In the Press

A nearly 150-year-old painting by Wellington’s most famous Mason will soon be coming home.

Lorain County’s artistic heritage is on display in an exhibition celebrating three anniversaries in Wellington.

He’s one of the least-known artists with one of the most recognizable paintings, and for the first time, the largest collection of Archibald Willard’s artistic work will be on display in one place.

Twenty-two additional paintings by Archibald Willard, including two versions of his most famous painting, are now on display at the Spirit of ’76 Museum.

Wellington’s Spirit of ’76 Museum has acquired 22 Archibald Willard paintings — including two of its namesakes — that are on loan through October.

WELLINGTON, Ohio — For years, art collector Dan Zivko privately enjoyed his collection of paintings by Wellington artist Archibald Willard, but he will share them with the community for the first time starting Saturday.

A new display at the Spirit of ’76 Museum led to a de facto reunion on Veterans Day for a local military family.

WELLINGTON — A new exhibit at the Spirit of ’76 Museum brought the family of a former Wellington man home Saturday for a touching reunion to honor the Vietnam War veteran’s place in local history — a fitting homecoming for the Veterans Day holiday.

Willard Gordon, 87, is Archibald Willard’s grandnephew and has spent decades fighting that perception. He stopped in the village April 6 to gather information for additions to his book, “The Spirit of ’76: An American Portrait.”

WELLINGTON, Ohio — Scott Markel likes to call artist Archibald Willard “the least famous painter who created the most famous painting in the world.”

Three very large murals painted by Archibald Willard have been transferred to Wellington from Springfield, Ohio. They now sit at the Wellington Masonic lodge until arrangements can be made to set them up for display at the Spirit of ’76 Museum, 201 North Main St.

The wrecking ball will soon hit McCormick Middle School, but the building’s memory will be preserved with a display at the Spirit of ’76 Museum.

“I love you.” That’s what sisters Marcia Smith Crawford and Connie Smith Buckland would tell their father, Wellington police officer Edmund Smith, if he were alive today.