The public is invited to a reception spotlighting the “Downtown Middletown” exhibit in the City Building on June 3 from 4:00 to 6:30p. Sam Ashworth, former Historical Society Director and creator of the exhibit, will be on hand to greet guests to the exhibit. Light refreshments will be served by the Middletown Historical Society.  The reception is being held in conjunction with a Middletown City Council meeting also scheduled for that evening.

Visitors to the Middletown City Building can walk through Middletown’s history in the second floor west hallway. The 117 historical photos are of Middletown scenes during the period 1880 to 1960. Long-time Middletown residents will recognize the merchants, businesses, banks, old City Building and movie theatres that were a part of the downtown landscape during those years.

The exhibit originally opened on February 14, 2003 at the Middletown Arts Center. During that year it was also presented at the Warren County and Butler County Ohio Bicentennial bell casting ceremonies and the Butler County Fair. The redesigned exhibit will now hang in the Middletown City Building for several months.

City Manager Judy Gilleland said, “The City is very happy to partner with the Middletown Historical Society on this project. What better place to show the rich history of our 217 year old city than in the  City Building? It serves as a daily reminder to our staff and visitors of those who built this community and the responsibility we have to carry on the tradition.”