Kent Historical Society Museum | Ohio Open Doors Open House

Join us at the Kent Historical Society Museum Open House at 237 East Main Street from 4 to 7 pm. Enjoy special cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and tour exhibits that highlight Kent’s journey as a mill town, a canal town, a railroad town, and a college town.

Clapp-Woodward House

The home of the Kent Historical Society and Museum is the Clapp-Woodward House . The Victorian structure was built in 1883 and stands out among its neighbors. It was built for Harriet Kent Clapp, the daughter of Zenas Kent and Marvin's older sister. It represents a direct link to the Kent family, along with the Kent Masonic Center, which was built as the Marvin Kent homestead at around the same time. The restoration efforts of KHS and its previous owners, Bob and Mary Paton, have kept the home in good condition.

The house is typical of many Victorian era homes with high ceilings, large rooms trimmed with carved cherry woodwork, three sets of pocket doors and a large entryway featuring an elaborate staircase. But, in other respects, it is unique. The ornate brass door and window hardware throughout the house rivals that found in the Marvin Kent home. There are four distinctive fireplaces, as well as interior wooden shutters for nearly all the windows. A large front porch overlooks East Main Street.

The structure is believed to be one of the only remaining residences with ties to the community’s leading family. The Kent Historical Society & Museum is very pleased to call this house its permanent home and to be able to share it with the community.

In December 2010, the Kent Historical Society purchased the home from its fourth owner, Mary and Bob Paton, who had already done some restoration. The society's historic remodeling will continue to preserve this building as its home for generations.