Introducing the Terrace Park Historical Society

Although the Village of Terrace Park is now a small residential neighborhood, the history of the area is a microcosm of the larger history of our county. The land beneath the tree-lines streets was once home to generations of Native American tribes, who settled on the banks of the Little Miami River, known for abundant game fertile soil. But their way of life was to come to an end with the arrival in the late 1700's of settlers from the east coast.

In January of 1787, a band of 45 men, women and children led by Captain Abraham Covalt, a soldier in the Revolutionary War, arrived in the area by river boat. They established 2 forts, one on the site of present-day St. Thomas Church and soon came into conflict with the Native Americans. After many years of conflict, peace finally came to the area in 1795 and the forts faded away. An excellent account of the story is told by Terrace Park resident and historian Steve Early in his book 'Amid the Honorable Plenty'.

Around 1879, a post office bearing the name 'Terrace Park' was established and in 1893 the Village of Terrace Park was incorporated. The arrival of the Little Miami Railroad in 1841 made the area accessible and brought new residents, including a circus! The Robinson’s Circus had its winter quarters in Terrace Park for more than 30 years. Three generations of John Robinsons and their menagerie of exotic animals are legendary here. But most famous of all was their star performer, Tillie, the African elephant. Stories abound in Terrace Park about her exploits, and when she died in 1932, her funeral was a civic event. School was cancelled for the day, a private plane dropped flowers and the Cincinnati Enquirer carried a full obituary.

In 2001, in an effort to document and preserve the history of the Village, a group of residents led by Carol C. Cole and Betsy Holloway came together to found what is now the Terrace Park Historical Society. The first meeting of the Society as held in November, 2001 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, with 48 interested residents in attendance. Support continued to grow as the society offered educational programs, and became the repository for the history and traditions of the past.

In 2003, St. Thomas Church generously offered to provide much-needed space for the TPHS offices. Visitors may view the Society’s historic memorabilia from past eras in our Museum room. The Gallery houses works of art donated by both residents and former residents. As Terrace Park is home to a large creative community, the collection includes paintings, photographs, sculpture, and a selection of well- known children’s books, as well as many unique handcrafted items.

Along with maintaining an extensive collection of archives, the society also collects oral histories and provides educational programs for the community. A newsletter, The Tracker, is published quarterly.