Barnesville in Belmont County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Roby Cigar Museum
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, November 29, 2014
1. Roby Cigar Museum Marker
"marker" is mounted inside a display case directly across from the cigar museum.
This small, backyard cigar company operated from 1900 to 1943. Mr. Roby's hand-made stogies or cigars were made here in this building by family members, with the help of 2 or 3 employees daily. It was located in Belmont, Ohio.
This shop has about 90% of its original equipment. When it started up there was no electricity in Belmont. Electricity came to Belmont about 1918-20; before that most all shops relied on natural light through glass windows. This shop got electric power by 1925.
The stripping machine had an electric motor added to run it. Before then it was run by foot power through 2 pedals which were pumped like an organ. All the work benches that the ladies worked at were made from shipping crates that tobacco dust came in. A large portion of the tobacco for the area was grown in and around Woodsfield and Monroe county.
The original site of this building was on the Roby property on Railroad Street, behind the family home. Belmont had at least 15 cigar making companies within it's corporation limits in the early 1900's. Today there are none.
In 1987 the building was purchased by Richard Thompson. What you see here is about half of that original building. In 1994 it was donated to Barnesville by Richard and Connie Thompson in memory of Harry and Marjorie Thompson of Belmont, Ohio.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.
Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 39° 59.33′ N, 81° 10.356′ W. Marker was in Barnesville, Ohio, in Belmont County. It could be reached from Mulberry Street west of Watt Avenue, on the left when traveling west. Marker (sheet of paper inside a display case) is located at the old Barnesville Railroad Depot. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this
this page online
We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Regionally, this marker was in the American Midwest, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it was in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Mt. Olivett United Methodist Church Bell (within shouting distance of this marker); Barnesville War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); September 11, 2001 (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Village Bell (approx. 0.2 miles away); Barnesville Civil War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Barnesville Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Watt Car and Wheel Company (approx. 0.2 miles away); B&O Railroad Tunnel (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, November 29, 2014
2. Roby Cigar Museum
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, November 29, 2014
3. Roby Cigar Museum
circa 1900
Photographed by Craig Doda, April 26, 2025
4. Roby Cigar Museum Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 29, 2014, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,151 times since then and 39 times this year. Last updated on April 29, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 29, 2014, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 4. submitted on April 29, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
