The Museum of Troy History is open for the season with a new exhibit of old Bibles and other religious writings. The carefully preserved literary works are a testimony to the longevity of published manuscripts but also to local families whose names are immortalized in the pages of these old books. During the 1800’s and early 1900’s, families often documented significant events like marriages, deaths, and new births in the front pages of the family Bible. The book was then passed down through the generations as an heirloom and document of lineage for posterity.

Families in the community have contributed artifacts to this exhibit, including the historically influential industrialist family, the Hobarts. In 1935, Edward Hobart gave his mother Lou Ella a new Bible that is carefully displayed in a glass case at the museum. The Bible was given to Lou Ella on Christmas Day, which also happened to be Edward’s 47th birthday. The Hobart Bible is one of several newer pieces in the collection; the newest was printed in 1960 and given to a local man when he joined the armed forces.

The most antiquated piece in the exhibit dates back to 1765 and is written in old German. The Scheidler family Bible was printed in Nuremberg Germany and was owned by Maria Magdalena Scheidler who lived in Montgomery County Ohio in 1819. Although most of these families moved many times during the life of their family Bibles, the consistent records are a fascinating study of stalwart family connectedness and faith.

Local historian, Hadley Drodge and a classmate in her graduate program at Wright State worked to catalogue and put together descriptions of the pieces on display in the exhibit. It took many hours of effort to locate and organize the literature in the cases the literary works now occupy. According to Doug Tremblay of the Troy Museum of History, the museum consistently works to include the community in their annual exhibits. One of their goals is to give local residents a tangible, personal depiction of the city’s past so that they can develop a sense of appreciation and hope for the present and future.

The museum is on East Water Street and will have its Bible exhibit available to view until the end of May and is the first of a series of temporary exhibits planned for the year. Their normal operating hours are Saturday and Sunday from 1:00-5:00 p.m. or by appointment.