Convention and Visitor’s Bureau has open house in new location
Lenore Gillman is a visitor to Coshocton County and was the first person to sit at the treadle sewing machine Monday, May 19 at the Coshocton County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Open House. Gillman is visiting from California and believes she may be related to Betsy Ross, which is why she was the first to sit at the sewing machine with the flag. The Coshocton Visitor’s Bureau is now located at 432 N. Whitewoman St. in Roscoe Village.
COSHOCTON – The Coshocton County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau has moved to a new location and had their grand opening on Monday, May 19 at 5 p.m. The office is now located at 432 N. Whitewoman Street in Roscoe Village.
“By being here, we knew we were going to get a lot of tourists who come to Roscoe anyways,” said Jan Myer, director of the Coshocton Visitor’s Bureau. “We want to share the things in our community and hopefully give them a reason to come back.”
The lower level is decorated with Annin Flagmakers flags and other patriotic items. Even the refreshments were red, white, and blue, and the cheese was cut to look like stars, reflecting Coshocton’s theme of the “Made in America” city. There was live music playing out on the patio, and it was perfect weather to sit outside with some refreshments and visit with friends.
The open house attracted many community residents, as well as some people who came from out of town. One such visitor was Lenore Gillman from California. She was the first person that evening to sit at the treadle sewing machine, which is owned by Mary Ann and Jim Williamson. Gillman’s niece works for ancestry.com and has done some research. They believe that Gillman just might be related to Betsy Ross, which was why Gillman had the honor of being the first person to sit at the sewing machine with the flag.
The Williamsons believe that the sewing machine dates back to the 1890s. Mary Ann’s grandmother used it, and then it was passed down to her mother, and then eventually to Mary Ann, who has also used the machine.
“That’s what they used for a very long time,” said Mary Ann. “People kept things for a long time because they didn’t have a lot of money. My mother made me clothes on that sewing machine, and I still have some of the clothes.”
The Visitor’s Bureau is open from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
beth@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
Category: Business
