Graves registration card for artist Archibald M. Willard, showing his death on October 11, 1918 and recording his burial in Greenwood Cemetery, Wellington, Ohio.
Today marks yet another moment of importance in Wellington’s year of historical milestones. October 11th is the one-hundredth anniversary of the death of the village’s most famous citizen, the painter Archibald Willard. He passed away at the age of eighty-two, and though he had lived and worked in Cleveland for more than four decades, he chose to return to Wellington to be laid to rest. (To read more about Willard’s relationship to the local Masonic lodge, visit here and here.)
While I did not want to overlook the date, I am not able to write more at present. Historic Homes Tour 2018 is upon us this Sunday and there is still a tremendous amount of preparation to complete. I hope local readers of the blog are planning to attend. All proceeds go to Main Street Wellington, to support its mission of preserving and strengthening our unique downtown environment. The weather forecast is improving hourly, so please consider joining us. It should be a wonderful way to spend a perfect autumn afternoon. You might even pay your respects to Mr. Willard in Greenwood while you are out and about.
19th-Century Wellington 