Nestled in the quaint downtown of Lancaster, the Reese-Peters House has stood for centuries. These days, it serves as an incredible museum, the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio. But when it was first built back in 1835, it was home to William Reese and his wife, Mary Elisabeth Sherman.
William Reese was a native of Philadelphia, but Lancaster was home to his wife, who was the eldest sister of General William T. Sherman and Senator John Sherman. Although her brothers weren’t so well-known at the time, they’d both go on to make a name for themselves as important political figures.
John Sherman would go on to serve in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, eventually serving as Secretary of the Treasury under Rutherford B. Hayes, during a crucial time of rebuilding after the Civil War.
Mary’s older brother, General Sherman, is certainly the most well-known of the family.
General William Tecumseh Sherman was close with General Grant while fighting for the Union during the Civil War and eventually led the “March to the Sea,” a large-scale destruction of military and civilian infrastructure in the South that undermined the ability of the Confederacy to continue fighting. Sherman eventually accepted the surrender of all the Confederate armies in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida in April 1865.
But long before their government roles, they were just the older brothers of Mary. The iconic Reese-Peters House was built in 1835 and became known as the finest house in Lancaster.
If you want to learn more about the Shermans while you’re visiting the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, just head next door where you’ll find the Sherman Museum, located in their former family home.
The family didn’t stay in the home long.
In 1842, the Reeses left Lancaster in the aftermath of the panic of 1837. Over the next few decades, the house changed hands a few times before being purchased by Philip and Caroline Rising in 1872. For the rest of the time that the house served as a private home, it remained in the Rising family. When Philip Rising Peters passed away in 1954, he left the home, now called the Reese-Peters House in a trust with the goal that the property would be used for some civic purpose that involved the arts.
In 1842, the Reeses left Lancaster in the aftermath of the economic panic of 1837. The house changed hands a number of times over the next 30 years, being held at one point by Darius Tallmadge, owner of the Ohio Stage Coach Company. In 1872, Philip and Caroline Rising purchased the house. Their grandson, Philip Rising Peters, was the last private owner. He died in 1954, leaving the Reese-Peters House in a trust, with the wish that it would someday be used for a civic purpose.
By the end of the 20th century, that dream was becoming a reality.
In 1998, the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio was founded as a non-profit and the gorgeous mansion becamse a place where people could visit to celebrate all kinds of incredible art.
The Reese-Peters House is a gem of 19th-century architecture, blending Federal and Greek Revival styles. Its design is likely the work of Daniel Sifford, whose influence is echoed across Main Street.
This hybrid architecture showcases Federal-era window lintels paired with Grecian features like Corinthian columns at the entrance—details inspired by popular architectural pattern books of the time. Inside, visitors can explore the Rising Room, decorated in the opulent Eastlake style that took hold when the house passed into the Rising family’s hands in the late 1800s.
Today, the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio not only preserves the Reese-Peters House but also curates unique exhibitions that span a range of artistic eras and styles.
The current exhibition is called “Tell Me a Story Where the Bad Girl Wins: The Life and Art of Barbara Shermund” and it explores the incredible work of Shermund, who was a trailblazing feminist cartoonist. She was one of the first female cartoonists for The New Yorker Magazine and had an incredible voice that she used to bring outspoken women characters to life.
The exhibition features over 100 pieces of her work published between the 1920s and the 1960s and ranges from cartoons to advertisements to illustrations for books. The exhibit will on display through December 29, 2024, which means you still have plenty of time to head down to Lancaster to check it out.
Visiting the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio is truly a phenomenal experience.
It’s authentic and historic and it puts you right into the perfect mindset when looking at this incredible art. Plus, the museum is completely free to visit.
The Decorative Arts Center of Ohio is open Wednesday through Friday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. They’re open Saturdays and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are accepted if you’re interested in contributing to the museum.
They also have tours available (with incredibly kind and knowledgeable docents) for $5. The Decorative Arts Center of Ohio is located at 145 E Main St, Lancaster, OH 43130. For more info, visit decartsohio.org.