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The Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) Hall
1785 Main St
Peninsula, Ohio 44264
Civil War Museum and Special Events
A Brief History of the Grand Army of the Republic Hall
The Grand Army of the Republic Hall was originally built circa 1850 as a one-room schoolhouse for Boston Township's sub-district No. 6. It was used as a school until a new building was constructed across the street in 1887. A special act of the Ohio Legislature was passed April 6, 1888, which authorized the Peninsula Village council to spend up to $500 to remodel the building into a meeting place for Civil War veterans. The veterans named their post in honor of George L. Waterman, a Peninsula native, who was killed in Dayton while attempting to quell pro-slavery rioting. The last members of the G.A.R. returned the property to the Village in 1914. Veterans returning from World War I formed the Fauble Post of the American Legion and purchased the G.A.R. Hall from the Village in 1931. The Fauble Post ceased to meet by 1959 and the property reverted to the State of Ohio's American Legion. The structure fell into critical disrepair by 1962 and was sold for back taxes by the Legion to Robert L. Hunker, local preservationist, who restored the building's grandeur. The G.A.R. Hall is now the property of Peninsula Valley Historic & Education Foundation, a 501.c3 not for profit Foundation established to educate the public about the history of Peninsula, preserve historic architecture and the character of Peninsula.
In the 1880’s, G.A.R. Hall was a meeting place for the veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic and the social center for the village where weddings, funerals, plays and parties were held as well as the meetings of the G.A.R. The hall also served as a basketball court for the school after it moved across the street and was the location for one of the first showings of a motion picture in Summit County, circa 1905. The G.A.R. Hall was the home of the Peninsula Players from 1943 until 1949 and again for winter productions in the early 1970’s. It was built into the hillside with a main floor and stage at street level. A stone basement emerged at grade to the rear. This provided a room for dining, and the basement housed gravity hot air furnace, the very latest in heating of the period.
Due to the popularity of the Hall, more space was needed, and an addition was built onto the west for a kitchen at basement level and a warm anteroom for coats, dressing rooms and storage area. This entry became a rather peculiar main entry as patrons dropped off their coats, then onto the stage and then to their seats via the narrow stage steps at left.
World War II brought an end to the buildings usefulness for the V.F.W. and Peninsula Players, at which time it fell into complete disrepair. By the early 1960’s the west wing was gone, and the building was in such poor condition that it was slated for destruction as a fire drill by the local fire department.
Robert L. Hunker separately purchased the land and house at the rear to provide for a sewage treatment plant. He has restored the main floor and stage to its original condition. The insignias of the G.A.R., painted by Charles Currier remain. Flanking the stage, oil chandeliers and sidelights, which are identical to the original and were purchased from a Chicago antique dealer. See collection photographs.
The west wing was reconstructed as a family dining area and entry porch. The basement excavation was enlarged to provide space for a new compact kitchen, restrooms and a main staircase. The original dining room was in such poor condition that very little could be salvaged. The ceiling was dropped to provide heating, air conditioning and plumbing. The entry doors were rearranged as Riverview Road has been widened, destroying the side access. This reconstructed lower level is utilized as a bar and service area for the kitchen. The bar is made from a Victorian store counter; the woodwork surrounding the windows is from the P.E. Werner house, which was built in 1890 in Akron. See Photos and history of Werner House on South wall.
The G.A.R. Hall is a Museum and a wonderful place to celebrate life’s milestones. The facility, with its ballroom, lower level tavern, stage and outdoor terraced patios, is the perfect setting for weddings, anniversaries, family reunions, business meetings and holiday entertaining.
G.A.R. HALL ARTIFACTS
SELF GUIDED TOUR
Print this tour and bring it with you the next time you visit GAR Hall!
Porch
1. Corner cabinet and contents.
2. Photographs and pictures.
Bar Room
1. Victorian Secretary which belonged to Civil War Colonel Arthur L. Conger. He purchased it new for his library in his Akron residence.
2. Artifacts in this secretary.
3. Photographs on walls.
4. Frame containing flag pole finial.
5. Artifacts on ledge above bar.
6. Chandeliers and bracket lights.
7. Pine Dry Sink from kitchen of The Nestico House, 1599 Main Street, a typical vernacular Carpenter Gothic Style residence.
Staircase
1. Collection of photographs
2. Photo of interior under hanging light.
3. Photo of exterior with statue in center of crossroads, Route 303 & Riverview.
Auditorium and Stage
1. Original insignias flanking stage, by local artist Charles Currier.
2. Flag poles and holders.
3. Antique sidelights and chandeliers.
4. Staircase and paneling on rear stage wall from P. E. Werner House, West Market Street, Akron.
5. Window Treatments as in original photograph of interior.
6. Pull out dry sink server.
7. Stage foot lights are oil-burning lamps with reflectors. Lamps can be removed and recessed area covered to extend stage.
8. Charcoal reproduction of original drawing of George L. Waterman for whom the post was named.
9. Original G.A.R. charter.
10. Numerous portraits of President Abraham Lincoln.
11. Charcoal and engraved pictures of Lincoln on each side of front doors. After Lincoln’s assassination, there was such an enormous demand for his pictures that art dealers took a picture of a man of Lincoln’s stature, removed that persons head and replaced it with Lincoln’s head.
Picture: Left of door, has original notes stating:
“This popular print combined Lincoln and Daniel Webster. The head and cuffs
are superimposed on the original Webster print. (In original frame).”
Picture: Right of door. Original notes state: “False Lincoln, from The Arthur Brisbane Collection.”
12. Grand Piano, Ebony, belonged to the Waterman Family. It was in their parlor at Heritage Farm, South Riverview Road. A large Carpenter Gothic house remodeled after the Civil War from the Original Greek revival.
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