By Sarah Bender, Ada Icon summer intern

Nestled into the corner of the Ada Public Library is an impressive collection of material related to local history, which spans as far back as Ada’s founding in 1853.

This area of the library gives visitors interested in history and genealogy a relaxed area to learn more about the town of Ada as well as other areas of Hardin County. Preserved in filing cabinets, which are open to the public are photographs of individual Ada residents, area businesses, early photos of Ohio Northern University, and town activities and celebrations past and present.

These town photographs allow visitors to visually see how Ada has transformed and grown since its founding. The library also offers an extensive genealogy collection, which traces the roots of Ada’s most historic families.

Among the surnames included are Long, Sharp, Doling and Wyss along with many more.
Included in another section of the local history resources are military records and infantry rosters from the Civil War, World War I, and World War II, which list the names, branches and rankings of soldiers native to Ada.

In addition to war records, the library has carefully maintained an archive of personal letters and military papers, many of which have been donated by local families.

With Ada High School yearbooks as old as 1913, an archive of the Ada Herald newspaper, records of county cemeteries and obituaries, as well as the history of the Ada Depot, anyone wishing to learn more about their family roots or the town they live in would find all the information needed at the Ada Public Library.

The library also helps to sponsor monthly Allen County genealogy meetings held at the Allen County Museum in Lima. These meetings are free to the public.

The Ada Public Library is located at 320 N. Main St., Ada.