Roamin’ the Hills

UPDATE (2/24/18): No Roamin’ the Hills Events are scheduled soon, but the event model that was inspired by Roamin’ the Hills events inspired the collaborative network driven business initiative known as the Winding Road! The Winding Road is just beginning to grow in southeast Ohio, mainly in Athens, Morgan, Hocking, and Perry Counties, but with some success will hopefully come more involvement and collaboration leading to tangible growth and improved quality of life in the region. To learn more about hosting or attending small scale guided tours, programs, events in any of the six sectors of the Winding Road, visit our website, and follow the progress over the coming months

Ohio’s Hill Country hosts Roamin’ the Hills events to showcase special examples of historical preservation or sustainable development in the Heritage Area of Ohio’s Rising Appalachia.

Events invite local residents, OHCHA members and interested visitors to experience authentic historic, cultural and natural sites in the region.  Speakers, entertainers, guided tours and local foods and beverages are highlighted at each stop!

Roamin’ events may include educational tours, presentations, hikes, and social events at specific cultural, historical, and recreational heritage sites.

Stayed tuned for upcoming events in Ohio’s Rising Appalachia!

Previous Roamin’ the Hills Events have included:

Stockport Mill (Morgan County) Fort Glenford (Perry County)
Buckeye Trail Barn/Cadiz Area Museums (Harrison County)
Highlands Nature Sanctuary (Highland County)
Belpre Historical Society (Washington County)
Fort Stueben (Jefferson County)
Village of Somerset (Perry County)
Putnam District (Muskingum County)
Multi-Site Adams County Tour (Adams County)

If your community or organization is interested in hosting a Roamin’ The Hills event, please contact us via e-mail at ohioshillcountryheritagearea@gmail.com

Historic Tax Credit In Jeopardy

Yesterday, the Ohio Senate proposed to eliminate the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit (OHPTC), with the possibly of transitioning it into a grant program several years from now. 

This highly successful economic development program, without prior discussion, is in jeopardy of disappearing. Without the OHPTC Program, Ohio would not have had more than $1.4 Billion invested in the state, with over 100 abandoned or blighted buildings transformed into income-producing, taxpaying, and neighborhood-contributing buildings. Look at these numbers since the program’s inception in 2007:

• 8.7 million square feet of redeveloped buildings.
• 3,429 new housing units created.
• A return on investment of 6.7 to 1, while paying the State of Ohio back.

To help save the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program, we need you to do two things TODAY. Please email Senator Oelslager, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Peterson, Chair of the Senate Ways & Means Committee, and your Senator to tell them why this will be detrimental to Ohio’s economic growth!

Also contact Kim Erdman at kerdman@ohiosenate.gov to have your statement sent to all Senate Finance Committee Members.

We have only a few days to reverse this action!

2015 Web Archive National Association for Interpretation

2014 Web Archive

Finely Crafted In Ohio’s Hill Country 

Guided Tour Set for September 21-22

Registration is now open for the Finely Crafted Travel in Ohio’s Hill Country,  a guided thematic tour set for Sunday, September 21 and Monday, September 22 visiting sites in Fairfield, Perry, Muskingum, Morgan and Athens Counties over the two-days.

The historic and contemporary products of artisans, craftsmen, purveyors of specialty foods and libations from the region will be featured.  The tour will provide first hand contact with products and the people who create them, and explore how crafted products mark the culture of a place and how they are interrelated with the natural landscape of our region. The tour will connect visitors with artisans, clay products manufacturers, a microbrewery, historic buildings and much more!

Engaging activities, fine food and informed narration will make this event a not to be missed experience!  Click here for a complete itinerary.

The tour is a transportation-provided event (van/small bus), with two meals provided each day (lunch-dinner) and overnight lodging on Sunday evening.  The tour begins and ends at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds in Lancaster, Ohio where free, safe parking is provided for your vehicle over the two days.  Lodging on Sunday evening is available to tour participants at a $110 rate, taxes included.

Registration

As of 2:30pm on Weds., August 27th we have tentatively sold out the tour.  We are researching additional transportation options and may reopen registration on a first come-first serve basis if we find it feasible to do so.  Thus, please call Michelle Robinson at 614-348-7909 or e-mail us at ohiohillcountryheritagearea@gmail.com to be placed on the waiting list and we will keep you posted on the availability of seats opening up.

 Click here for a complete itinerary.

Please call Michelle Robinson at 614-348-7909 or e-mail us at ohiohillcountryheritagearea@gmail.com to learn more, register by phone or if you have questions.  Registration by mail is also available by opening and printing a registration form and returning it with a check or money order to Ohio Hill Country Heritage Area; P. O. Box 114; Shawnee, Ohio  43782.

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Ohio Pawpaw Fest Coming in September
Education & Entertainment Event in 16th Year

The 16th Annual Ohio Pawpaw Festival will take place September 12-14, 2014 at scenic Lake Snowden in Albany, Ohio.  Organized by an enthusiastic group of citizens in Athens County, Ohio’s Hill Country Heritage Area serves as the non-profit sponsor of the event.  Raised funds help benefit our operations as well as other meaningful educational projects in the region.   Pawpaw music, food, contests, art, history, education, sustainable living workshops and activities for the kids are again on tap for this very popular event!  Highlighting the educational fare this year is sustainable farm expert Joel Salatin who will speak from the main stage on Sunday, September 14 at 1pm. Salatin is a farmer, lecturer, and author whose books include Folks, This Ain’t Normal; You Can Farm; and Salad Bar Beef.

Salatin raises livestock using holistic management methods of animal husbandry, free of potentially harmful chemicals, on his Polyface Farm in Swoope, Virginia. Meat from Polyface is sold by direct-marketing to consumers and restaurants.

Come celebrate Ohio’s official native fruit while supporting many local vendors, entrepreneurs and non-profit organizations.  While at the festival be sure to visit OHCHA’s tent!  For more information visit www.ohiopawpawfest.com.

Hours
Friday: 4 pm – midnight
Saturday: 10 am – midnight
Sunday: 10 am – 4 pm

Admission
$10.00/one-day pass; $20.00 /weekend pass; children 12 & under free.
Service dogs permitted on festival grounds all weekend; other dogs restricted to designated areas.

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2014 Statehouse Luncheon Success Stories
Recognizing Accomplishments in the Appalachian Region

Ohio Hill Country Heritage Area and Heritage Ohio sponsored the 4th Annual Appalachian Heritage Luncheon at the Statehouse in Columbus this May.  Nine success stories were shared with legislators, state officials and interested citizens gathered after a morning guided tour of the Statehouse.  This year’s success stories were given by:

Birdwatchers Digest, Marietta
John & Annie Glenn Museum, New Concord
McClain High School Renovation, Greenfield
Millersburg Brewing Company, Millersburg
Multicultural Genealogical Society, Chesterhill
Ohio Valley Opry, McConnelsville
Portsmouth Floodwall Murals, Portsmouth
Resolve Studios, Marietta
Southeast Ohio Astronomical Society, Athens

2014 Appalachian Heritage Luncheon At Statehouse

“Appalachian Success Stories” will be featured at our 4th Annual Appalachian Heritage Luncheon on Thursday, May 8, held in the Atrium of the Ohio Statehouse.

The Appalachia Heritage Luncheon was conceived by Ohio’s Hill Country Heritage Area and Heritage Ohio as an opportunity to share the many diverse successes that highlight the past and future of Ohio’s Appalachian Region, which is similar in geography to OHCHA’s 31-county Ohio Hill Country Region.

Eleven success stories will be presented by the persons behind those stories over the lunch hour to state and regional leaders in a fast-paced fashion.  Success stories feature projects which have created, enhanced, preserved and/or improved the value and understanding of Ohio’s Appalachia Heritage, and as a result improved quality of life,  created meaningful employment or entrepreneurial opportunities.

Arrive at 10:30 for a State House tour led by Statehouse Architect Bob Loversidge and Historian Nancy Recchie.  The luncheon begins at Noon in the Atrium.  Many legislators from the region and beyond will be present to introduce constituents who are being recognized, and learn about the momentum that is building in this region of the state around heritage, culture, the arts, local foods and outdoor recreation.  The event is open to the public but requres that you pre-register. Register now by clicking here.

The stories selected for this year’s luncheon are from the following organizations, businesses and individuals:

Birdwatchers Digest, Marietta
John & Annie Glenn Museum, New Concord
McClain High School Renovation, Greenfield
Millersburg Brewing Company, Millersburg
Multicultural Genealogical Society, Chesterhill
Ohio Valley Opry, McConnelsville
Portsmouth Floodwall Murals, Portsmouth
Resolve Studios, Marietta
Southeast Ohio Astronomical Society, Athens

A special thanks to State Senator Tim Schaffer of Lancaster for hosting this event for the fourth consecutive year, and to Joyce Barrett of Heritage Ohio for leadership in organizing this important gathering!

2014 Membership Drive Underway

Your Support and Participation Sustains Our Work!

   Ohio’s Hill Country Heritage Area 2014 Membership Drive is underway!  Membership is available for: Individuals/Families ($25 or more), Organizations & Businesses ($35 or more), Sustaining Members ($100 or more) or Lifetime Members ($500 or more).  Join here by clicking on the appropriate link above or go to our Membership Page, fill out and submit the form and mail in your payment.  When paying on-line it is not necessary to have a Pay Pal Account.

As a member you will receive a beautiful print Ohio Hill Country Voice newsletter approximately three times each year and discounts on upcoming workshops and tours during 2014.  Most importantly, your or your business or organization receive the  satisfaction of knowing that you are supporting a grass roots organization that creating support and appreciation for history, culture, the natural environment and outdoor recreation in the hills of Ohio!

We would like to thank those who have already joined.  For a list of current members as of click here.

Thanks for your support!

2014 Appalachian Success Stories

Nominations Open for Stories to be Featured At Statehouse Event May 8

Nominations for this year’s “Appalachian Success Stories” at the 4th Annual Appalachian Heritage Luncheon are being accepted by OHCHA and Heritage Ohio.  Those selected will give an overview of their story at the Appalachian Heritage Luncheon on Thursday, May 8, held in the Rotunda of the Ohio Statehouse.
Nomination forms are available at this link or by contacting Michelle Robinson at 614-348-7909.  The Appalachia Heritage Luncheon was conceived by Ohio’s Hill Country Heritage Area and Heritage Ohio as an opportunity to share the many diverse successes that highlight the past and future of Ohio’s Appalachia Region.

Approximately 10 success stories will be accepted and presented over the lunch hour to state and regional leaders in a fast-paced fashion with accompanying images being screened.  Success stories should feature projects which have created, enhanced, preserved and/or improved the value and understanding of Ohio’s Appalachia Heritage, and as a result improved quality of life,  created meaningful employment or entrepreneurial opportunities.
Deadline for nominations is February 28, 2014.  Nominations should be submitted on the provided forms and returned to jbarrett@heritageohio.org.  Registration information for this year’s event will be made available in March.

Audio Documentary Features Provocative Story

Black As I Wish To Be Tells Story of Pike County’s East Jackson

Ohio’s Hill Country Heritage Area recently completed a collaboration with documentarian Lu Olkowski who produced Black As I Wish To Be— a public radio documentary on an intriguing story about race in Appalachian Ohio, gathered in the Pike County community of East Jackson. The documentary was made for State of the Reunion, a public radio series aired locally on WOUB-FM.  Thanks to the Ohio Humanities Council for their support of Ohio Hill Country and Ms. Olkowski in completing this excellent work. Listen to the documentary here.

2013 Web Archive

Statehouse Event Celebrates Our Region

This place matters!  For the third year in a row, members of the Ohio Legislature joined with state. regional and local leaders to hear “Appalachian Success Stories” at a luncheon at the Ohio State House on Wednesday, September 18.  Due to the event’s success during the prior two years, it was moved to the spacious Atrium area of the Statehouse, allowing for over 100 persons to attend.   State Senator Tim Shaffer hosts the event that has been organized by a partnership between your Ohio Hill Country Heritage Area Board and Heritage Ohio.  The event highlighted the continued success of creative entities in the hills of Ohio that celebrate Appalachia’s culture, nature, and heritage . This year’s event featured brief success story presentations from the following:  RALPH ALEXANDER – John T. Wilson House, Adams County; MISTY CASTO – Buckeye Hills Regional Development, Reno; GRACE CORBIN – Casa Nueva Restaurant and Cantina, Athens; JEAN G. FARMER – Marietta Main Street, Marietta; DAVID FEY – Rock Mill, Fairfield County Parks, Fairfield County; JACOB MASTERS – Dennison Depot, Dennison; JOHN MCGAUGHEY – Perry County Archeology, Somerset; DAVID MERTZ – Building Preservation Program, Belmont Technical College, St. Clairsville; MICHELLE SHIVLEY – Sunday Creek Watershed-Rural Action, Trimble; WARREN TREFZ – Glass reFactory, Georgetown; and JOEL YEAGER – Rendville Artworks, Rendville.     Prior to the luncheon there was a VIP Insider Statehouse Tour led by Historic Preservation Consultant Nancy Recchie. A small exhibition area was featured as well, where contemporary music from the region was provided by Adam Remnant.  This event was made possible by the generous support of Foundation for Appalachia Ohio and The Governor’s Office of Appalachia.   Watch Video of Appalachian Heritage Luncheon @ Statehouse Here!

Tourism Initiative Launches in Southeast Counties

Ohio’s Hill Country Heritage Area board and Melinda Huntley, Director of the Ohio Tourism Association met with over 30 civic and tourism leaders on Wednesday, May 29^th at the newly reopened Burr Oak Lodge near Glouster to take the next steps in our organization’s Collaborative Tourism Initiative.   This initiative aims to bring partners together to creatively develop unique tourism experiences that attract newmarkets to experience our region’s authentic historic, cultural and natural environment assets.  We have chosen the Hocking River and Muskingum River Watersheds of southeastern Ohio as the target for this initiative (Fairfield, Hocking, Vinton, Athens, Meigs, Perry, Muskingum, Morgan and Washington Counties).
Read More….

Visit our Civic Tourism Webzine and Civic Tourism Facebook Page!

You Are Invited!: Statehouse Event September 18

   This place matters!  For the third year in a row, members of the Ohio Legislature will join with state. regional and local leaders to hear “Appalachian Success Stories” at a luncheon at the Ohio State House on Wednesday, September 18.  Due to the event’s success during the prior two years, it has been moved to the spacious Atrium area of the Statehouse, allowing for a larger audience.   Thus, we extend an open invitation to our members and friends to purchase tickets in advance and join us at this annual day of pride in the authentic history, culture and natural environment of our region.   State Senator Tim Shaffer hosts the event that has been organized by a partnership between your Ohio Hill Country Heritage Area Board and Heritage Ohio.  We will be highlighting the continued success in the hills of Ohio with organizations and initiatives that will be sharing creative success stories to celebrate Appalachia’s culture, nature, and heritage during the one hour luncheon beginning at Noon and concluding at 1PM. This year’s event will feature brief success storu presentations from the following:  RALPH ALEXANDER – John T. Wilson House, Adams County; MISTY CASTO – Buckeye Hills Regional Development, Reno; GRACE CORBIN – Casa Nueva Restaurant and Cantina, Athens; JEAN G. FARMER – Marietta Main Street, Marietta; DAVID FEY – Rock Mill, Fairfield County Parks, Fairfield County; JACOB MASTERS – Dennison Depot, Dennison; JOHN MCGAUGHEY – Perry County Archeology, Somerset; DAVID MERTZ – Building Preservation Program, Belmont Technical College, St. Clairsville; MICHELLE SHIVLEY – Sunday Creek Watershed-Rural Action, Trimble; WARREN TREFZ – Glass reFactory, Georgetown; and JOEL YEAGER – Rendville Artworks, Rendville.     Prior to the luncheon at 10:30AM there will be a VIP Insider Statehouse Tour led by Robert Loversidge, Statehouse Architect. A small exhibition area will open at 10:30, as well, where contemporary music from the region will be provided by Adam Remnant.  This event is made possible by the generous support of Foundation for Appalachia Ohio and The Governor’s Office of Appalachia.   Pre-registration is required and available on-line at www.heritageohio.org.  Cost is $25 per person which includes a box lunch.

Celebrating Ohio’s Native Fruit! Paw Paw Fest This Weekend!

  The 15th Annual Ohio Pawpaw Festival will take place September 13-15, 2013 at scenic Lake Snowden in Albany.  Ohio’s Hill Country Heritage Area serves as fiscal agent for the festival and realizes an average annual investment of $5,000 from festival proceeds to assist withour organization’s operations.  This arrangement was established as a temporary support for an upstart event, but has grown to be a sustaining partnership for both parties.   Consistent with OHCHA’s mission, the Pawpaw Festival features regional music, food, art, history, education and sustainable living workshops and activities for kids.    Event leader Chris Chmiel has brought the obscure native fruit that grows wild on the edge of forests in Ohio’s Hill Country to the attention of the state and nation, successfully lobbying the Ohio Legislature to adopt it as the State’s Official Native Fruit.  Product development has followed with everything from Paw Paw Beer to Paw Paw Jelly being available to the public.        Stop by the Ohio Hill Country tent during the festival where a series of regional films will be shown, as well serving as the launch point for an evening of star gazing opportunities provided by the Southeastern Ohio Astronomy Society.  This year’s festival hours are Friday: 4pm-midnight; Saturday: 10 am-midnight; and Sunday:10am-4pm.  Admission for the event is $10.00/one-day pass; $20.00 /weekend pass; children 12 & under free.  Camping areas are available.  For more information visit www.ohiopawpawfest.com.

Dollars & Sense of Building Rehabilitation

Ohio’s Hill Country Heritage Area welcomes Heritage Ohio to the region on Monday August 12, 2013 in at the Athens Community Center at 701 E. State Street in Athens for an informative workshop on historic building rehabilitation.  This workshop is designed to help communities understand how to set the stage for successful rehabilitation and for building owners wanting to learn best practices for the rehabilitation of historic buildings.  The workshop begins at 10AM and concludes at 3PM.  More information and registration is available on-line at http://www.heritageohio.org.

 
Eclipse Company Store in Athens County (after & before) now serves as a restaurant & public meeting space.

2012 Web Archive

Civic Tourism Conference A Success

Thanks to all who attended the two-day Civic Tourism in Ohio’s Hill Country working conference in Shawnee on October 3-4.  On Day One we launched our Civic Tourism Webzine, were inspired by “inspiring practices” stories from various organizations around OHC, and challenged to think deeply about tourism by our special guests Author Dan Shilling (Civic Tourism: The Poetry and Politics of Place) and Melinda Huntley, the Director of the Ohio Travel Association.  On Day Two a group of creative community builders, entrepreneurs and tourism advocates from the central counties of the region (Athens, Fairfield, Hocking, Meigs, Morgan, Muskingum, Perry and Washington) worked with Shilling and Hundley to begin forming a collaboration to package and market authentic and unique tourism products from the Hocking and Muskingum River Valleys.  In all, over 30 persons participated each day!  Thanks to the folks at Sunday Creek Associates and the Little Cities of Black Diamonds for hosting us at the Tecumseh Commons and thanks to the Ohio Humanities Council and the Muskingum County Community Foundation for their support of the event.  Stay tuned for more and visit our Civic Tourism Webzine and Civic Tourism Facebook Page!

OHCHA Hosts Appalachian Success Stories @ Statehouse

With the support of State Senator Tim Schaffer and the collaboration of Heritage Ohio, the 2nd Annual Appalachian Success Stories Day was hosted by Ohio’s Hill Country Heritage Area at the Ohio Statehouse on September 26.  Legislators, their aides and state office directors heard nearly a dozen inspiring stories of individuals and organizations in Hill Country who are making difference in the region via their valuing of our history, culture and natural environment.  OHCHA board president Tom O’Grady, Heritage Ohio Execuitve Director Joyce Barrett and Governor’s Office of Appalachian Director Wilson welcomed guests and set the stage for the lunch time event, reminding those gathered of the importance of “place” saving and “place” making.  Success stories were heard from:

Hocking College’s Heritage Interpretation Program, Ken Bowald
Judy Bratten, Historic Ft. Steuben, Steubenville
Cara Brook, Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, Nelsonville
Paul Brown, President, Zane State College, Zanesville
Chris Chmiel, Paw Paw Festival, Albany
Linda Regula, Zanesville Artist Colony, Zanesville
Leslie Schaller, Athens Farmer’s Market, Athens
Barbara Summers, Markay Theater, Jackson
The Ancient Ohio Trail
Julie Zickafoose, NPR nature program and author, Whipple

Civic Tourism in Ohio’s Hill Country

A Two Day Working Conference
October 3-4
Shawnee, Ohio

Register Here

   Ohio Hill Country Heritage Area’s commitment to Civic Tourism principles will take another step forward on October 3-4 with a two-day working conference titled Civic Tourism in Ohio’s Hill Country.  The event will open with the unveiling of our on-line Civic Tourism Webzine featuring Civic Tourism examples in the region.  The event will be enhanced and supported by the presence and participation of Dan Shilling, the author of Civic Tourism: The Poetry and Politics of Place who will share his concepts with participants through observation, reaction, recommendations and facilitation.   The second day will be anchored by working teams collaborating to recognize, package and market their unique and authentic stories, places and events as sustainable tourism products..  This activity’s intention is to provide impact beyond the gathering.
The event will take place in the boom-to-bust mining community of Shawnee in the Little Cities of Black Diamonds microregion in southern Perry County where local citizens have turned their rich history and location in the Wayne National Forest as a development asset against many socioeconomic odds.  The targeted audiences for the event are creative community builders and tourism advocates, including historians, arts purveyors and patrons, business owners, environmental stewards, outdoor enthusiasts, writers, travelers, organizers, civic leaders and activists, investors, philanthropists and governmental policy makers.
With the support of the Ohio Humanities Council, Ohio’s Hill Country Heritage Area has embraced Shilling’s work (and that of National Geographic Society’s Center for Sustainable Tourism’s geotourism principles) as the supporting framework for the organization’s mission of valuing the authentic historical, cultural and environmental assets found here in the hills of Ohio.  Utilizing this conference, and Roaming The Hills events during 2010 and 2011, the OHCHA board is committed to motivating creative community builders about the importance of caring for stories, places, landscapes and cultural traditions for the benefit of local residents and future generations.  In doing so, places become unique and are valued by others who are intrigued by the authentic assets that are only found in particular places, rather than “anywhere USA.”  Shilling, has identified the role such unique places take in developing a more sane and sustainable tourism strategy.  He organized these principles into three key, but simple, strategies:

Invest In The Story – Connect to People – Rethink  Economics

Though simple, the first two of these strategies are often overlooked by the pressure to economically benefit as quickly as possible.  Often times, money is made quickly by creating tourism attractions regardless of local authenticity, but seldom do they stand the test of time, often leading to blight, broken promises and lack of ownership by local communities.  By investing in the special sense of place that comes from authentic local experience, the economic outcomes are often much different.  Most notably, profits and growth are slower to develop, but they are more likely to be lasting.   Examples of this in Ohio’s Hill Country include the restoration of Opera Houses in a number of communities.  It takes significant investment of time and money by local people, but once completed these unique spaces anchor downtown redevelopment and bring visitors to the community, who join with local citizens in enjoying the local product.
The conference, and registration, will be divided into two days.  On Wednesday, October 3, the morning will be devoted to exploring Civic Tourism principles and examples from Ohio’s Hill Country, with the afternoon reserved for observations, reactions and recommendations from Shilling as well as Melinda Huntley, Director of the Ohio Travel Association who will bring the pragmatic pressures of the traditional tourism model to bear on the high standards of Civic and Geotourism principles.  This day is set aside for general audiences from all locales who are interested giving consideration to Civic Tourism principles and gaining support for their local efforts, regardless of geography.
The conference will get down to hands-on implementation on Thursday, October 4 as teams of creative community builders from the region’s Hocking and Muskingum River Valleys in southeastern Ohio will share their authentic assets with one another and then collaboratively work to package them into tourism products while identifying ways to jointly market the special “sense of place” that this sub-region of OHCHA possesses for residents, visitors and entrepreneurs.  This region includes Athens, Fairfield, Hocking,  Meigs, Muskingum, Morgan, Perry and Washington Counties. Although the focus will be on a specific area, guests from outside the region will be welcomed as observers, reactors and by support to the working teams. Shilling and Huntley will be present on this day as well.
Cost is $35 for general audiences on Day One, and $40 for working team participants for both days.  General audience members who wish to attend both days may do so at a reduced rate of $60.  Submit the registration form and then send your payment to OHCHA; P. O. Box 114; Shawnee, Ohio  43782.  For more information e-mail us at admin@ohiohillcountry.org or call John Winnenberg at 740-707-1775.