The Coonskin Library Museum holds cultural, historical and ancestral history with Ohio University.
Ephraim Cutler — the son of one of Ohio University’s founders, Manasseh Cutler — used to frequent something called the “Coonskin Library," which was housed in his home when he became its first librarian.
The library, established the same year as OU, was named for the raccoon hides that residents in Ames Township hoped would bring in enough profit to open their own private library.
When the library closed in 1861, its more than 400 books were sold to the Cutler family. That assortment of books followed the family blood line until the great-great-granddaughter of Cutler willed the books in 1918 to the Ohio Historical Society.
But many aren’t ready to forget the library, its books or the raccoon hunting involved in acquiring them — though interest has steadily decreased over the years.
“One of the reasons I came to Amesville Elementary School in 1980 (was that) no one knew the story,” Bob Avery, former principal of the elementary school, said.
Avery went on to found a museum to honor the library in Amesville, right around the time he became president of the Coonskin Library Association in the 1980s. The museum is tucked away on the playground of the elementary school, funded partially in the same way the library once was.
The Coonskin Library Association began “coon hunt” fundraisers, which were held on the first day of the raccoon hunting season, to subsidize the cost of the museum. After a night of 40 to 50 hunters pursuing raccoons, the pelts were sold and all profits went toward the museum. Some nights garnered up to $600.
“We had coon hunts for 12 years to keep the project alive,” Avery explained. “They could come in for a bite to eat, coffee, pies, cakes, and sloppy joes. It was nice.”
The fundraiser lasted until 1993, when the value of raccoon pelts lowered.
“Everyone involved has become very old or has passed away,” Avery said.
Jean Hines, 66, is among the few Amesville residents in existence who contributed to the fundraiser, where he judged the pelt competition. When he wasn’t judging the size of the raccoon pelts, he could be found either trapping or hunting the animals for himself.
Hines has retired the old hobby along with the rest of his colleagues.
“There’s a few guys who still hunt,” he said. “But it’s nothing like it used to be.”
Hines explained that he used to sell a big raccoon hide for $35 to $40. Now, the same sized hide would go for about $6 to $8.
“A lot of people used to trap because they could make enough money to buy Christmas presents,” he said.
Out of the original 51 Coonskin Library books — paid for solely with pelts — 33 reside on the 5th floor at Alden Library.
Avery said Thomas Ewing, the namesake of Ewing House on South Green, became the youngest member of the library when he exchanged 10 raccoon hides to pay for his entrance fee, which amounted to $2.50.
“Cutler was always in the background of the coonskin library,” Avery said.
The museum has now expanded to be an education center for children in Athens County, detailing the history of how the library was founded, and displaying various raccoon pelts and paintings of the original founders.
It’s now financially dependent on the Ames-Bern and Federal-Hocking High School alumni, Amesville citizens, county residents and visitors, according to its website.
“It’s gotten to the point now (where raccoons are) over populated,” Hines said. “The price has gone down.”
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