Ohio Historical Society honors area projects
10/6/2009The Ohio Historical Society recently honored projects in Monclova Township, Bowling Green, Wapakoneta, and Sandusky.
Historical preservationists from northwest Ohio represented four of the 18 "outstanding achievement awards" presented by the Ohio Historical Society at an awards luncheon during the group's annual meeting in Columbus on Oct. 3.
In Lucas County, two volunteers with the Monclova Historical Foundation were honored for their work to restore the old Monclova Post Office, which was in service from 1915 to 1961. It took four years and about $35,000 to move the structure brick by brick to stand west of the Monclova Community Center, 8115 Monclova Rd., from its original location across the road.
Bill Strayer and Peggy Brown led the efforts of about 70 volunteers to relocate and restore the one-room, 14 by 17-foot post office. Though the antique furniture and woodwork were unsalvagable, the post office was restored with replications of the original fluted window trim, baseboard, and doors inside. Restorations were finished in May, 2008.
Awarded in Wood County was an oral history project that empowered teenagers to play filmmakers.
"Terrific Teens" was a collaboration among 40 Bowling Green High School sophomores, Owens Community College, and the Wood County Historical Center & Museum. The students interviewed adults about their lives as teens in Bowling Green and Wood County from the 1930s to the 1970s. The interviews became an exhibit and 12-minute documentary.
Wynn Perry, gallery manager at Owens, has said the idea for the exhibit came from the Teen Chicago exhibit sponsored by the Chicago Historical Society and the Chicago History Museum.
The Auglaize County Historical Society was recognized for the events surrounding the 175th anniversary of Wapakoneta, the county seat.
The celebration included a parade, tours of area churches, a luncheon to spotlight residents over 90-years-old, and rededication of the city's pool, which was constructed in 1937 by the Works Progress Administration.
For Erie County, a lunchtime lecture program presented by the Sandusky Library and Follett House Museum was recognized.
Since their Brown Bag Lunch Series on regional history began in 2006, lectures on at least 800 topics have been offered. Topics have included baseball on Johnson's Island, boat building in Sandusky, German immigration to Ohio, the Underground Railroad, and Depression-era dining. The lectures continue to be held on the third Wednesday of the month at noon.