GALLOWAY, Ohio — Mansfield native Tom Parr began collecting traps from all over the world in the 80s. 

 “I collect everything from mouse traps to bear traps, and there are people that collect traps like I do, except I kind of went to the extreme,” said Parr.

That side hobby soon became his passion after retiring as a firefighter and paramedic with the city of Upper Arlington. 

He and his late wife, Jane, started the Trap History Museum in Galloway in 1986. 

His personal collection comprises 5,000 traps, printed materials, tools used in the fur trade and the one trap that started it all.   

“I had no idea that they were worth anything, and a couple of these old trap collectors said, look, I'll give you $40 apiece for one of those. I said wow, I will do that. And I sold all but one of them, and I kept this one for myself,” said Parr.

Parr is also the president of the North American Trap Collectors Association and is involved with writing or operating several print magazines. 

While most of his traps are relics of the past and some modern-day traps are heavily regulated, Parr said it's important to know your history. 

“It was the mountain men that actually, and the trapper that actually developed a lot of the country. It's important to know where we all came from,” says Parr. 

Parr, a father of two and grandfather of three, turns 80 years old this year, but he said there's no slowing down. 

He still attends trade shows, collects, researches and entertains guests when they come to visit his museum. 

“I will start by talking about the beaver hat and how it was produced and how that actually started the fur trade in America. I'm quite proud of it. I mean, I enjoy it. It's my life, and it's been my life for some time,” said Parr.