Tuscarawas County historical sites lauded at Statehood Day celebration
COLUMBUS (WJER) (March 2, 2022) – The Ohio History Connection is involving Tuscarawas County in its annual celebration of Ohio’s founding as well as its planning for an upcoming national milestone.
The organization held a Statehood Day event at the Ohio Statehouse Tuesday to reflect on the state’s diverse past and remind lawmakers about the importance of historic preservation.
During the ceremony, 18 grants were awarded from the Ohio History Fund.
Ohio History Fund & Outreach Manager Andy Verhoff announced the recipients alphabetically, concluding with $14,500 to the Zoar Community Association for its Town Hall Redevelopment Project.
“The first phase of the Town Hall Redevelopment Project supported by this grant will include the installation of a Best of Zoar exhibit. The exhibit will create a streamlined introduction of Zoar for visitors and serve as the impetus for further efforts to care for the association’s collections,” said Verhoff.
The grants are made possible by people who make donations to the Ohio History Fund on their state income tax forms and through the sales of the Ohio history specialty license plates.
Also at the event, Dennison Railroad Depot Museum Executive Director Wendy Zucal spoke on behalf of the Ohio Local History Alliance and discussed a new commission she’s serving on to prepare Ohio for the 250th anniversary of America’s independence in 2026.
“This is literally the day that Ohioans will embark on the important mission of planning how we in Ohio will celebrate America250,” Zucal said.
Zucal mentioned how local efforts have already been underway for some time to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Historic Schoenbrunn Village this year.
The Ohio History Connection is asking state legislators to allocate at least $700,000 through June 30th of next year to fund Ohio’s involvement with the America250 initiative and fully support the work of the new commission for the U.S. semiquincentennial.
Ohio marked its 219th birthday on Tuesday. The General Assembly first gathered on March 1, 1803, at the Statehouse that was located in Chillicothe at the time.