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Even though I thrive on the glamour and pulsating metro vibe of a big city, there’s something equally enjoyable about exploring quintessential small town America. Pemberville, Ohio provided us with an opportunity to do just that.

The Village of Pemberville is located in Northwestern Ohio on S.R. 105 in Wood County and rests on the forks of the Portage River. Iroquois, Wyandot and Ottawa Indians originally inhabited the area, but were eventually forced westward when pioneer settlement began. The initial survey of the town, named for James Pember who built the first frame house in the community, was completed in 1854.

Pemberville’s current population numbers exactly 1,372. The village today is home to a variety of small businesses, parks, schools, churches and a library. Farming is also still a vital part of life here.

After perusing the For the Love of Art exhibit and touring the Pemberville Opera House, we decided to wander the three uniquely preserved blocks that comprise the downtown area. Because it had been a long time since we indulged in the breakfast buffet at the hotel, we ducked into the Medicine Shoppe to mingle with the locals, grab some coffee and sample yummy homemade sugar cookies. After purchasing some Amish peanut butter, it was on to our next stop.

Beeker’s is one of Ohio’s oldest general stores. Believed to date back 140+ years, the business opened when Pemberville was a flourishing farm community. Browsing at Beeker’s was like taking a step back into time. The creak of the old wooden floor, the original gas lampshades, the wooden counters and stools, the tin ceiling and the merchandise were all reminiscent of what the town’s ancestors would have experienced back in the day.

Mark also could have poked around for days in the three-story Riverbank Antique Market if I would have let him. There I discovered the coolest pair of lime green crock bottles for a mere $3.50 each; something similar would have cost me ten times as much at Pottery Barn.  I have no idea of their history, but they were very “Lynn” and needed to come home with me. Yes, the “you see it, you like it, you buy it” approach to shopping was applied here as well. Mark picked up two wooden bowls for $1 each, and definitely plans to return once he relocates to the area to see what other treasures can find their way into his new home.

Our final destination was the Front Street Café for a late lunch before hitting the road to return home.

I cannot tell you how much we enjoyed our day in Pemberville. The atmosphere was laid back, and the people genuinely warm and friendly. Our visit to this quaint, nostalgic town provided us with just the respite we needed from our day-to-day hectic lives. What better benefit than a brief escape to a simpler environment containing recollections of the past?