Carrolltons McCook House accepts visitors Memorial Day weekend
By Kyle Valentini
May 16, 2014
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Carrolltons popular McCook House Civil War Museum, located at the top of the village square, opens Memorial Day weekend, May 24. Once home to Ohios famous Fighting McCooks, the historic house was the home of Major Daniel McCook, who, along with his nine sons and six nephews, became known as the Fighting McCooks because of their participation in the armed services of their country prior to and especially during the Civil War.
The house now serves as a memorial to the family that made the ultimate sacrifice in the Civil War when Daniel and three of his sons lost their lives fighting the rebels.
Daniel McCook built the large brick house on the southwest corner of the public square in Carrollton in 1837. It would remain occupied by his family that also included wife Martha and three daughters until 1848 when they sought other opportunities further west.
The state of Ohio took ownership of the home in November 1941 and dedicated it as a memorial to the Fighting McCooks October 10, 1947.
In 1981, the Carroll County Historical Society began operating the McCook House on a lease agreement with the Ohio Historical Society.
A $625,000 restoration project for the home completed in May 2011 stabilized and reinforced the house. The restoration included rebuilding part of the east wall, patching plaster, repairing windows, weatherizing the hand-seamed tin roof and painting the interior in period colors.
Today, visitors can tour nine rooms in the historic home, including Daniels law office, the dining room, the kitchen, the two-story gallery porch and several bedrooms.
Some of the familys books and possessions can be seen, as well as informative displays of Civil War uniforms and swords that help visitors learn more about individual members of the McCook family. A cannonball-studded tree trunk from a Civil War battlefield is on display as well as the familys 250-piece monogrammed china and their Reed and Barton flatware that dates from 1853.
The McCook House Civil War Museum is located in downtown Carrollton. The museum is open Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and 1-5 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, call 330-627-3345.
