WHITEHOUSE, OH (Toledo News Now) - Whitehouse, Ohio turns 150 years old this week.
On Saturday, there was a sesquicentennial celebration in Village Park featuring entertainment, food, kids activities and, of course, fireworks at dark.
Bud Bauman is with the Whitehouse Historical Society.
He says Whitehouse is named after Charles Whitehouse, who was the treasurer of a railroad line running through town.
The line was built in the mid-1800s to transport oak trees in the area which were cut down and shipped to the east coast for construction projects.
"The train was the opening factor. It really opened up the whole area," said Mr. Bauman.
An old log house on Main Street dates back to 1840.
It was moved twice, even acting as a gas station until a big secret was uncovered.
"They decided to take the gas station down and as they peeled back the layers they discovered this log house," said Mary Beth Dematteo of the society.
Gangster Pretty Boy Floyd came to Whitehouse back in the thirties to get a haircut, but before he left town, he robbed a bank.
"And Mr. Sheffer got out his .22 rifle and took a couple shots at the coupe as it went north on Main Street. I don't think he hit him," said Mr. Bauman.
Whitehouse is now a thriving community of 4500 residents attracting new business and new housing.
They like to say it has small town living with big ideas.
"We're just ordinary folks," said Mr. Bauman.
