|
|
National
Historic Preservation Month in Review
Discover our Hidden Gems...
Photos: St. Clair 100th Anniversary Tea at Manor, Historic Bear’s Mill
May is National Preservation Month and this year’s theme on a national
level is “Discover America’s Hidden Gems.” Since the National Trust for
Historic Preservation created Preservation Week in 1971 to spotlight
grassroots preservation efforts in America, it has grown into an annual
celebration by small towns and big cities with events ranging from
architectural and historic tours, to educational programs and heritage
opportunities. Due to its overwhelming popularity, in 2005, the
National Trust for Historic Preservation extended the celebration to
the entire month of May and declared it Preservation Month to provide
an even longer opportunity to celebrate the diverse and unique heritage
of our communities.
Locally, Friends of Bear’s Mill, Darke County Historical Society and
Main Street Greenville are collaborating to bring historic awareness to
the Greenville and Darke County community. Together with sponsor
Mote and Associates, Inc. they have presented a full month of events to
promote history and preservation in the community that dwells on hidden
gems.
The first weekend of May was a busy one in Greenville as locals enjoyed
the First Friday’s Upper Floor Building Tours in downtown
Greenville. Over 250 members of the community had the rare
opportunity to tour the upper floors of four downtown businesses.
Participants had the chance to meet with the building owners and hear
them share their vision for the space, as well as the history and what
‘used to be.’ Along with the First Friday’s Tour, the Greenville
Public Library and the St. Clair Memorial Hall were available for
touring, with over 100 people learning about the building design, décor
and ornate details of these two historic gems. In addition to the
tours, The Memorial Hall celebrated their centennial with an Evening of
Legacy hosted by local musical artists performing selections from the
Memorial Hall’s original dedication in 1912. Also, in honor of
the Memorial Hall Centennial Celebration, the Fort GreeneVille
Daughters of the American Revolution hosted a light afternoon tea at
St. Clair Manor with Henry and Ella St. Clair (portrayed by John and
Karen Burkett). All funds raised were contributed to the
restoration of the Memorial Hall.
In honor of National Historic Preservation Month, the Lowell Thomas
House, which has been preserved at the Garst Museum, was open for tours
on May 5th, as well as Saturday, May 26th from noon to 4:00 p.m.
Admission to the house is free, but regular admission to tour the
museum will apply. Enter the museum through the glass doors
next to the parking lot for admittance.
Whether it was the tours, shopping or just a leisurely stroll on the
grounds, the nice weather and weekend events brought out a steady crowd
of locals and tourists for this year’s annual Spring Open House at
Historic Bear’s Mill. Visitors to the Mill got their fill of
samples of the Mill’s gourmet goodies and enjoyed docent-guided tours
hosted by The Friends of Bear’s Mill to celebrate this historic
weekend. In the Mill Gallery guests enjoyed the black and white
photographs by award-winning photographer John Bower whose exhibit
entitled “Capturing the Soul of Our Past” took the visitor on a journey
of our rapidly disappearing past.
“Historic Preservation month allows us to collaborate to educate and
create an awareness of the local gems waiting to be uncovered and
appreciated right here in our community. The three organizations
look forward to the opportunity to work together and are already
putting their thoughts on paper for next year’s celebration,” stated
Amber Schmerge, Executive Director of Main Street Greenville.
The month long celebration also involved local youth by inviting them
to be building detectives within their church to find “My Church’s
Hidden Gems.” Three downtown Greenville churches’ Sunday School
students explored the history, architecture and meaning behind the
symbols in their church. The students made replicas and
illustrations of their church to highlight these points. The work
will remain on display at the Greenville Public Library through
Tuesday, May 29th.
This year a Coffeehouse Series was offered on a weekly basis at the
local coffee shops in downtown Greenville. Postcards and pictures
from the past, as well as a presentation from the Fort GreeneVille
Daughters of the American Revolution were two of the topics in the
series. Those in attendance enjoyed learning about the history
and culture of our local community, as well as promoting patriotism,
preserving American history and securing America’s future through
better education for children. If you have not been able to
attend, the final Coffeehouse Series will be Thursday, May 24th at 7:00
p.m. at The Coffee Pot. This presentation “Our Greenville City
Park, A Local Gem” is free and open to the public and will be presented
by two generations of Greenville natives, Steve Birt and Amber Garrett,
as they share their mutual love and appreciation for the memories,
their understanding of importance and their hopes for the future of our
Greenville City Park.
For just $50 (special supporter rate) you can become an individual
supporter of Bear’s Mill, Garst Museum and The Annie Oakley Center and
Main Street Greenville. Your support is 100% tax deductible as
all three organizations are 501( c )(3) nonprofit organizations.
Stop by Garst Museum or Bear’s Mill or visit www.downtowngreenville.org
to support our treasures today.
The Friends of Bear’s Mill provides a rich cultural experience and
community-oriented events including educational tours, demonstrations
and nature walks, while preserving the Mill’s historic significance and
natural beauty. As caretakers of Bear’s Mill, they continue to
explore the possibilities of this unique property while maintaining its
historic beauty and physical needs.
The Darke County Historical Society is dedicated to preserving the
history of the county and fostering education on its impact as a
Crossroads of the American Experience. Its mission is to collect,
preserve, exhibit, study and interpret materials relating to the
history and culture of Darke County as part of the development of the
Crossroads of the American Experience. Permanent exhibitions of
national significance include Annie Oakley, The Treaty of Greenville,
Lowell Thomas and Ohio Native Americans.
Main Street Greenville is committed to stimulating and supporting
revitalization efforts, historic preservation and economic growth in
historic Downtown Greenville. The organization strives to create
a program of work that serves and assists the downtown business
district with education, design & technical assistance, activities
& events, promotion & image branding, beautification &
streetscape improvements.
To learn more about historic preservation or local preservation
activities and initiatives contact Amber Schmerge at Main Street
Greenville at 937.548.4998, Merri Niekamp at Bear’s Mill at
937.548.5112, or Clay Johnson at Garst Museum at 937.548.5250.
|
|
|
|
|
