Greenville, Ohio What has The
Wonderful World of Disney and CBS Early Show discovered about Greenville,
Ohio that the rest of us should know? From a dingy
looking eatery with the tastiest, and rather peculiar, loose-meat sandwich
to the rich history of Annie Oakley, “Mad” Anthony Wayne and Tecumseh,
Greenville is a special diversion for those looking for places where
good-old-fashioned apple pie Americana still lives and breathes the fresh
air of yesteryear. Several years ago, Disney picked the town as one of
the few places in the entire country to host the Disney Hometown Parade.
Recently, Hanna Storm and the CBS Early Show’s Tour My Town series did a
special segment highlighting the quaint little place Northwest of Dayton.
Greenville’s
21st Century publicity as a discovered gem of a town is
actually the second time this place on the map has been toasted for its
significance. The first was back in the 19th Century when it
was renown for the historic Treaty of Green Ville, which opened the
Northwest Territory for settlement and birthing of one of the nations most
celebrated female icons – Annie Oakley. The downtown
is a warm and friendly place with shopkeepers that are 5th
generation family merchants. It has lovely storefronts, picturesque
architecture and historic landmarks, including 80 buildings on the
National Register of Historic Places. Of the many attractions and
sightseeing delights, at least three standout as must-sees: Garst Museum,
Bear’s Mill, and KitchenAid™ Experience. The museum,
spanning six buildings, also includes a village of shops from merchants’
businesses of times long but forgotten, a genealogy room and perhaps one
of the most underrated exhibits in the museum – the Uniform floor. Here,
visitors see an extensive collection of soldiers’ artifacts, weapons and
uniforms from the Revolutionary War to the War in Iraq. Garst Museum
hours, location and further information are available at
www.garstmuseum.org.
Its
storied past includes how the 800 foot millrace was dug by hand by school
children for 50 cents/day and how it went idle for years for fear that
Confederate soldiers may invade the state and burn it to the ground. Today, the
Mill store offers an eclectic shopping experience making it an attraction
that has lured travelers from around the globe. It features fresh ground
flours and meals using preservative free grains on original Buhr stones.
Handmade pottery lines the walls bringing collectors back regularly.
Visitors are free to roam the many floors of the ancient mill and lovely
trails along the creek and woods surrounding it. Bear’s Mill
calendar of events, hours, location and further information are available
at
www.bearsmill.com.
Learn
new cooking skills by attending the many cooking classes offered that
promise to stir up fun in eight interactive areas. Each class allows you
to roll up your sleeves and use the KitchenAid™ products, learn various
techniques and more. Downstairs
is where the heritage exhibits are displayed. These authentic KitchenAid™
artifacts are used to tell the history of an ever-evolving iconic American
company. It explains how products were improved and refined over the years
since 1919 when the first stand mixer was introduced. An original Model H
KitchenAid™ stand mixer is also exhibited. Tour the
nearby mixing factory and see firsthand how the entire manufacturing
process works. The tour enables visitors to see a stand mixer move to the
final stage of assembly by peeking over the shoulder of an assembly line
worker.
In
addition to Garst Museum, Bear’s Mill, and KitchenAid™ Experience,
Greenville and the surrounding Darke County highlights also feature Winery
at Versailles, Ghyslain Chocolatier, Brumbaugh Fruit Farm, Tecumseh’s
Point, prairies and preserves, wetlands, the arts at Memorial Hall, unique
eateries, lodging, festivals, special events and more. To plan a trip to
Greenville, Ohio and Darke County, log onto
www.visitdarkecounty.org or call 1-800-504-2995.
Excerpt from a previous edition of OhioTraveler
Magazine 
CHOCK FULL OF HISTORY
Garst
Museum & The Annie Oakley Center
Little Miss Sure Shot –
Annie Oakley is the legendary
sharpshooter that traveled the world in the Buffalo Bill Wild West show.
Greenville was her home, the place of her birth and death. Many of her
treasured belongings, letters and guns make up the largest known
collection of Annie Oakley memorabilia. Annie Oakley Days Festival is
celebrated every July.
Although
Annie Oakley is a significant person from Greenville and Darke County’s
past, there are others. They include Lowell Thomas – the world-famous
radio broadcaster and adventurer; Zachary Lansdowne
– the infamous pilot of the tragic crash
of the zeppelin USS Shenandoah; Fort Green Ville and the Treaty of Green
Ville; Tecumseh and General “Mad” Anthony Wayne.
Historic Bear’s Mill
More than 150-years-old, this mill is
living history of an era long past as it is one of the last operating
water-powered mills around today.
KitchenAid™ Experience and KitchenAid™ Factory Tour
Proclaimed to be
more than a store, it’s a mixing, blending, slicing, juicing culinary
adventure!
To learn more about
the KitchenAid™ Experience, learn about its exciting new products and take
a nostalgic look into the past, see
www.KitchenAid.com/experience.
