13th Annual Program Provides Glimpse Into Lives of Past Wood County Citizens
The 13th annual Wood County Living History Day is Sunday, Aug. 28 at 2 p.m. at Oak Grove Cemetery on the campus of BGSU, Bowling Green, Ohio. Local residents portray citizens interred in Wood County and local cemeteries to promote local history. 2016 Honorees were chosen because of the Wood County Historical Center & Museum’s 2016 theme of collecting. This event is free and open to the public.
“A Joyful Noise” will provide music before the event. Parking is available in the cemetery, as well as on the adjacent BGSU campus. The Wood County Sheriff’s Department will provide free rides up to the mound where the program will be held, with usher services provided by the BG Kiwanis Aktion Club. Chairs are available, although those attending are encouraged to bring a lawn chair. In case of heavy rain, the program will be moved to the First United Methodist Church, 1506 E. Wooster Street.
2016 honorees are:
DOMINICK LABINO (1909-1987) – Co-founder of the studio glass movement in America and notable glass artist and collector with ties to Grand Rapids, Owens-Illinois, and the Toledo Museum of Art. Portrayed by Jamie Tompson
DOROTHY UBER BRYAN (1924-2001) – Bowling Green native known for “The Chemo Paintings” series, created during her struggle with cancer. Dorothy and her husband, Ashel, were philanthropists and patrons of the arts. Portrayed by Katherine Hollingsworth, daughter of Dorothy Bryan
ELLA DISHONG (1866-1948) – Owner of a general store in Hoytville full of antiques with husband Uriah Dishong until 1957. Portrayed by Nancy Buchanan
LLOYD WEDDELL (1916-1991) – A Luckey-area woodworking artist. Hand-carved fiddles and figurines are collected by local enthusiasts. Portrayed by Bob Willman, his son-in-law.
JERRY HAGERTY (1901-1999) – A collector of Indian relics and first caretaker of the Wood County Historical Center and Museum. Portrayed by Zach Robb
FLOY (1923-1997) & EARL SHAFFER (1914-2008) – Earl was a high school chemistry teacher at Bowling Green High School and also collected toy trains. Floy studied ceramics at Bowling Green State University and was an award-winning nationally known ceramicist whose work was featured several times in Ceramics Monthly.
Portrayed by Mary Dennis & Bob Midden
A DVD of the event will be available for purchase for $15 by contacting the Wood County Historical Society at 419-352-0967 by September 1, 2016. This event was made possible by the Kiwanis Club of Bowling Green, WBGU-TV, Exchange Club of BG, Portage Center Arbor Gleaners 524 , Women’s Club of Bowling Green, Wood County Genealogical Society, and the Wood County Historical Society.
Event details and past honorees can be found at woodcountyhistory.org
