History of The Bowen House
Built in 1831 and nestled in a historic neighborhood of Logan, Ohio, The Bowen House is a nonprofit center for cultural arts and special events.
The mission of The Bowen House is to provide the Hocking Hills region and southeastern Ohio with opportunities for diverse cultural enrichment, positive social activities, and a commitment to historic preservation.
The Bowen House has played a part in the lives of Logan and Hocking County residents for more than 170 years. The house was built by John Rochester, who moved from England with his family around 1820. He became a merchant, operating a store and warehouse on the canal that ran through the town of Logan.
After the death of his first wife in 1832, Rochester married Eveline Tufts, a teacher from Boston, in 1838. In her diary, Eveline wrote, "Mr. Rochester had a large room built so that we could accommodate guests and have musical events." Thus began a social and cultural heritage that is carried forward at the house this day.
One of John Rochester's daughters, Lucy Rochester, married Charles Bowen, a banker and Logan native. The couple lived with John until his death, after which the home became known as The Bowen House.
Lucy Bowen was a musician who played the guitar, piano, and organ. She served as the organist for the local Presbyterian Church for more than 60 years. In the home\s parlor, local children took piano and violin lessons from instructors who traveled by train from Columbus. Now more than 100 years later, music lessons and recitals are still a vibrant part of The Bowen House heritage.
The house also was a gathering place for people who liked to read, share ideas, and discuss events both near and far. The spacious lawn was a gathering place for young people. At one time there were two tennis courts behind the house, a space now occupied by other homes. The lawn was the site of frequent picnics and croquet games.
The Bowen House is located on a street that led to the local school. In the spring, the lawn was full of spring beauties and bluebells, free for the picking by young passersby who might wish to take a tiny bouquet to a favorite teacher. On the way home from school, youngsters would stop for a story told by "Aunt Lou", who lived in a small room on the first floor of the home.
The Bowen House was occupied by family members until Mary Louise Bowen died at the age of 100. The Rochester-Bowen family had been active members of the Presbyterian Church since its formation in Logan. At her death, Mary Louise bequeathed the property to the church to be maintained and given a useful purpose in the community.
Today, leased by the First Presbyterian Church, The Bowen House serves as the community's primary arts center and the headquarters of the Hocking Valley Arts Marketing Consortium, which promotes Hocking Hills-area art, artisans, and culture.
Lucy Bowen Shaw