Lancaster showcases history, decorative arts

Lancaster, Ohio - This Fairfield County seat has long been recognized for its well-preserved early 19th-century homes, its downtown and its twin pocket parks along Zane square. The most famous of the homes is the Sherman House, birthplace of Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman and his brother, politician John Sherman (best known for the Sherman Antitrust Act), and home to nine other siblings.

The house on Main Street is easily found. A large cannon dominates a very small front yard of the property that Charles Sherman bought when he moved his wife and infant son from Connecticut to Ohio in 1810.

Like most early 19th-century homes in the young state, a small original house was added to over time as the family grew and finances improved. Today's entry is through a Victorian section of the house, added after the Sherman family occupancy and furnished as a Victorian-era reception room.

Guided tours take visitors through this area to the restored Sherman portion. Docents describe how the family would have entered from the main side door, typical of New England homes of that time. There is another door at the side that was used by clients coming to the private law office of Charles Sherman, who became judge of the Supreme Court of Ohio.

Family mementoes

Because the house is Ohio's only memorial to the Shermans, the second floor displays a re-creation of Gen. Sherman's field tent, Civil War exhibits and a room with memorabilia from Sherman family who occupied the home until 1844.

In recent years, the female members of the Sherman family have been getting more recognition. Charles' wife, Mary Hoyt Sherman, learned the art of needle work as a young girl, and created beautiful silk-on-silk needlework.

The docent's enthusiasm for women's art needlework from the early 19th century encouraged me to climb the hill to the mansion next door, built in 1835 by William J. Reese and his wife, the oldest Sherman daughter, Mary Elizabeth.

Known as the Reese-Peters House, it was renovated in the 1990's as a public arts education/decorative arts museum, and opened to the public as the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio.

The beautiful building blends elements of the Federal and Greek Revival styles. It is decorated on the interior with fine woodwork believed to have been hand-carved in Philadelphia.

Another of Lancaster's grand homes is the Georgian, a block from the Reese-Peters House. Mature trees dapple the sunlight that glows on the white columns of the two-story portico on the west side of the house. Each of the five fluted columns encompasses a complete tree trunk for support.

The huge brick mansion was built for entrepreneur Samuel MacCracken by local carpenter Daniel Sifford following Asher Benjamin's Handbook for Carpenters.

Docents lead tours of the home, which has been restored and furnished to match the 1830's period of the home. The decorative arts are well represented here also with an assortment of period furnishings, many from Fairfield County homes, a few quite unique.

"Used with permission from The Cincinnati Enquirer/Becky Linhardt."