Clyde Museum Curator Gene Smith stands next to the new Medal of Honor exhibit in the museum’s Military Room. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

CLYDE – When the Clyde Museum opens for the 2026 season on March 28, it will feature new exhibits and exciting historical programs. As always, admission to the museum and its programs is free. Among this year’s features is “Medal of Honor Exhibit: Celebrating America 250,” an exhibit honoring Clyde’s Medal of Honor recipients, Charles McCleary and Rodger Young. The display, located in the museum’s Military Room, was created in celebration of America’s 250th birthday this year.

The exhibit features Young’s Medal of Honor and his Purple Heart, both of which are on loan from Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museums. Also on display are personal items that belonged to the men, including Young’s cigarette case that was recently donated to the museum from a family member. Young, who was killed in action in the Solomon Islands during World War II, carried the cigarette case with him to war.

The exhibit also features Gold Star Lapel Buttons which were presented to close family of service members who died in combat. The pins are engraved with Young’s family members’ initials.

“This is our primary America 250 exhibit,” said Clyde Museum Curator Gene Smith. “We’ll have a program honoring Young and McCleary on Sept. 8.”

Clyde Museum Curator Gene Smith created the “Freedom Seekers of Clyde, From Chains to Community” exhibit to honor the town’s former slaves that settled in Clyde. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Also new this year is the “Trailblazers in Clyde High School Athletics” exhibit which honors Art Hendricks, who was instrumental in creating the school’s boys varsity program, and Nancy Hanger, who reestablished the girls varsity program when she was hired in 1969. Hanger died in April, 2025.

Hanger was hired as a gym teacher in 1969 and immediately reestablished the girls varsity basketball program that had ended in the 1930s. She also created the girls track program that year and girls volleyball in 1970.

“There are a lot of stories about her,” said Mary Garvin, a Clyde Museum volunteer who competed on Hanger’s volleyball and track teams. “They told the girls they couldn’t use the boys’ track, so they jumped the fence and used it anyway.”

Hangar won many awards for coaching winning teams, but her impact on her athletes went well beyond the court and the field.

“Nancy, first and foremost, emphasized respect and hard work,” Garvin said. “It was a formative time for us, and she focused on forming us as people.”

Garvin said once Hanger heard someone make a racist comment the night before a game.

“The next day, she spent the first 15 minutes giving us a civics lesson about respecting people,” Garvin said. “It was all about character. She believed that if you develop character in a person, they’ll do good in life.”

The exhibit includes Rodger Young’s Medal of Honor and other personal artifacts. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

The Clyde Museum is also featuring a new exhibit highlighting former slaves who settled in Clyde. The exhibit, “Freedom Seekers of Clyde, From Chains to Community,” tells the stories of nine former slaves who became respected members of the town. They felt secure enough in the community that some of them purchased homes in Clyde, and one opened a hair salon that served white clients.

Smith said he isn’t sure why the former slaves settled in Clyde. Clyde was a major hub on the Underground Railroad, and as Smith researched the people, he discovered some of them relocated from Oberlin, which was also on the Underground Railroad.

“Maybe it was word of mouth because they found respect and friendship here in Clyde,” Smith said. “I can’t get over, that in that time of prejudice, the residents of Clyde valued them, and they became a part of the community. I think this says something exceptional about the people of Clyde at that time.”

Clyde Museum’s 2026 season includes historical programs, concerts on the lawn, and cemetery walking tours. The museum is located at 124 W. Buckeye St. in Clyde. For more information, visit the Clyde Museum & General McPherson House Facebook page.