There are a lot of special people in this community, unsung heroes that seem to go far out of their way for you and me. It might be helping you out in the garden, lending their expertise as master gardeners, or just serving you consistently and delightfully in a favored restaurant. Perhaps it’s the people in period costumes at the Historical Society gathering spending their day walking about the green talking about the history associated with our particular town. Isn’t it about time we recognize some of these people who do so much for us and make our lives just a little nicer? I’m sure that you could instantly come up with people in your lives that qualify for this honor.
I recently met the group of women and men from the Mantua Historical Society and the Mantua Center Church Smile Team that tirelessly and relentlessly put on this function called Behind the Scenes Look at Small Town Ohio History. This included Dottie Summerlin, Carolin Newell, Kathy Hughes, Lynn Harvey, Linda and Nick Ehlert, Lois Summerlin, Kayla Metzger, Mary Mader, Pat Hoskin, Kathy Newell, Becky Tipton, Ollie Alger, and Roger Hurd. If you’ve mucked about Mantua for the past five to fifty years you quickly realize that these names, these people are the often behind the scenes movers and shakers of this community. They are all inner connected through various church groups, service groups, food banks, Smile Team organizations and MaRSI (Save the Center School) groups. They came together and put on this Behind-the-Scenes gig on a somewhat less than ideal middle of the weekday, a Thursday. This kind of event held on a Saturday would likely guarantee more interest and attendance. Despite this, 36 local people climbed the steep steps to the Historical Society attic to page through books of collected paraphernalia, articles, memorabilia and photographs, and listen to 1960s and 70s music performed by a sharp local group. There was a great deal of interest in the Mantua Center Christian Church, the oldest Disciples of Christ Congregation in the State. I believe that the excellent series Exploring your Roots by Louis Gates Jr. on Public TV has spurred on a good deal of interest by the people exploring their roots phenomenon. And as always, perhaps 50 or more people came to partake of a great home-made lunch lovingly prepared by these ladies. Two very antique automobiles owned by Historical Society members were parked strategically next to the Town Hall which generated an endless discussion that kept Jerry Siracki, an original Mantua-Hiram native and Model “A” expert, busy all morning and afternoon showing and displaying these early forms of transportation that were once common as dandelions in these parts. If you wanted to, you got the chance to sit in one of them.
Dottie Summerlin, the current president, Carolin Newell, treasurer, Kathy Hughes, vice president, Lois Summerlin, secretary, Linda Ehlert and Mary Mader are the six members that worked tirelessly and collaborated with the Ohio History Connection—Ohio Open Doors to put on this event and cooperate with a Barn Painting expert who gave a talk on painting barns. Truth be told these five ladies have interchangeably assumed these leadership positions over the years. Such is the nature of small-town America where there never seems to be enough people willing to step forward, help or lead.
When an event such as this is sponsored and successfully pulled off, the inevitable rehashing of the event reveals what went well, what needs help, and what do we need to do next. What went well is this; The community turned out to see what was going on! Plenty of people volunteered their talents ranging from cooking and baking, dressing in period clothing, manning display and flea market tables, to people just perusing the memorabilia, listening to and recording the music, talking to people about old cars and history of the area. Old cars-antiques prior to say 1950—are increasingly recognized as historical vehicles and as such tend to draw lots of people in to talk. We heard, “Dad always talked about these, Grandpa drove one of these to work, etc., etc., etc.” Not so much the cars newer than say, 1960, but the really old cars tend to pull in the people.
There was definitely an indication of ‘can we do more of this?’ I can think of Soiree possibilities—an evening party featuring food, local speakers, and music ranging from old timey to old country, to 50s and 60s music that many people over 65 heard and danced to when they were young. Old car shows and tractor shows could be sponsored, flea markets featuring local old and antique items, the list goes on all under the moniker of Historical Society.
Because of the recent focus on Exploring Our Roots, and the decided enthusiasm displayed by the attendees we need to now look at how the politicians in Mantua Township handle this Historical Society. While the Mantua Center Green has much historical significance with its century old buildings and church there is currently no handicapped accessibility in the Town Hall building where the Historical Society is housed. One currently must be pushed in a wheelchair out in the rain, snow, sleet, and hail to the Civic Center uphill 40 or more yards away. I’m sorry but this does not in any way qualify as handicapped accessible and I believe that the State of Ohio will agree with me. As well, the narrow, steep ancient stairs leading to the tiny attic—the actual Historical Society meeting place and where everything is stored– are difficult to impossible to negotiate for all but the youngest of our township people. The bathroom situation and meeting place up high Renaissance steep stairs is simply deplorable. This has to change with some immediacy so that the members and the public do not get injured.
The Historical Society is in great need of new and additional volunteers. Currently there are a couple newer people, namely Kayla Metzger and Jessica Baloun who are computer and website whizzes that have been instrumental in writing grants and setting up the website. The Township Trustee have ‘sort of’ suggested a couple of things but very realistically there are far too many strings attached for a small, volunteer organization made up of mostly people over 65. After all the Historical Society showcases their township and handiwork. You and I know that the local politicians ought to be providing free housing and services for this organization.
An alternative place, perhaps in the Village, needs to be explored. It would be nice to have a local benefactor who might provide such a space. Also, gratis legal counsel needs to be provided by a local law firm interested in preserving our community history. Are you listening out there? This is a plea for help! We need to very much protect these special people in our community.
