HOLMESVILLE
The town of Wilmington was laid out in 1815 west of Killbuck Creek, in anticipation of a proposed canal down the Killbuck Valley. Because the canal never materialized, a new town, Lafayette, was laid out in a more desirable location, east across the valley and creek in 1836. In eager anticipation of at least a branch of the canal in their area, these early settlers named the North-South street lying along the Killbuck Creek, Canal Street. A post office was established in 1837 and named Holmesville, as there was already a town in Ohio named after the famous French General. Peter Painter laid out the present east section in 1848, and eventually the two towns took the same name and became incorporated in 1892.
Infirmary
Neiswander Hotel1908
Croco House1997
Historical Towns
BECK'S MILLS
Beck's Mills had its start in 1822 when the Beck family arrived in Doughty Valley. A dam was built across Doughty Creek and a sawmill was constructed. Later a four-story gristmill for making wheat flour and corn meal was...
BENTON
Benton was laid out in 1829, and it was the first real town to develop commercially in the county. It had gristmills, a woolen mill, a factory to make windmills and spinning wheels and several distilleries where whiskey...
BERLIN
The village of Berlin is the oldest existing village in Holmes County. It was laid out in 1816 with 108 plots, and all plots were purchased by 1821. Gradually Berlin became a thriving village and the center of commerce for...
BIG PRAIRIE
Big Prairie was laid out in 1871. It was the Monitor Sadiron Company that put Big Prairie on the map. There was also a Monitor Hotel and a Monitor Theater where silent movies were shown, and various other business shops and...
BUNKER HILL
The small community of Bunker Hill was settled in Berlin Township. A major attraction for early settlers was good soil and ample water supplied by springs that dotted the area. Farming, therefore, supported most early...
CHARM
Charm began as a village called Stevenson around the 1860s. In 1886 the community made application for a post office. The government submitted a list of town names from which the patrons of the post office could choose. The...