Have you ever wondered why there is a little yellow farmhouse amidst apartment complexes on Anderson Ferry Road? That would be the Delhi Historical Society!

Delhi has been one of Hamilton County’s strongest townships since its founding 1816, with the flat strip of land bordering the Ohio River attracting people from all over the country. Since the beginning, Delhi has been a small melting pot of culture and community. The Delhi Historical Society’s mission, “is to discover, preserve, and share the history of Delhi Township and neighboring areas.” The Society and its members are the leaders in preserving the history and progress of our township.
Delhi’s Ó£ÌÒɬ¸£Àû¼§ sits at a focal point of Delhi’s history. Our position between Delhi Road and Bender Road is an interesting one. The Delhi, Industry, and Miami Pike, now known as Delhi Road, was built in the 1850s as a toll road to travel through Delhi from Sedamsville to the Village of Industry. Route 50, or River Road, was built prior to Delhi Pike, but was also a toll road. This is a stark contrast from how we see the road today; Delhi Pike now is a bustling street of restaurants and businesses. Maps of what Delhi Road used to be are hung on the walls of The Historical Society, a reminder to guests of how far the township has come.
While the little yellow farmhouse stands as a historical landmark now with The Historical Society, that wasn’t always the case. The house was built in 1870, in about 1900 the Witterstaetters moved in as renters, and then in 1910 they bought the house. Mary Witterstaetter raised eight children as a widow in the farmhouse, and through her children the house was eternalized. Joseph Witterstasetter was the last of the family to live in the house, and he died around 1972. Less than ten years later, the property was sold to developers who gave the house to the Delhi Historical Society in 1991, keeping their roots in the heart of Delhi Township. A descendant of the Witterstaetter family still sits on the board for the Historical Society to this day. The Historical Society was founded in 1976 with the mission of being a steward of local history, dedicated to telling the stories of the people who have lived here, worked here, and helped shape Delhi into the blooming township it is today.
The Historical Society has three rooms that house both permanent and rotating exhibits of Delhi’s heritage. In the main room upon entering is a replica of a 1920’s kitchen, displaying where Mary and her children gathered to eat, work, and talk. Guests are encouraged to open the ice box and other cabinets to explore how the family went about their day-to-day lives. The other two rooms feature rotating displays explaining smaller pieces of Delhi history, including how Delhi got the title “The Floral Paradise of Ohio.”
The Historical Society is open to the public Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays from 12:30 to 3 p.m. with free admission. Group tours and access to the research center are available by contact through . Lectures are held at the Delhi Community and Senior Center, and the next lecture will be on Nov. 10.