ASHLAND — The Ashland County Historical Society is excited to welcome folks to its September Speaker Series on Sept. 10.
The free event, which runs from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., will take place at the Freer Children’s Home, 1260 Center St. It will feature local historian and train enthusiast Bill Snyder, who will present a program entitled, “The Railroads & Ashland County: 1850-1930.”
Railroads changed Ashland County in profound ways from 1850-1930. Join the Ashland County Historical Society and local historian, retired librarian at the Ashland Public Library, and train enthusiast Bill Snyder as we showcase the important part of our communities’ histories in the earliest days of railroad ventures in central Ohio.
Snyder is a graduate of Ohio State University, holding a B.A. and M.A. in history. He has taught high school social studies and served as a high school principal. He is also a retired reference librarian at the Ashland Public Library and a historian who lectures on transportation history throughout Ohio. He is an active member of the Ashland Model Railroaders club and enjoys traveling and exploring old rail trails.
The event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6 p.m. at the Freer Children’s Home, with the program beginning promptly at 6:30 p.m.
The 2026 ACHS Speaker Series is made possible in part by a grant from the Ashland County Community Foundation and the generosity of the following corporate members: Lighthouse Wealth Management, Baker, Bowman & Co. CPAs and the Ashland Elks Lodge #1360.
About ACHS
ACHS is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that brings Ashland County’s history alive through education, preservation and community engagement. Located at 420 Center St., it is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for self-guided tours. Guided tours are available by appointment. Its entire campus includes the Noonan and Manor Houses, Freer Home and the Carriage House, which serves as its research library.