Visit Willshire Van Wert Ohio and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Willshire, Ohio: Discover the Amish-Country! Stroll through the idyllic villages and visit traditional craft businesses. Enjoy rural life in the Amish Caf or at the Campfire. A must for lovers of nature and culture!
Willshire sights? Honestly, that sounds like one of these exaggerated blog titles, but I still want to serve you a bit of history before we come to the actual highlights. The small community was created in 1822, named after the pioneer William Willshire, and is embedded in the same name Willshire Township in rural Van Way t County, Ohio. In the past, the village was an important hub for the cattle rigs that moved here over the old paths to Ohio City – a bit like a dusty relic from the pioneering period that still feels in the old wooden houses that you find here.
When you arrive by car, I recommend the route via US‐30, which leads you directly to the heart of the village; the ride is short, but the landscape is a real eye-catcher – endless corn fields that extend to the horizon, and a few lost sheep that are curious to you. I first discovered the small town park while I was looking for a parking lot, and was surprised how much charm is in this inconspicuous piece of land. There is an old monument that honors the founding families – not a joke, that is actually a beautiful place to stay short and enjoy the slow pace.
Another “Must Lake” (if you can call it that at all) is the historical post office, which is still in its original state. I don't understand the hype about big metropolises, but here you suddenly feel like in a movie from the 30s, only without the grelle neon light. And yes, this is probably the only time I take “Willshire Sights” really seriously – because what remains here is authentic and is not overwhelmed by tourist crowds.
I have to admit right at the beginning that what I am here as my absolute favorite destination not exactly what you would find in a travel magazine – the old Willshire Village Hall with its sticky wooden staircase and the yellowed photos on the walls. I did my first “city tour” there, because I simply couldn’t hold back to press the buttoned switches on the old secretary. The building is built in 1905, and although the city administration is hardly working here anymore, it still radiates this charming, slightly dusty pride, which is found only in small towns that refuse to modernize completely.
A short walk down the main road leads you to Willshire Public Library. Not a huge glass facade, but a small red brick house that smells more like a cozy reading chair than a tourist magnet. I once borrowed a book about the history of the Van‐Wert‐County region, just to see that the librarians know more about the local family stories than any Wikipedia page. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the weekly bingo takes place in the community center and everyone tries to get a place next to the exit.
If you're looking for a place where you can feel a bit like a real local, look at this. Willshire Community Park on. There is a baseball court, a small playground stand and – that's the best – an old, slightly sloppy jumping tower, which is a bit snoring every time you sit on it. I remember standing there in the summer after a thunderstorm, while the drops sprinkled on the field like small drum strokes, and suddenly a tractor passed, which turned the whole picture into a rustic painting. Parking is a children's game here because the terrain is practically an open field that is hardly ever full.
Another highlight that I do not want to conceal is the Willshire United Methodist Church. The church building from the 1880s has a simple but impressive bell tower design, which can be seen from far away when you drive along the road. I once participated in a Sunday worship service, only to find out that the municipality discusses more about the local high school football team than about the sermon – a real insight into the priorities of a small town. The interior is surprisingly well preserved, and the benches still stick when you sit down, which gives the whole a certain nostalgic charm.
For those who want to make a little story, there is Willshire Historical Society Museumhoused in the old school building from 1912. There are old class photos, a dusty gramophone and a few yellowed maps that show how the village was once dominated by horse cars and cereal fields. I have found a handwritten note that comes from a former mayor and explains why the village was named after the English suburb of Willshire – a small but fine insight that you can't find in any guide.
You might think it was already, but that Willshire Grain Elevator is another landmark you should not overlook. The silver silo shafts project like a modern monolith from the flat landscape and remember that the heart of this place is still in the grain. I once met an old farmer who told me that the grain is still being transported by train – a relic from a time when the village was still an important hub for the railway. Parking at the foot of the Silos is practical because there is a small parking space which is rarely occupied.
A short detour to Willshire Cemetery is also worthwhile if you are interested in old tombstones and the stories of founding families. The tombstones are made of local sandstone and bear artistic inscriptions that tell about the hard work and the perseverance of the first settlers. I once found a particularly artistic stone that carries a small, engraved heart – a hint that even in such a sober environment love finds its place.
Finally, and that may sound surprising for some, the Willshire Fire Department a small but proud place. There is a restored red fire truck from the 1950s, which serves as a parade car for every city festival. Once on a hot summer day I helped polish the old device, and the firefighters told me how to test the same old hose system every year – a bit like a ritual that holds the community together.
If you now think that this is too much to experience it in a single day, you probably haven't brought the right portion of patience (or the right amount of cynicism). But this is the beauty of the Willshire Attractions: They are not designed to impress you, but to touch you – in the way that only a small place can create in the heart of Ohio. And if you ask yourself where to turn off your car while you're moving from one place to the next: mainly there is enough space along Main Street as long as you haven't just missed the Bingo event on Saturday night.
The old Van Worth County Courthouse, a stone monstrum from the 1880s, dominates the cityscape of Van Worth like a Moravian colonel who never smiles – and that makes him so fascinating for me. I once made a picnic on the small green area behind the building, while an older gentleman in the suit whispered over the “good old times”; that was almost a live performance theatre. Parking is usually a Klacks, as long as you do not fall at the noon of the trial, then parking becomes a small adventure.
A short detour to the south leads to the Van Worth County Historical Museum, which is housed in a refurbished warehouse and has more information about the region than one would expect from the dusty signs on the highway. I discovered an old tractor model that was supposedly built by a local farmer in 1912 – no joke, the part was actually functional. The museum is not just a tourist magnet, but if you happen to stand between the shelves, you hear the silent click of an old projection lamp that reminds you that history is still alive here.
For nature lovers, the Wabash River, just a few miles west of the border, is an underestimated jewel. I built a small raft of pallets on a hot summer day and I pushed down the river, while the sun glittered on the water. The shore is lined with trees that develop a firework of red and yellow shades in autumn – a sight that is almost too beautiful to be true. There is a small parking lot at the main entrance, but at the weekend it can be filled quickly, so better to come early.
Another highlight is the St. Mary’s Catholic Church, a Gothic gem located just outside Willshire and is cultivated by a community that has more heart than money. I remember a Sunday worship service where the organ was so loudly moaned that the windows vibrated – that was almost an acoustic earthquake. The church is open to visitors, and the small cemetery area behind it offers a quiet place to think about when you want to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
If you're looking for action all year round, the Van Worth County Fairgrounds is your goal. During the annual County Fair, the field turns into a colorful chaos of carousels, cattle upgrades and a lot of food stuff that produces more sugar than a sugar-casting tool. I won a pumpkin competition there once, because I accidentally submitted too small a pumpkin – the jury found the “artistic minimalist” and gave me the prize. Otherwise, the grounds are open all year round for trade fairs and concerts, and parking is almost always easy, except when a big Rock-Concert stands.
The Van Worth County Veterans Memorial, a simple but impressive monument on the outskirts of the main road, is just a bit away from the usual paths. I once met a veteran who told me about his experiences during the Second World War, while we read the inscriptions together. The whole thing almost looks like a silent conversation with the past, which reminds you that history is not only chiseled in museums, but also in stone.
Whether you are a history fan, nature lover or just someone looking for an unusual place to stay – the surroundings of Willshire have more to offer than one would suspect at first glance. The mixture of venerable buildings, living nature and surprising local events makes the area a small but fine treasure. So the next time you drive over the road to Ohio, you should Willshire Attractions they are the true heart of this inconspicuous spot in the Middle West.
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