The Marr Education Center & Cook Farm
Contact Info
1848 State Route 28
Goshen OH 45122
(513) 575-1027
Museum every Tues. 10:00am-2:00pm
and by appointment.
Cabin tours by request.
The Anchorage Museum and the Cook Log Cabin are also available for meetings.
Become Part of the
Cabin's History
Goshen Twp. Historical Society
The Stroup-Cook Log Cabin
circa 1804
Located next to Goshen High School, the Stroup-Cook log cabin is owned by the Goshen School District and will be operated by the Goshen Township Historical Society. The Society has restored the house to the original early 1800's authenticity as a part of our community's history and heritage, and as an educational facility for the students of the school district.
It is believed the log cabin was built around 1804 by German craftsmen for Jacob Stroup. The house and farm were purchased by James Cook in 1875. The Cooks lived and farmed this property in Goshen for over 100 years. Miss Aurelia E. Cook was a revered teacher in the Goshen School system, heir and member of the original Cook family. Miss Cook devoted her life to the education of the Goshen community. She lived on the farm in the log house (which received additions and many other modifications) until her death in 1995. It is interesting that the Goshen's schools, to which Miss Cook's devoted her life, can be viewed from Miss Cook's old family home.
Purchase a brick paver with your name, family, business, organization or in memory of a loved one. Pavers will form a permanent memorial walkway to the front entrance.
$35 per brick for individuals and families; $50 per brick for businesses and organizations.
Tour the Cook Log House! Click any image to view and enlarge.
The Vision
The Goshen Township Historical Society's plans for the property, on which the log house is located, go far beyond restoration of this modest but significant home. The property also includes a bank barn, carriage barn, smoke house and out house - all in good condition. The foundation of a spring house remains, although the building has since collapsed. The Society hopes to restore all of these structures to exhibit farm life from the 1880's through the 1940's or Pioneer Through Depression Eras.
This site, now called the Marr Education Center and Cook Farm, will become a focal point of our school system and community. The Historical Society operates the site for tours, reenactments and education symposiums. The Goshen Township Historical Society plans to involve third, fourth and fifth grade students in the process of videotaped interviews of past generations of Goshen for the purpose of oral history archives. It is imperative that the memories of those with ties to or experiences on the farm are recorded and preserved. The children will also be encouraged to serve as docents for tours of restored buildings on the site under the guidance of Goshen Township Historical Society members.
The plan for an educational, historic farm site fits with the school district's plans to develop an adjoining amphitheater and walking trails, as well as the community's interest in preserving the pristine, natural state of O'Bannon Creek flowing just a few yards away.
Enjoy the gardens!
The Historical Society has created the Ken & Judy Klosterman Garden to honor the Klostermans for all the hard work and leadership they provided in the renovation and furnishing of the Cook Log Cabin.
Special thanks to Goshen Herbs & Such for their hard work on the new vegetable garden, planted with pumpkins, tomatoes, hot peppers, summer squash and Long Island cheese squash. Goshen Herbs & Such also maintains the flower gardens at the GTHS Museum - The Anchorage.
