Preservation Projects
The Hicks Land Office (1840)
The Hicks Land Office, located on West Main Street in downtown Hicksville, is reportedly the best-preserved Land Office known to exist in the state of Ohio. One of the few buildings remaining from settlement days, the Land Office now houses a museum of donated historical items.
The Land Office is important as the place from which A. P. Edgerton sold over 140,000 acres of land to settlers, an amount topped only by the government. Development of these lands from swampy forests to highly productive farmland changed the face of northwest Ohio forever. The office is open by appointment.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Built at the direction of founding father A.P. Edgerton, this National Historic Site is largely unchanged from the time of its construction, when it served as the Edgerton family chapel.
By the 1970s, membership had fallen to three. Assorted creatures had made themselves at home inside and underneath the church building. The walls were bowing out from the weight of the roof. The Friends of St. Paul's (now the HHS) organized to save the builiding.
Although St. Paul’s no longer functions as a working Episcopal church, the Ohio Diocese is kind enough to allow Hicksville’s Historical Society to maintain the building as a National Historic Site.
Meetings, weddings, holiday Advent services, and occasional other events are held at St. Paul’s. It is preserved through the work of Historical Society volunteers and the support of area citizens.
Looking to the future
One of our goals is to open St. Paul's Church & The Land Office on a regular basis, with volunteers on hand to serve as guides. We continually maintain St. Paul's & The Land Office, & hope to expand our ability to house items from Hicksville's past.