The Daniel F. Mooney Museum
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Images
The exterior of the Mooney Museum (street side)
Another exterior view of the Mooney Museum, highlighting the third floor tower
A final current exterior view
An historic view of the Mooney Museum (when still used as a residence)
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Another historic view
Entrance hallway to the Mooney
Historic view of entrance hallway
The Mooneys' original light fixture was restored for the entrance.
The parquet floor in Mooney Museum was also restored.
Other original features include ornate brackets.
A special exhibit in the vestibule introduces visitors to some of St. Marys' most accomplished citizens, including Dr. Elizabeth Yahl Kuffner.
The front parlor
Close up of historic piano.
Parlor fireplace
Visitors hear the story of Charles & Mary Hipp AND Daniel & Carrie Steinemann Mooney (pictured here in Paraguay) in this section of the museum.
1940s-era view of parlor and living room
Carrie Steinemann Mooney Bettelini, who bequeathed the house to the Society
Souvenirs from the Mooneys' world travels are featured at the Museum. Can you tell what this hat is made of?
The museum shares St. Marys' industrial history, including the St. Marys Wheel & Spoke Company.
The Spoke Works later became Crane & McMahon, which produced furniture, such as this sideboard.
Other local industries--Goodyear, Easy Washing Machine Company, St. Marys Foundry, and more!
A beautiful folk art piece from the Makley Blacksmith Shop
St. Marys Blankets were known around the world!
The Miami and Erie Canal was pivotal to the development of the community. Here is a Toll Keeper's Desk from a local lock.
The railroad would later arrive in St. Marys, enhancing transportation and shipping options. The Western Ohio Electric Railway expanded these options in the first decades of the 20th century (train seat pictured here).
The second floor features an exhibit about historic downtown St. Marys, including artifacts from various businesses.
Our downtown exhibit includes images from the early 20th century as well!
You'll also discover artifacts from several local archaeological digs, including Fort Amanda.
Thank you for joining us on this quick tour-; we hope you'll visit in person very soon!
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
The Mooney Museum: Sharing the Story of St. Marys
St. Marys, originally called Kettletown, began to be known as Girty's Town after James Girty developed a trading post here. General Anthony Wayne established Fort St. Marys (along the river of the same name) in 1794, while General William Henry Harrison founded Fort Barbee during the War of 1812. Six of the seven Indian Treaties of St. Marys were signed here in 1818. Charles Murray, William Houston, and John McCorkle platted and recorded the village of St. Marys on August 26, 1823. St. Marys served as the seat of Mercer County from 1824 to 1840. In 1848 St. Marys became part of the newly-formed Auglaize County.
The building we now call the Daniel F. Mooney Museum was constructed in 1876 as the home of Charles and Mary Hipp. Charles Hipp served in the Mexican-American War in 1847. He enlisted in the Union army at the time of the Civil War in 1861, organizing the county-based, German-speaking, 37th Ohio Volunteer Infantry unit. He was discharged in 1865, having risen to the rank of Major but also having lost part of his arm in battle.
Hipp served as the postmaster of St. Marys for well over 21 years. He was also mayor of St. Marys from 1886 to 1888 and county probate judge in 1887. He died in 1908, while his wife Mary died in 1910. The house was later acquired by attorney Daniel Mooney, whose wife, musician Carrie, Steinemann Mooney Bettelini, would later donate the building to the Auglaize County Historical Society as its first museum. (Daniel Mooney was also a state legislator and served as ambassador to Paraguay under President Woodrow Wilson.)
With its hipped roof, strong vertical orientation, and elaborate window trim, the Mooney House is considered an excellent example of Italianate architecture so popular in America during the last decades of the 19th century.
Sources
The archives of the Auglaize County Historical Society
Rachel Barber
Rachel Barber
Rachel Barber
archives of the Auglaize County Historical Society
ACHS archives
Rachel Barber
ACHS archives
Rachel Barber
Rachel Barber
Rachel Barber
ACHS archives
Rachel Barber
Rachel Barber
Rachel Barber
ACHS archives
ACHS archives
Rachel Barber
Rachel Barber
Rachel Barber
Rachel Barber
Rachel Barber
Rachel Barber
Rachel Barber
Rachel Barber
Rachel Barber
ACHS archives
ACHS archives
Ohio History Connection
ACHS archives