Johnston Farm & Indian Agency

09/14/2026

Under the Spinner’s Moon 🌙

How does a handful of flax or a sheep’s fleece become the cloth we wear?

Join us at the Johnston Farm & Indian Agency for a weekend devoted to the historic fiber arts! Watch as skilled demonstrators share the many steps that went into producing textiles in the 18th and early 19th centuries—from preparing wool and flax to spinning, weaving, sewing, and more.

It’s a chance to see the work, tools, and skills behind something we often take for granted today: cloth.

🧶 UNDER THE SPINNER’S MOON
📅 Saturday, September 26 | 11:00 AM–5:00 PM
📅 Sunday, September 27 | 11:00 AM–4:00 PM

🎟 Admission: $10 public | FREE for members

📍 Johnston Farm & Indian Agency
9845 N. Hardin Rd., Piqua, OH 45356

Come spend a fall weekend with us and discover just how much work stood between fiber and finished fabric!

Questions? Call 937-773-2522 or email [email protected] or [email protected].

09/13/2026

Continuing: THE JOHNSTON HOUSE: A HOME SHAPED BY TIME, FAMILY, AND RESTORATION

2. A Working Home, Not a Showplace
Although John Johnston held a prominent federal position, the house was not designed as an official agency office or ceremonial residence. Business with Native leaders was conducted here, but primarily at reservations and agency locations.
For the most part the Johnston House functioned as:
1. A family residence
2. A working farmhouse
3. A center for managing agricultural production
4. A place of hospitality for visitors, laborers, and extended family
Daily life spilled outward into the yard, springhouse, barn, c***r house, and fields. The house must be understood as one component of a larger working landscape.

3. Remodeling and Change: 1829–1835
Johnston’s account books and physical evidence show that the house underwent a major remodeling between 1829 and 1833, followed by additional work into the mid-1830s.
This period included:
1. Significant plastering and interior finish work
2. Structural alterations and repairs
3. Expansion to accommodate family needs
These changes occurred while Rachel Johnston’s health was declining, culminating in her serious illness by 1835.

One long-standing local legend describes an addition as a “mother-in-law suite” built by John Henry Johnston. This is incorrect. The work occurred well before John Henry took control of the property in 1848 and reflects family-driven adaptation rather than generational replacement.

Interpretive evidence suggests the 1830s addition may have allowed Rachel Johnston to remain on the main floor when stairs became difficult—an interpretation grounded in timing, layout, and circumstance rather t

To be continued

09/12/2026

Mary’s To-Do List:
✔ Roll in grass
✔ Roll the other way
✔ Air out belly
✔ Repeat as necessary

It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it. 😹

09/12/2026

Sharing another section of the Johnston Farm & Indian Agency workbook.

THE JOHNSTON HOUSE: A HOME SHAPED BY TIME, FAMILY, AND RESTORATION

The Johnston House is not a single-period structure. It is a house that grew, changed, and was later interpreted and reinterpreted—sometimes wisely, sometimes imperfectly. Understanding the house’s physical history is essential to interpreting its human story.

1. Building the House: 1810–1815
Construction of the Johnston brick house began in ap. 1810, at a time when the family was still living in a log house on the property. The house was built in two major phases, reflecting both changing needs and interrupted circumstances.
The southwest-facing section, situated on the highest ground, was completed first and finished as a functional dwelling by May 1812. This portion reflects a Dutch Colonial influence, a style still seen in early Ohio architecture.

In June 1812 (app.), work began on the northeast wing, altering the overall form of the house toward a more Georgian plan. Construction slowed and stalled due to the War of 1812, shortages of labor and materials, and Johnston’s continued federal duties.

The family did not move into the brick house until mid-1815, when construction was finally complete.

To be continued

Image of Johnston House is based on actual photos of the house and rendered as a black and white sketch using ChatGPT.

09/12/2026

4 days left to sign up! This is a fascinating look at the Johnston House and a chance to see parts of the Johnstons home that the public normally does not see. Walk-ins are welcome and can pay cash at the door, but we need to know you are coming, otherwise we might not run both tours.

👉🏽Please email Marla Fair at [email protected] or call 937.773.2522 and leave a message so we know!👈🏽

Sat Sep 12th: Johnston House Architectural tour, 11:00 & 12:30Tour the Johnston house and learn about its past life and restoration.

Cost: $10 public, members FREE

Registration Required.https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/johnston-house-architectural-tours-ii

For more information call 937.773.2522 or email [email protected]

09/11/2026

🇺🇸 Remembering the service of those in the Johnston Family.

09/11/2026

October is going to be a busy month at the Johnston Farm! 🍂 From autumn evenings and historic trades to stories of service and an Irish farewell, we have something happening nearly every weekend. Mark your calendars!

🍁 AUTUMN EVENINGS AT THE JOHNSTON FARM
Saturdays, October 3, 10 & 24 | 1:00–7:00 PM
Celebrate the beautiful autumn season with farm activities, children’s activities, canal boat rides, and a fall treat in the winter kitchen & more.
Admission: $5 ages 6 & over; ages 5 & under and Friends of the Farm/OHC members FREE.

🇺🇸 IN FREEDOM’S NAME: Stories of Service from the Johnston Cemetery
Friday & Saturday, October 9 & 10 | 5:00 & 7:00 PM
Set among the stones of the Johnston Cemetery, In Freedom’s Name reflects on lives of service and the lasting meaning of freedom in America’s story.
$10 per person; OHC & Friends members FREE. Maximum 30 per tour. Registration required.https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/in-freedoms-name-stories-of-service-from-the-johnston-cemetery

☘️ DINING WITH THE DEAD
Friday & Saturday, October 9 & 10 | 3:00 PM
An afternoon of remembrance, revelry, and the rites of an Irish farewell. Raise a glass to memory at Dining with the Dead—a program rooted in Irish farewell traditions, where food, music, and games honor those who came before us. Registration required. https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/dining-with-the-dead-remembrance-revelry-and-the-rites-of-an-irish-farewell

🍂 HISTORIC TRADE FAIRE & FALL FESTIVAL FREE admission
Saturday, October 17 | 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Sunday, October 18 | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Step back into 18th-century Ohio! Meet frontier-costumed reenactors, enjoy demonstrations of period crafts and trades, and browse handmade goods and food from local vendors. Free admission. Canal boat rides: $3, ages 3 & up.

There is a LOT happening at the Johnston Farm this October—and we hope you’ll join us!

📞 937-773-2522
✉️ [email protected]

09/10/2026

Part of the reason for Marla’s major redo of the upper level of the springhouse is our new approach to hands-on learning with school groups. Rather than simply telling students how people worked in the past, we want to give them a chance to try some of those skills for themselves.

The Johnston springhouse is a perfect place to introduce children to historic fiber arts, and now we have some wonderful new tools to help us do it! Thanks to the Piqua Kiwanis and Mark Wion, we now have two school looms where students can try their hand at weaving.

Mark also created two flax scutching poles, a pair of scutching swords, and a flax break, giving students a chance to see—and experience—some of the work involved in preparing flax for linen.

A big thank-you to Mark Wion and the Piqua Kiwanis for helping us make these new hands-on activities possible!

09/09/2026

09/09/2026

Lead house interpreter Marla Fair has been 'living' the 19th century with autumn cleaning. Twice a year the Johnston's spring house gets a clean and reset to meet the needs of the sites' varying activities for the season. Right now, we are heading into our autumn school visits (plus we have a good many fall events} so it was time to get out the mop and broom - plus moving a few things like 6' tables, but who's keeping track? 😯 Anyhow, everything on the top floor is cleared, cleaned, and ready to go for autumn 2026.

And yes, Mary did her part, laying EXACTLY where Marla had not yet mopped and just generally getting in the way! 🙄🐈😽