Lanier Township near Gratis in Preble County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Cyrena Van Gordon

1893 - 1964

— Hall of Honor —

Cyrena Van Gordon Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, June 28, 2025

1. Cyrena Van Gordon Marker

Inscription. Van Gordon's life began in Camden where she sang in cantatas at the First Presbyterian Church and graduated from high school. Her voice and stage presence took her throughout the United States and abroad, and she rose to be prima donna of the Chicago Opera Company and the Metropolitan Opera Company of New York City over a 27-year career. She returned to her Ohio home to dedicate the Preble County Courthouse in 1918 and on many other occasions.

Inducted into the Hall of Honor July 7, 2013

As recorders of Preble County history, PCHS and The Register-Herald are natural partners in co-sponsoring the Hall of Honor

Erected 2013 by Preble County Historical Society - The Register-Herald. (Marker Number 11.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is July 7, 2013.

Location. 39° 39.489′ N, 84° 32.844′ W. Marker is near Gratis, Ohio, in Preble County. It is in Lanier Township. It is at the intersection of Swartsel Road and Ohio Route 122, on the right when traveling south on Swartsel Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7693 Swartsel Road, Eaton OH 45320, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Till Plains.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds 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

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this marker: Harvey Hiestand (here, next to this marker); Marian M. (1920-2010) & James W. Mitchell (1916-2012) (here, next to this marker); Clarence Oldfather (1913-2000), Harold Sell (1911-2003) (here, next to this marker); Ione Sell Hiestand (here, next to this marker); Lucille Petry Leone (here, next to this marker); Richard Tuggle (here, next to this marker); Martha A. Rizert Dye (here, next to this marker); Andrew L. Harris (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gratis.

Also see . . .
1. Cyrena van Gordon (Wikipedia). (Submitted on July 11, 2025.)
2. Cyrena van Gordon. (Submitted on July 11, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Preble County Historical Society & Nature Reserve - Hall of Honor image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, June 28, 2025

2. Preble County Historical Society & Nature Reserve - Hall of Honor

Cyrena Van Gordon image. Click for full size.

courtesy University of Washington, special collections, 1931

3. Cyrena Van Gordon

Credits. This page was last revised on August 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 2, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 79 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 2, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 3. submitted on July 11, 2025. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.