How to go
What:Glendower Mansion and Museum
Where: 105 Cincinnati Ave., Lebanon, OH
When: Noon to 5 p.m., Wednesdays through Sundays
Cost: $5 adults; $3.50 children
More Info: (513) 932-1817
LEBANON — Visitors to the Glendower Mansion and Museum may be experiencing risks they could never imagine.
Consider the fate of Glendower’s first three owners: the first died as a penniless alcoholic; the second went bankrupt helping Civil War veterans reclaim their pension and the third became an elderly recluse.
“It certainly has a dubious distinction,” said operator Victoria Tappy. “However, I can promise any curse won’t extend to visitors.” The historic mansion, 105 Cincinnati Ave., is open for summer hours, noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. The mansion is considered one of the first examples of mid-19th century Greek Revival architecture in the Midwest and has a large collection of 19th-century artifacts from life in Warren County.
Visitors are greeted by the likes of J. Milton Williams, his wife, Mary, or his daughter, Ella, as portrayed by volunteer interpreters who act in character to help explain the history of the mansion and the area.
“I don’t act like J. Milton all the time, but I try to have a little fun with the character,” said Mike Sheehy, who portrays the home’s builder before his fall from grace.
Glendower was built in 1845 by Williams, an attorney and politician, for about $10,000. The exterior of the house is illuminated with towering exterior pillars. Inside, visitors will immediately notice the flood of light coming from large windows and an overhead skylight.
“People from the South will visit Glendower and just be amazed to have a plantation style home this far north,” Tappy said.
The mansion has more than 10 rooms of displays, including incredible antique furniture, artwork from several area painters and a working an early style record player from the 1890s. The rooms have been recently repainted to match traditional decorations of the time.
The second floor contains an extensive display of lusterware (a once popular type of dish) and a display of personal artifacts from the Civil War in anticipation of the 150th anniversary of the war in 2011.
Glendower also will have a variety of activities throughout the summer. Bob Ford and the Ragamuffins will perform traditional and folk music at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 19. Other free concerts will be held on July 10 and Aug. 14. A live civil war reenactment is set for the weekend of Aug. 7.
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4544 or jmcclelland@coxohio.com.
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