“History has a vital role in the economic development of our state’s cities and towns,” said Burt Logan, OHS executive director and CEO. “Naturally being the entry point for all things related to Ohio history, the Ohio Historical Society is leading several statewide initiatives that will contribute to local development. These efforts will benefit from trained volunteers working directly in Ohio communities.”

About The Ohio History Service Corps Program
Thanks to a $260,000 grant from the Ohio Community Service Council, one of only three new AmeriCorps grants, the Ohio Historical Society has created the Ohio History Service Corps, a program that will engage AmeriCorps volunteers to educate Ohioans on why history is relevant and how it can be used as an effective economic development tool. Partnering with local history organizations, the Ohio Historical Society will be placing 20 AmeriCorps service members in communities across the state for the next year.

The AmeriCorps volunteers will focus on the continued preservation and promotion of the state’s historic resources to stimulate tourism and economic growth. AmeriCorps members will serve in teams to promote, raise awareness and preserve Ohio’s strong history through educational experiences for community members.

The Ohio History Service Corps program will have three components: Civil War 150 Leadership Corps, Ohio History Tech Corps and Ohio Historic Preservation Corps. Each of these AmeriCorps volunteer groups will help local organizations put history to work in their community.

With the sesquicentennial of the Civil War being observed from 2011-2015, the Ohio Historical Society, in conjunction with the Ohio Association of Historical Societies and Museums, will have the Civil War 150 Leadership Corps assist communities in preparing for the upcoming commemoration. Working with staff of the partner organization, corps members will assist in Civil War-related educational and public programming, special
events, regional initiatives and basic collections care.

Participating partners in the CW150 Leadership Corps include: Wood County Historical Center in Bowling Green; Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont; Oberlin Heritage Center in Oberlin; Youngstown State University in Youngstown; Dennison Depot Railroad Museum in Dennison; Ohio Historical Center in Columbus; Piqua Public Library in Piqua; National Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati; Quaker Heritage Center in Wilmington; Athens County Convention & Visitors Bureau and Athens County Historical Society in Athens.

The goal of the Ohio History Tech Corps is to build capacity for history organizations to develop long-term digitization projects, the process of converting information into a digital format, such as historic photographs, newspapers, maps and even objects, to provide access to users who may never be able to visit a history organization. The program will use the infrastructure created by Ohio Memory, a collaborative digital library that includes 353 historical organizations, libraries and museums. Partner organizations include: Wood County Historical Center; Youngstown State University; Cincinnati Public Library; Ohio Historical Center; Southeast Regional Library System in Wellston; and the Garnet A. Wilson Public Library of Pike County in Waverly.

The Ohio Historic Preservation Corps will be used to pursue three historic preservation projects in four Ohio communities: Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Mansfield. Five AmeriCorps members will identify and record historic buildings in the Ohio Historic Inventory, develop and implement a model neighborhood preservation program and help with capacity building, promotion and economic restructuring in conjunction with historic downtowns revitalization programs and the Ohio Main Street program. Heritage Ohio, Preservation Ohio, city of Cleveland, city of Columbus and the city of Cincinnati will be participating partners in the program.

Eighteen organizations and government entities will be partnering with the Ohio Historical Society on the Ohio History Service Corps program for the next year. Each will contribute a $1,500 match in addition to providing in-kind operational support for service members.
According to Logan, the Ohio History Service Corps program is built upon partnership and volunteerism. For Ohio’s public history community, AmeriCorps members will provide much-needed organizational and community capacity building, which will help long-term development efforts. The intention is to continue the program for an additional two years dependant on further AmeriCorps grant funding.

“Ohio History Service Corps will place a new generation of community organizers, public servants and public historians across the state to build community and infuse our work with a wonderful influx of new ideas,” Logan said. “In the future, we’ll be able to point to success stories from this program that history really does work for Ohio.”

The Ohio Historical Society is looking for members to fill the 20 part-time positions. The term of service runs from Oct. 1, 2010 to Aug. 31, 2011. A service member will receive a stipend of $11,800, health insurance and an educational award of $5,350 that can be used for college or to pay off existing school loans. Contact 614.297.2392 or visit https://my.americorps.gov for more information and to complete the required online application. The application deadline is Sept. 20, 2010.

About Ohio Community Service Council, Ohio Historical Society
The Ohio Community Service Council’s mission is to strengthen Ohio communities through service and volunteerism. Established by state statue in 1994, the Council administers programs and initiatives aimed at increasing the number of Ohioans engaged in national service and volunteer activities.

Established in 1885, the Ohio Historical Society is a nonprofit organization that serves as the state’s partner in preserving and interpreting Ohio’s history, archaeology, natural history and architecture. For more information about programs and events, call 614.297.2300/800.686.6124 or go online at www.ohiohistory.org.

“They go together like peas in a pod,” explained Lavon Daugherty, owner of Collectors Decanters and Steins in Sugarcreek who was instrumental in making the move a reality. “Now comes the hard part – fixing it up and putting together the right committee to get the job done.”

Daugherty is excited the move was successful last week from Wilmot to Sugarcreek thanks to crews from Holmes Crane Service and Apple Creek Movers.

Bringing the world’s largest cuckoo clock to Sugarcreek was a giant undertaking but is one that Daugherty sees as a win-win situation. Sugarcreek needed something extra – something that will be here for years and years to come and the clock – you don’t get much more Swiss than that.

The clock was officially donated to the Greater Sugarcreek Community Development Association by Mark Coblentz, owner of Walnut Creek Cheese who purchased the unit last year at an auction at the former Alpine Alpa in Wilmot.

“I’m hoping to get those interested in helping make the move a smooth one to get involved on the board that will ultimately decide where the clock is placed and be responsible for making decisions as to how to raise funds to repair the structure,” Daugherty said.

The clock originally constructed on site at Alpine Alpa measures 23 feet, 6 inches high, 24 feet wide and 13 feet, 5 inches high. It was restored in August 2007 and moved from the hill behind the restaurant to ground level as a way to make it more handicap accessible. Renovations were paid for with a $20,000 grant from Hampton Inn’s Save-A-Landmark Program.

“This clock could well turn out to be the most expensive gift that Sugarcreek has ever gotten,” Daugherty said. “But I think we can work together to capitalize on it and see the gift be something that keeps giving back year after year after year.”

The cost associated with moving the clock is about $6,500. Donations are currently being accepted in order to cover that cost. Donations should be made payable to the GSCDA – Cuckoo Clock Fund and sent to PO Box 165, Sugarcreek, Ohio 44681. Those interested in helping are urged to contact Daugherty at 330-852-9191. The next meeting of the committee will be held on Wednesday, July 21 at 6:30 p.m. at Village Hall in Sugarcreek. Members are needed, please consider volunteering your time to help with the clock.

Werktage translates from German as “Work Day” and Zoar will be alive with costumed volunteers and demonstrations to help children and adults try a little nineteenth century labor and lunch.

New this year is a photo scavenger hunt map that will lead you through ten historic buildings and work stations in Zoar. Activities include butter churning (and tasting) , wool dyeing, candle dipping, try a flicker or a spindle on sheep wool, cookie cutting and baking, making and tasting cole slaw, and a take home dried flower arrangement from the Zoar Garden House. You can also paint and create a tin ornament to take with you in the Tin Shop, help the blacksmith make a hook, and find out just how laundry was done.  The Zoar Kitchen will feature cooking traditional German treats on a “kessel ofen,” (German cooking oven).  You will love carving a figure from soap in the Cabinet Shop and can round out the day with a stop at the petting zoo to find out just what the farmer has to do to care for the animals.

Ticket prices are $8 for adults and $6 for children 4-17. Ticket price includes a light lunch at the Zoar schoolhouse where you will learn to squeeze your own lemonade and enjoy the toys and games that children played at recess 200 years ago. Demonstrations and activities will be available from 10am-3pm.

Zoar Village was founded in 1817 by a group of about 200 German Separatists seeking escape from religious persecution in their homeland. Today, Zoar is a community of approximately 75 homes built from 1817 until the present. Many of the original homes have been preserved or restored. Find out more by visiting www.zca.org.

For more information or to make your reservations for this wonderful event please contact The Zoar Community Association at 330-874-3011, or 1-800-262-6195.

Historical Significance of the Zoar Garden – The Historic Zoar Garden was platted in 1828, and served three functions for the German Separatists. First, it had religious significance.  Its design represents the “New Jerusalem” of the 21^st Chapter of the Book of Revelation.  The Norway Spruce in the center represents the “tree of life”.  The 12 surrounding junipers represent the Apostles.  The space between the junipers and the spruce represents heaven.  Around the entire garden is a wide green path, representing the world.  The twelve straight and narrow paths represent the tribes of Israel, and lead from the world to heaven.

A second function of the garden was its role as a pleasure garden.  The people of the village could rest in the garden and enjoy its beauty and tranquility.  The Separatists also took for their own needs, bulbs and cuttings cultivated by the gardener who lived in what is presently called the Garden House.

Lastly, the garden provided an additional area for the growing of culinary and medicinal herbs, which were used for seasoning foods and curing ailments.

The Zoar Garden Today – Today, the Garden is primarily a pleasure garden open to the general public and is also available to rent for a magnificent wedding backdrop.  The Zoar Community Association, a local volunteer based, non-profit organization, recently has assumed management of the Zoar Village State Memorial from the Ohio Historical Society.  This management agreement includes The Historic Zoar Garden.

Please call The Zoar Community Association at 330-874-3011, 330-874-2646, or e-mail us at zoarinfo@zca.org to sign up for your plot.  We will need your name address phone number and e-mail address if you have one.

The City of New Philadelphia and Ohio Historical Society will each be presenting and planting a tree at the Village to commemorate Arbor Day.  Along with Arbor Day, Schoenbrunn is celebrating Ohio Historical Society’s 125^th Anniversary.  April 29^th will be an event that invites the entire community to come together.  Complimentary coffee and breakfast pastries will be available starting at 9:30am with a tree planting ceremony held at 10:00am by speakers Mayor Mike Taylor and Burt Logan, Executive Director of Ohio Historical Society.  After the ceremony students from New Philadelphia City Schools will assist in planting 125 native Ohio trees throughout Schoenbrunn Village to commemorate both occasions.

Both celebrations extend an invitation to the area to return to Schoenbrunn.  Going back to the beginning of Schoenbrunn’s history in 1772, the Village was about creating community, site director Laura Milarcik stated “that the 2010 Arbor Day Celebration will also help create lasting memories for the community by planting and providing visitors with free trees.”  Those attending the ceremony will be offered free trees to plant at their homes.  Over 200 seedlings will be passed out to visitors throughout the day as they come to the celebration.  All trees have been donated by Schoenbrunn Landscaping with a sponsorship by Dominion and a donation of Buckeye trees from Gooding’s Nursery to plant at Schoenbrunn Village.

Schoenbrunn’s Arbor Day Celebration invites the public to not only enjoy the beauty of the trees, but walk through the Village and lower park facility as students help plant trees  while Schoenbrunn gears up for a new season.  The 125^th Anniversary and Arbor Day Celebration will begin a full summer and fall schedule for the Village with an official opening on Memorial Day and two special events prior to the seasonal opening including a Lantern Tour on Saturday May 15 and Free Community Day on Saturday May 22.

Schoenbrunn Village invites all of the community to celebrate Arbor Day and the 125^th Anniversary of Ohio Historical Society as the Village opens its gates, free of admission, to share in planting trees.  Trees will be handed out on a first come basis beginning after the 10:00am ceremony and lasting until 12:30pm.  For more information on the Arbor Day Celebration or Historic Schoenbrunn Village contact 740.922.6776 or visit us at www.ohiosfirstvillage.com and on Facebook.  Schoenbrunn Village is managed by the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum under the ownership of Ohio Historical Society.

On Saturday, April 10, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, the historic village of Zoar, Ohio will feature a Volunteer Education Day. Come join us, as our volunteers demonstrate hands-on activities such as cooking on the kestle oven (kettle oven) spinning, blacksmithing, and other activities that were performed by the Zoar Separatists on a typical day in the life of the historic communal society.

“Volunteers are the lifeblood of Zoar. We’re always looking for more people who want to make a positive difference and keep the history and heritage of Zoar as well as our country alive for this and future generations,” said ZCA President Jon Elsasser.

“Volunteers will be interpreting, demonstrating and highlighting the daily lives and occupations of the Zoar Separatists during events, school tours, outreach, often with hands-on methods for the public. At our volunteer education event in April, we will cover just about anything that would have been performed on a daily basis,” added Elsasser.

New volunteers will be given classes to help them become familiar with crafts or learn new ones, the site building and grounds along with operating and safety procedures. They will also be given historical information to read  and will have the opportunity to participate in trips for social and educational means and attend ongoing classes.

For more information contact:  Melanie Eddy  330-859-2472 or eddys@wilkshire.net . Interested volunteer candidates can also contact the Zoar Community Association at 330-874-3011 or volunteering@zca.org.

Founded in 1967, the Zoar Community Association strives to ensure the preservation of the historical characteristics and heritage of the Village of Zoar, Ohio, and the surrounding area, including Northern Tuscarawas County. Effective January 4, 2010, the Zoar Community Association assumed management of Zoar Village State Memorial under contract from the Ohio Historical Society.

Zoar Village was founded in 1817 by a group of about 200 German Separatists seeking escape from religious persecution in their homeland. Today, Zoar is a community of approximately 75 homes built from 1817 until the present. Many of the original homes have been preserved or restored. Find out more by visiting www.zca.org.

“This dinner is a great way for our neighbors and friends from all over to support the Zoar Community Association at a very enjoyable, intimate social gathering,” said ZCA President Jon Elsasser.  “It’s not limited to people in immediate community,” he continued.  “To get the full experience, why not come down early in the day, enjoy the village, join us for dinner, and spend the night at one of our quality bed & breakfasts in the village.”  You can find a listing of Zoar B&Bs, along with links to their websites at http://www.zca.org/directory.html

According to committee member Gail Garbrandt , “Our spring dinner will feature the culinary talents of Chef Michael Smith from the Trax Diner in Dennison, and Zoar resident. We’re really excited about our spring dinner and look forward to a great turnout from the local community and surrounding area.”

The dinner’s social time starts at 6:00 pm with dinner at 6:30 pm and will feature a Mixed Green Salad with Balsamic Dressing; Duxelle Stuffed Chicken Breast with Fine Herb Sauce; Scalloped Potatoes; Crusty Rolls; Steamed Asparagus, and Crème Brûlée for dessert.

According to Sandy Ragon, a silent auction will feature many quality items. Some of those featured include a penny rugging by Kim Klingaman of Springhouse Primitives, a German dinner, and a barbecue for six.

Proceeds from each dinner will be earmarked to a specific project or area of need in Zoar.  All revenues from the Spring dinner will support the Zoar Beautification Project.

Tickets are $40 per person, $75 per couple.  You may also purchase advance tickets packages for the entire dinner series at $175 per person/per series, and $350 per couple/per series.

Reservations are both limited and required. To make your reservation, please call 330-874-3011.

Founded in 1967, the Zoar Community Association strives to ensure the preservation of the historical characteristics and heritage of the Village of Zoar, Ohio, and the surrounding area, including Northern Tuscarawas County. Effective January 4, 2010, the Zoar Community Association assumed management of Zoar Village State Memorial under contract from the Ohio Historical Society.

Zoar Village was founded in 1817 by a group of about 200 German Separatists seeking escape from religious persecution in their homeland. Today, Zoar is a community of approximately 75 homes built from 1817 until the present. Many of the original homes have been preserved or restored. Find out more by visiting www.zca.org.

For more information, contact Zoar Community Association at 330-874-3011.

Along with a scrumptious buffet dinner served in the soft glow of lantern light, this fundraising event will also include musical entertainment throughout the evening and a look toward the exciting upcoming season of Schoenbrunn Village.  Guests will also be able to contribute to the Village by bidding on a wide selection of silent auction gifts from a number of sponsors and volunteers, including a special Historic Schoenbrunn Village Wedding Package, handcrafted art pieces, and popular Village artwork.  There will also be two raffle chances to support Schoenbrunn, a 50/50 raffle drawing and special Schoenbrunn Event Package for the all new ‘Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ program to be presented on the lower level of Historic Schoenbrunn Village in October.

The Lantern Light Dinner will also open the opportunity to all those interested in the second year of the ‘Adopt-a-Cabin’ program.  For 2009, 11 of the 18 structures were adopts.  Incoming site director Laura Milarcik is enthusiastic that the 2010 ‘Adopt-a-Cabin’ program will exceed last year’s favorable response.  Cabin adoption information will be available for all those curious in sponsoring Schoenbrunn Village at the Lantern Light Dinner.

Milarcik encourages all those interested in this great way to help preserve one of Tuscarawas County’s historic attractions to contact the Dennison Depot for more information.  Cabin sponsorships begin at $500 for smaller structures to $5,000 for the adoption of the Spring House.  Sponsorships will be used to help Schoenbrunn Village more into a new phase.

Advance tickets for the Lantern Light Dinner are required and can be purchased at the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum.   Individuals will be $25.00 and couples $50.00.  The evening will begin at 5:30pm with dinner served at 6:00pm. To find a complete list of upcoming events for Historic Schoenbrunn Village visit www.ohiosfirstvillage.com or find us on Facebook.  For more information about the dinner, cabin adoption or to make your reservations today, contact the Depot at depotmarketing@tusco.net or 740.922.6776.

“Comprehensive Grantwriting Strategies” and “How to Engage the Community and Build Volunteer Support” will be presented on October 14, 2009, at the Museum located at 400 Center Street, in Dennison, Ohio.

Comprehensive Grantwriting Strategies will be held from 8 a.m. to Noon and will help attendees take the mystery out of grant writing.  In today’s economy, every dollar is important.  Find out how to increase budgets through grants, corporate and private donations. This comprehensive grant writing workshop will take attendees through the entire process in one morning, teaching proven tips that work. 

How to Engage the Community and Build Volunteer Support will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and will assist those looking to have community members become stakeholders, in turn creating a strong community backbone of support and network of communication.  This workshop will guide attendees through the process with helpful tips to make the organization stronger. 

Workshops will be conducted in small groups allowing plenty of time for questions, discussions and feedback.  Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their project ideas to this hands-on workshop.  Both workshops will be conducted by Wendy Zucal, Executive Director of the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum.  Zucal has been writing grants for over 20 years with great success, and has experience teaching a variety of grant writing and community development workshops.  She is a graduate of Marietta College and Carnegie Mellon University, Leadership Tuscarawas and Dale Carnegie.  She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the  Tuscarawas County Community Improvement Corporation and the Twin City Chamber of Commerce, as well as formerly serving on the Board of Directors for the Tuscarawas County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and helped to create the Historic Center Street Association in Dennison.

Cost for each seminar is $100 per person, or $150 per person for both seminars. Participants are encouraged to register before October 5 for an additional $25 savings. Registration cost includes all workshop materials including a binder with all handouts. The morning session includes Continental Breakfast; afternoon session includes refreshments. Lunch between sessions is not included but is easily available at Trax Diner, inside the Dennison Depot.

For additional information or to register, please contact the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum at (877) 278-8020, or by e-mail at depot@tusco.net.

The students from Mrs. Sharon Ricklic’s class at New Philadelphia’s York Elementary have been studying the history of Schoenbrunn throughout the school year, and are now ready to give tours on site. These students became very committed to the site when they agreed to sponsor the Schoolhouse and raise $3,000 to help restore the building.  They not only reached their goal by selling Cat’s Meow replicas of the Schoenbrunn Schoolhouse, caramel apples, and cookies at a cookie walk, but they helped leverage additional funding for the project which now totals $60,000.  They also contributed drawings each made of the cabins to raise funds at the Village’s February Lantern Light Dinner. These students have been active on site assisting with the care of the property, and will soon be planting the cornfields with the help of their parents.

On Sunday, they will don their newly made 18th Century period shirts and welcome visitors.  They are excited to share their knowledge of Historic Schoenbrunn, and to provide information on each building as visitors enter the structures.  Director Wendy Zucal shares that Mrs. Ricklic’s leadership in teaching her students local history, pride in their heritage and involvement in their Community is a wonderful model any teacher can adopt.  The students are now stakeholders in the site, and hopefully, will  continue to be involved for many years.

For information on Historic Schoenbrunn Village and the Free Community Day on May 3, call toll free 1-877-278-8020.