EATON — Early Ohio frontier homes held a diverse collection of furnishings. Learn more about the style of Ohio frontier homes at a special program presented by the Preble County Room, Preble County District Library’s genealogy department. On Saturday, April 2 at 1 p.m., Andrew Richmond will present “Buy Local or By River: Furnishing Early Ohio.” The program will be held at the library’s meeting room at 450 S. Barron St. in Eaton.

Contrary to popular beliefs, the Ohio frontier was not a remote backwoods devoid of style. Trade via the rivers and lakes, and later, the canals, provided easy access to all manner of goods produced in eastern urban centers and in Europe. While early Ohioans did import great quantities of goods, they also produced equally great quantities of goods. Using both documentary evidence and surviving objects, we’ll examine the wide range of goods both made and used on the Ohio frontier, and how trade networks and consumer choice played key roles in the furnishing of frontier homes.

With degrees in history from Kenyon College and American Material Culture from the Winterthur Program/University of Delaware, Richmond’s passion is the decorative arts of Ohio. He has lectured and published widely on the subject and has curated two major exhibitions: Equal in Goodness: Ohio Decorative Arts 1788-1860 and A Tradition of Progress: Ohio Decorative Arts 1860-1945. He also serves on the boards of several museums and decorative arts organizations.

This program is made possible, in part, by the Ohio Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.