy. With his usual shrewdness and foresight he suggested to the Commissioner of Ohio that he lay out a village on the east side of the river and convey to the State of Ohio an undivided third of the town plat. Under that arrangement Massillon was laid out. Mrs. Eliza T. (Vilette) Duncan was responsible for naming Massillon after a celebrated French Bishop in the court of Louis XIV.

James Duncan built his home in the early 1830s overlooking the booming canal town of Massillon, Ohio, which he had founded in 1826. In 1880, Dr. and Mrs. J.P. Barrick bought the house, which was later passed on to Mrs. Barrick’s son, Frank Lee Baldwin.

MassMu's Beginnings: The Duncan Home

Shortly after founding Massillon in 1826, James Duncan built his grand home overlooking his booming canal town in the 1830s. This home was passed down to Frank Baldwin, a prominent local attorney. Upon Mrs. Annie Steese Baldwin’s death in 1931, the home was bequeathed to the Massillon Library Board. In order to fulfill the legal obligations of Mrs. Baldwin’s will, the Museum had to open by March 1933.

After an outcry of support from the community, thanks in part to the editorial writings of C.E. Chidester, the building was opened as an art and history museum. Originally named the Baldwin Museum, it featured the ethnological and archaeological artifacts of Dr. Abraham Per Lee Pease, that had been on display in the library building on Prospect (Fourth) Street since 1905, as well as the Native American artifacts of Captain Christian L. Baatz, the Museum’s first curator.

In an Independent newspaper article “Hail! Massillon’s Museum” from Thursday, January 12, 1933, the author (thought to be editor C.E. Chidester), states “The expected opening Friday of Massillon’s museum in the house built by the founder of the city, the late James Duncan and bequeathed to the citizens of Massillon by the late Mrs. Annie Steese Baldwin, its last owner and occupant, is certain to be greeted with joy. The museum to be opened to the public is destined if maintained, during the years to come to afford the citizens of Massillon immeasurable happiness and satisfaction. In every corner of the land from the largest city to the smallest village, reminders of the past have an appeal. It is not too much to hope that Massillon will create such a treasure trove. The opening of the Museum is destined to mark the beginning of a new activity in Massillon. It should be carried on with vigor and dispatch and with immeasurable joy.”

The Baldwin Museum opened on Friday, January 13, 1933, displaying Baatz Native American artifacts, and Dr. Abraham per Lee Pease’s ethnological and archaeological artifacts. The first visitor to sign the registration book was Captain Christian L. Baatz, a retired fireman, who was named the Museum’s first curator.

With the art and history Museum officially opened, the terms of Mrs. Baldwin’s will were fulfilled. The focus now turned to making the museum successful. A committee under the chairmanship of Miss Bessie V. R. Skinner was appointed, including members of the library board Samuel J. Mollet, and Hershey Meek, with A.J. Albright as secretary and treasurer.

Miss Ruth A. Hubbard was named director, serving from June 1934 until August 1935. She was formerly employed at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Her major contributions to the Museum were the initiation of pottery and painting classes and the regular rotation of exhibits. Three volunteers stepped forward to assist in oversight of collections and exhibitions: Albert Hise, Frank Harrison, and Betty Traphagen.

The Baldwin Museum opened on January 13, 1933, exhibiting Captain C.L. Baatz’ Native American artifacts and the Pease Archaeological and Ethnological collection.

“The opening of the museum is destined to mark the beginning of a new activity in Massillon. It should be carried on with vigor, dispatch, and with immeasurable joy.”

— taken from “Hail! Massillon's Museum,” Massillon Independent newspaper, January 12, 1933

The Museum closed in June and July 1934 for exhibit planning and cataloging of objects. The science room was setup, exhibiting snakes and other creatures, an early Massillon exhibit, and a reproduction coal mine in the basement. Local boy scouts led tours through the exhibit.

A battle ensued between the staff of the Massillon Independent newspaper, library board members, Museum Committee, and citizens over how to expand the museum building to include the public library. Two plans were drawn up: one to build a library in front of the Duncan/Baldwin home or demolish the home for a more modern structure, and one to build an addition that would leave the Baldwin house intact.

The Museum Committee passed a resolution on December 12, 1935 recommending “In view of the feuding reconstruction of the Museum that the contents of the Museum be packed and removed to the quarters kindly provided by Mr. Mollett. Further that the employees of the Museum be dismissed with the exception of Mr. Hise who will continue the work of the Museum, cataloging, doing [historical] research with the view to increase the Museum Collections etc.”

Local architectural firm Albrecht & Wilhelm drafted a proposal for an “L” shaped building that incorporated the original Duncan/Baldwin home with a similar wing, joined together by a rotunda in the center. This is the plan that was officially and unanimously approved by Massillon Public Library board members. The result is the building we see today.

Museum Curator Christian Baatz and his wife lived in the Duncan/Baldwin home until construction began in 1936, when they moved to a home on Cherry Street. Unfortunately, both Mr. and Mrs. Baatz passed away in 1937, never getting to see the finished Museum.

Using the Baldwin seed money, a WPA grant, a library bond issue, and a small loan, construction finally began. On the afternoon of Wednesday, May 27, 1936 an official cornerstone laying ceremony took place. A parade by the American Legion, Washington High School band, and hundreds of school children opened the program with a march through Massillon’s business district. Several thousand children and adults attended the ceremony. The cornerstone was officially laid by Dr. H.W. Bell, president of the Board of Education. Rev. J.R. Stalker delivered the official address, followed by Sherlock Evans speaking for Mayor Henry Krier, and several other congratulatory speeches were given. Photographs of the old library and museum and a copy of the Massillon Independent were entombed in the cornerstone.

The library reopened in October 1937, while the Museum remained under construction until a reopening ceremony on April 3, 1938, exhibiting Abel Fletcher photographs, the Ella O. Shoemaker shell collection, the “Vigilant” hand-pumped fire engine, paintings and furniture. Its new name was the "Massillon Museum."

If you would like to read more about the reopening of the Massillon Museum in 1938, please click here.

Exhibits for the art and history Museum tended to focus on regional artists, rented exhibits from larger institutions, and vignette-style exhibits highlighting the permanent collection. Education in the form of childrens' and adults' classes, tours, and outreach boomed during the 1950s to 1970s.

Funding

The art and history Museum was, from its inception, funded by county intangibles tax that was directed through the Massillon Public Library. When it became apparent that the Museum could not continue its quality service to the community within that budget, the Museum director and board members succeeded in working with state legislators to pass legislation permitting Ohio museums to place tax issues on the ballot. As a result, the Massillon Museum passed a tax levy within the city of Massillon and is now supported by property taxes from the citizens of the community.

New Building

In 1991, it became evident that more room to house the collections was imperative. The State of Ohio had given $750,000 towards a new building so plans were formulated to either build or buy a new museum. In April 1991, the Board of Trustees purchased a former department store in the center of town called the Giltz Building. A capital campaign fund drive for funds to remodel was launched in 1992.

The architectural firm of vanDijk, Pace, Westlake and Partners of Cleveland was contracted for remodeling plans and a $1.9 million dollar renovation was begun in 1994. On May 12, 1996, the new “state of the art” contemporary Massillon Museum opened its doors to the public with a “Gala Opening” and exhibit.

The architectural firm of vanDijk, Pace, Westlake and Partners of Cleveland was contracted for remodeling plans and a $1.9 million dollar renovation was begun in 1994. On May 12, 1996, the new “state of the art” contemporary Massillon Museum opened its doors to the public with a “Gala Opening” and exhibit.