America 250- History Lives Here | January 2026
In 2026, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States by exploring the many ways Ohio and Seneca County have contributed to U.S. History. Each month, a new theme will highlight Ohio’s unique and lasting contributions. Learn more about the 2026 Celebration Themes here.
Ohio’s story is filled with bold firsts and unforgettable originals, a legacy that lives right here in Seneca County. This month, we focus on the unique contributions in Ohio from Presidents to other pioneers and change makers. We also highlight the local people and contributions that helped change this state and country with their innovative ideas. From hometown trailblazers to sites that made a larger impact, our county is proud to play a larger role in Ohio’s story. This month, we invite you to recognize and applaud the people and places that make our county, state, and country as special as it is today.
St. Paul’s | Early Electric Illumination
When St. Paul’s Methodist Episcopal Church was dedicated on January 6, 1884, an ornate brass chandelier presented by the Edison Electric Light Company provided illumination for the congregation. St. Paul’s became the first church in the United States to be wired for electricity while still under construction.
Just weeks earlier, the Tiffin Edison Electric Illuminating Company had been established, becoming the first central electric power station in Ohio, and the tenth in the country. To mark the church’s groundbreaking achievement, the first of its kind, Edison donated the beautiful chandelier as a symbol of innovation and progress. Still in use today, the chandelier hangs as a lasting reminder of Tiffin’s early embrace of electric power and technological advancement.
The Cronise Sisters | Ohio’s First Female Lawyers
In 1873, Tiffin’s Cronise Sisters became the first women admitted to the Ohio Bar. Annette “Nettie” Cronise Lutes and her sister Florence were true pacemakers in a profession that had long excluded women.
On April 4th, 1873, Nettie Cronise applied for admission to the district court. Despite strong opposition, local leading attorneys, William Harvey Gibson and George Seney, supported Nettie’s application. That same year, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld another state’s denial of bar admission to another woman based upon gender, making Nettie’s success even more remarkable. Six months later, Florence Cronise was also admitted to the bar and became Ohio’s first female notary public.
Together, the sisters opened Ohio’s first female law practice, N. & F. Cronise, in their hometown of Tiffin. Nettie attended Heidelberg College and graduated from State Normal School in Illinois. Florence graduated from Heidelberg College in 1865 and was named Valedictorian of her class. In 1893, the sisters attended a national gathering of women in Chicago at the World’s Columbian Exposition, where Florence was elected president of the new National League of Women Lawyers.
Long before women had the right to vote, the Cronise sisters pushed boundaries and opened doors that changed Ohio’s legal landscape forever. Today, the Cronise sisters remain powerful examples of Ohio’s firsts and originals, leaving a lasting mark on the legal profession, leadership, courage, and equality.
Ballreich Snack Food Company | A Taste of Home
Locally owned for over 100 years, Ballreich’s began in Tiffin, Ohio, in 1920 by Fred & Ethel Ballreich. Started in a dirt-floor garage using a copper kettle heated with wood scraps, the Ballreich’s started their homemade potato chip operation, producing 14 pounds a day.
Their signature “marcelled” (wavy) potato chips quickly became in high demand, prompting Fred’s brother Carl and his wife Emma to move from Michigan to help meet the needs of the operation. Living side by side, the families built a small factory behind their homes to expand production. After World War II, the next generation joined the operation, and the business was incorporated into Ballreich Bros, Inc.
Continued growth led to new equipment, including sacking machines and hydraulic lifts, as well as a warehouse in Defiance, Ohio. By the 1990s, Ballreich’s expanded its product line to include new chip flavors and expanded its infamous snack line.
Today, Ballreich’s produces 2,000-5,000 pounds of product an hour and offers more than 70 sack varieties. Beyond its success, Ballreich’s remains deeply rooted in the community, collaborating with local businesses and universities on products like Heidelberg’s Siggy Sauce and Tiffin University’s Blazin’ BBQ chips. For many, Ballreich’s is more than just a chip; it’s a taste of home and a symbol of Seneca County pride.
Tiffin Glass | Shaping an Industry
From 1884 to 1984, Tiffin Glass was a prominent producer of stemware and decorative glass. Drawn by a rich source of natural gas, A.J. Beatty & Sons Glass Factory of Steubenville, Ohio, relocated to Tiffin. The start of what became a major industry in Northwestern Ohio.
Over the years, the factory operated under various owners and names, producing stemware, tableware, and blown products. When production ceased, the molds were sold and dispersed to collectors and manufacturers. Today, the Tiffin Glass Collectors Club owns the Tiffin shield trademark, which has since been reproduced.
The Tiffin Glass Museum & Shoppe preserves this legacy, displaying more than 1,000 unique pieces and honoring the men and women of the Tiffin “Glass House”. The glass industry brought economic growth, middle-class jobs, and artistic innovation to the region, permanently shaping our area’s identity. Ohio’s role in the glass revolution left a lasting mark, one still seen today throughout the area of Northwestern Ohio and Seneca County.
Fort Seneca | War of 1812
Fort Seneca played a key role in Northwestern Ohio during the War of 1812. Built by General William Henry Harrison, the fort served as a stockaded supply depot for the area, supporting military operations. It was constructed on a site previously known as Camp Seneca, named after the Seneca Native Americans who lived in the area.
In the 1820s, a general store and grist mill were established on the site by the famous Scioto-Sandusky Indian trail near the Sandusky River. The village of Fort Seneca was officially surveyed in January of 1836, the name derived from General Harrison’s War of 1812 fort.
Fort Seneca represents Ohio’s early strategic performance and its role in westward expansion. As part of the state’s first defense and supply networks, it helped secure American territory for settlement. Today, the village stands as an original Ohio settlement, demonstrating the importance of military sites and how they became a foundation for permanent communities.
Together, these stories reflect the innovation, spirit, and leadership that define both Ohio and Seneca County. From early technological advances and historic firsts to family-owned businesses, each example highlights how local people and places helped shape history. As we look ahead to America’s 250th anniversary, we are reminded that history not only lives in textbooks, it lives here in our communities, traditions, and legacies that make our area special. Seneca County’s contributions stand as a testament to Ohio’s role in our nation’s past, present, and future history.
