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A BRIEF HISTORY OF G.A.R. 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.
G.A.R. Hall is now the property
of the 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 weird 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.
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CIVIL WAR MUSEUM ROOM ● PENINSULA VALLEY HISTORIC & EDUCATION FOUNDATION SITE