Nancy Stranahan protects wildlands at the Arc of Appalachia pg. 40
Tiny dogs and big dreams at Marietta's Dachshund Derby pg. 4
Pro wrestling meets philanthropy with Spot Monkey Promotions pg. 22
Editor-In-Chief
Abreanna Blose
Managing Editor
Emma Erion
Deputy Editor
Caroline Kammerer
Copy Chief
Sabine Obermoller
Section Editors
Kendall Bergeron
Bea Traum
Sabine Obermoller
Matt Dragani
Digital Editor-n-Chief
Lydia Perry
Web Editor Mia Ashby
Social Media Editor
Kennedy Stana
Multimedia Editor
Dylan Thatcher
Photo Editor
Jessica Horner
Design Director
Jack Rabe
Faculty Advisor
Kelly K. Fergison
Letter from the Editor
Home is a feeling—a sense of belonging that transcends physical space.
As a Northeast Ohio resident who found my way to Athens for school, Southeast Ohio quickly became more than just a college destination, it became a second home–a sentiment echoed by my fellow classmates and colleagues.
Over the past four months, the Southeast Ohio magazine staff has explored the region, coming to understand why so many people proudly call it home. We have discovered that home flourishes at the intersection of shared experiences and deep connections. And we were welcomed at every turn.
We met a visionary in Zanesville, who brings aviation history to life through art (pg.30); witnessed a Washington County bakery (pg.8), where adversity is transformed into possibility; and found serenity in a yoga dome in Ross County (pg.16). We explored the ancient forests of the Arc of Appalachia, which carry the whispers of the past, (pg.40) and we discovered Welsh roots right under our feet (pg.26).
Whether or not you call Southeast Ohio “home,” I invite you to reflect on your lived experiences in the place you call your own, the people you cherish or the passions you pour your heart into. Home is a feeling, and in Southeast Ohio, it surrounds us. I hope these pages bring that feeling to you.
Happy reading, Abreanna Blose
WWW.SOUTHEASTOHIOMAGAZINE.COM
On The Cover
Nancy Stranahan, executive director of the Arc of Appalachia, preserves Southeast Ohio wildlands. Photo by Jessica Horner
Mission Statement
Southeast Ohio strives to spotlight the culture and community within our 21-county region. The student-run magazine aims to inform, entertain and inspire readers with stories that hit close to home.
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Contact Us
Southeast Ohio magazine
E.W. Scripps School of Journalism
1 Ohio University Athens, Ohio 45701
Abreanna Blose
Table of Contents
The Scene
4 | Dachsh-ing Toward the Finish Line
Tiny champions compete in Marietta’s inaugural Dachshund Derby
Behind The Bite
6 | More than a Marketplace
New Leaf Marketplace fosters healing for survivors
8 | Sweet Victories
Jeremy Stutler bakes inspiration at One Left Bakery
Talking Points
12 | Remembering the USS Shenandoah
100 Years Later, a tragic crash still resonates in Noble County
14 | From Rescue to Recovery
Jordan Castello gives hope to injured wildlife
In Your Neighborhood
16 | Dome of Her Own
Marci Hedderson-Carroll provides a yoga oasis
20| “ Who you gonna call?” P.R.I.S.M
A Lawrence County paranormal society explores haunted history
22 | Smackdowns for a Cause
Spot Monkey Promotions fundraises with pro wrestling
26 | Where theres a Hwyle theres a way
Dan Rowbotham preserves Southeast Ohio’s Welsh history
28 | Potato Salads and Banjo Ballads
Pennyroyal Opera House showcases weekly Bluegrass shows
Feature Well
30 | Art takes flight in Zanesville
Ron Cole’s museum blends aviation history with art
34 | Building on the Past
How historic buildings granted new life through adaptive reuse
40 | A little bit Wilder
Nancy Stranahan works to preserve Appalachian wildlands
What’s Your Story?
46 | Friggin' make Music
Renée Stewart discusses healing through music
Dachsh-----ing Toward the Finish Line
Tiny champions compete in Marietta’s inaugural Dachshund Derby
STORY AND PHOTOS BY Jessica Horner
The people of Marietta buzz with excitement as 130 wiener dogs of all ages, shapes, mixes and colors strut from Armory Park to Muskingum Park. In a stylish parade, the pups show off their costumes to inaugurate the Marietta Main Street Dachshund Derby October 19, 2024 in Washington County.
After the parade, they’re off to the races, competing in one of five categories: Lil Smokies (puppy-1 year), Frankfurters (2-3 years), Bratwurst (4-5 years), Schnitzel (6-8 years) and Knockwurst (9+ years), closing with a mixed-breed race.
In addition to racing, contests such as best costume, longest dog, shortest legs and more are held inside small businesses in downtown Marietta. Jen Tinkler, Marietta Main Street’s executive director, says the goal of the Dachshund Derby is to bring people to the surrounding shops and restaurants, showcasing what the area has to offer. The $5 entrance fee supports Marietta Main Street, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the historic downtown.
“With everything we do, our mission is to bring people downtown to enjoy, enhance and preserve downtown Marietta,” Tinkler says.
The derby collaborated with the Humane Society of the Mid-Ohio Valley, encouraging people to give donations, pet food or even adopt a furry friend.
Costumes include hot dogs, spiders, cartoon characters, sports fans and more. The first Dachshund Derby delights old and converted Dachshund fanatics, leaving smiles as wide as a wiener dog.
More than a Marketplace
New Leaf Marketplace cultivates recipes for specialty coffees, delicious baked goods and a healthy healing process for survivors
STORY BY Abreanna Blose // PHOTOS BY Jessica Horner
Located in Nelsonville’s Historic Public Square, New Leaf Marketplace might look like a typical café at first glance. A vibrant mural lines the interior walls. Dozens of plants bloom upon windowsills and shelves. The air is thick with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and mouthwatering baked goods –muffins, cookies and brownies.
Behind the warm atmosphere and delectable goods, New Leaf Marketplace offers more: a program dedicated to uplifting
trauma survivors. The program is built on the belief that economic empowerment and education are vital to breaking the cycles of poverty, substance misuse and other systemic challenges.
The New Leaf program—a branch of the Survivor Advocacy Outreach Program (SAOP)— provides participants with a range of services including housing, counseling, childcare and legal advocacy. The marketplace also serves as a supportive, traumainformed workplace for survivors.
“Whether that’s post-substance abuse or post-incarceration or postdomestic violence, we have a very broad definition of trauma in this program. All those things qualify,” Chelsea Dodson, SAOP Workforce Development Program Manager says. “People come here to learn what they need to reintegrate into whatever world they choose to lead into.”
Every penny customers spend at the marketplace goes back into the program, according to Madison Trace, the interim executive director of SAOP.
BELOW: New Leaf Marketplace is located in Nelsonville’s Historic Public Square in Athens County.
“They (program participants) don’t have to pay anything out of pocket for their housing, their case management, their counseling,” Trace says. “The money that we make at the marketplace helps fund all of those services back to survivors.”
Although New Leaf Marketplace customers might come at first to support a good cause, the service and quality of products garner rave reviews.
Confections are all made from scratch by two program participants, who facilitate a rotating bakery menu with new items appearing in the cases regularly.
“We have a professional kitchen. We’re so lucky,” Dodson says. “I just say, ‘Make whatever you want, because it’s always good.’”
While staples like muffins, bagels, ice cream and cookies are consistently available, the bakers also introduce specialty items such as lemon bars, cosmic-style brownies and coconut macaroons.
The drink menu likewise offers a selection of tempting beverages: “Bikes, Bricks and Boots,” a creamy caramel latte; “Train Car & Concerts,” a peppermint patty latte; and “Purple Chai,” a lavender-flavored chai latte, rank among customer’s favorites.
Alongside house-made goods and specialty coffee creations, Dodson works to cultivate a local network. New Leaf Marketplace exclusively serves Dirty Girl Coffee, a Glouster-based company dedicated to women’s economic empowerment in Appalachia. The marketplace also showcases local artisans, selling a range of goods from paintings to handmade soaps and mugs.
Customers, drawn to the sense of locality and hospitality, quickly become regulars.
“The people who work here know them by first name basis,” Dodson says. “They know the drink you’re going to order. They see you walking down the street, and they start working on your order.”
Hannah Kittle, an Athens County Library outreach associate, stops at the marketplace nearly every day during her morning commute. Kittle orders a coffee and a freshly baked slice of savory bread.
“They make this great focaccia bread,” she says. “It’s delicious.”
Kittle returns time after time for the baked goods, but also eager to fund New Leaf’s mission. “How they help people get back on their feet in the program, I just think it’s really spectacular,” Kittle says.
While the café staff appreciates how paying regulars such as Kittle help fund the mission, they take great pride in welcoming everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.
“It is incredible the amount of growth that you see so quickly when people are just given a safe place to be.”
-Chelsea Dodson, SAOP Workforce Development Program Manager
“If you need a safe place; if you need a warm place; if you need an air-conditioned place; if you need a bathroom; if you need a cup of water; if you need some food, we’re here to provide that for our community, because that’s what we’re here to do,” Dodson says.
The marketplace is more than just a café—it’s a second chance and a place where people can rebuild, thrive and grow.
“I have learned so much about what it means to be a leader and what it means to be resilient because of this program,” Dodson says. “It is incredible the amount of growth that you see so quickly when people are just given a safe place to be.”
ABOVE: New Leaf Marketplace offers a vairety of locally made truffle flavors including Almond Latte, Caramel Crunch, S’mores and Mint Julep.
Sweet Victories
How Jeremy Stutler turns physical limitations into delicious inspiration at One Left Bakery
After a life-altering stroke left him unable to use his right arm, Jeremy Stutler decided to reclaim his independence and utilize his baking skills. Now, he is the proud owner of One Left Bakery in Marietta, proving he can turn his challenges into a sweet success.
Previously, Jeremy worked as a chemical engineer for Chevron Phillips Chemical Company. The stroke in 2008 induced aphasia, a disorder that makes it difficult to read, write and communicate. It is caused by damage to parts of the brain that control language abilities. He began rehabilitation, physical and speech therapy, working to regain the skills he lost.
Jeremy met his wife, Carrie Stulter, while in physical therapy. Jeremy and Carrie eventually married and had two boys. During
the boys’ early childhood, Jeremy was primarily a stay-at-home dad. Once his kids were in school, Jeremy decided it was time to start a new career.
Carrie mentions that people with aphasia are limited in their daily interactions and careers due to the physical effects of the disorder. She emphasizes how the bakery offers Jeremy a platform to be social and have daily interactions with customers.
“We had gone to Dayton, Ohio at one point to try and find (Jeremy) a job match. They basically told him, because of your aphasia and your use of one arm, it’s going to have to be a very niche work environment,” Carrie says.
His cookies are the perfect balance of chewy and crispy. Each cookie brings out rich, comforting flavors for individuals with both classic and adventurous taste. Similarly, Jeremy’s scones burst with flavor, making each bite memorable.
“It fit in well with his chemical engineering degree,” Carrie says. “(He has an understanding) on how to combine things and how to use that science part of his brain.”
Jeremy brings up stuffed kolaches, one of his most popular baked goods. Stuffed kolaches are a Czechoslovakian dish that he was introduced to while working and living in Texas. Each kolache starts with a sweet, pillowy dough, and is filled with a savory mix of filling to
However, Jeremy was sure to not let aphasia define him. He ties together his background of chemical engineering, the science of baking and talent for combining flavors to craft delicious baked goods that draw in new customers daily.
STORY BY Lydia Perry // PHOTOS BY Lydia Perry AND Jessica Horner
OPPOSITE PAGE: Jeremy Stutler, owner of One Left Bakery, holds up a tray of fresh baked German chocolate cookies.
RIGHT: Stutler's freshly baked apple scone is filled with apple, sprinkled with cinnamon and drizzled with glaze.
balance out the sweet roll. Jeremy’s kolaches are stuffed with 14 varieties of fillings from melted cheddar to spicy jalapeños.
“I love to bake,” Jeremy says. “I love the passion (for) baking stuffed kolaches, cookies and scones.”
Jeremy also notices that there are not many people in the area selling scones, which makes those sold at One Left Bakery another popular item.
Carrie recalls the moment Jeremy asked for her opinion on opening a bakery next to their home. She noted that she would be his cheerleader, but told him, “You are the only one [who] knows how to do math and science.”
Construction of the bakery encountered obstacles just after they began building in 2020, due to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. After setbacks from the pandemic,
ABOVE: Fresh German chocolate cookies on the tray while Stutler works to box up cookies inside his bakery.
BELOW: Chocolate chip, s’mores, frosting filled and German chocolate cookies boxed up and ready to be enjoyed.
“I can tell you from a wife’s perspective, how proud Jeremy is of his creation.”
-Carrie Stutler
including an 18-month long build, and other delays, Jeremy’s One Left Bakery opened Sept. 17, 2022.
“He wants to feel capable, relevant and be able to provide a service that people want,” Carrie says. “Being a business owner allows him that flexibility.”
Jeremy works primarily independently, with only one employee who comes in once a week to help Jeremy with operations.
Jeremy sees more than 20 customers each month. A loyal fanbase of Facebook users eagerly comment, like and share Jeremy’s freshly baked goods. These regulars are important
ingredients for Jeremy’s recipe.
Angie Henniger, a mom who lives outside of Marietta is a regular customer at One Left Bakery. “My daughter loved (Jeremy’s) strawberry white chocolate scones,” Henniger says.
Henniger emphasizes Jeremy’s character and talent for baking. “When (Jeremy) found out that my daughter loved his scones, he would start messaging me to let me know when they were in his lineup on the menu,” she says.
The delicious, freshly baked goods, paired with Jeremy’s charisma and outgoing personality create a fantastic experience for anyone visiting One Left Bakery.
Website: https://oneleftbakery.com
Phone: (740) 706 - 1460
Hours: Tuesday: 7:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Wednesday-Friday: 7:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
One Left Bakery: 20 Rummer Rd. Marietta, OH 45750
ABOVE: Jeremy Stuttler's stuffed kolache, filled with cheddar cheese, beans and corn.
Remembering the USS Shenandoah
100 years later, a tragic crash still resonates in Noble County
STORY BY Matt Dragani // PHOTOS BY Jessica Horner and U.S. Navy Photo
During the early morning hours of Sept. 3, 1925, a fierce storm tears through the skies of Noble County. The USS Shenandoah is no match for the relentless squall. As the ship falls apart midair, flaming debris rains down over the fields below. The tragedy results in the death of 14 of 43 airmen. Nearly 100 years later, the crash is still recognized as one of the region’s most jarring events.
“I’ve read some stories where the dirigible was tossed around a thousand feet at a time,” Jeff Minosky says, a local historian at the Noble County Historical Society.
The USS Shenandoah was the first of three dirigibles launched in the U.S. It was constructed in the mid-1920s, followed by the USS Akron and the USS Macon. The second two ships crashed within 10 years of the Shenandoah disaster.
At the time, airships were high-tech innovations that were considered the future of military operations and navigational travel.
According to the Naval History and Heritage Command, the vessel measured almost 700 feet long and weighed 77,500 pounds, and the airships could reach speeds near 70 miles per hour. The USS Shenandoah was the first of its kind to make a transcontinental flight and the first airship to incorporate helium-based flight instead of highly flammable hydrogen tanks. Hydrogen would be the downfall of other airships, including the infamous Hindenburg disaster of 1937.
The USS Shenandoah launched
BELOW: Photos and memorabilia of the crash at the Historic Jail and Museum in Noble County.
on August 20, 1923, as a promotional stunt to travel across the Midwest’s various local and state fairs.
“It would be so foreign to the people here. A lot of them were still private Model T’s and horse and buggies still in Noble County. So, it’d be like the equivalent of the space shuttle crashing in Noble County,” Minosky says.
Two years later and after flying over more than 40 cities, the USS Shenandoah collided with the earth, leaving the surrounding region peppered in rubble and debris for months afterwards.
“There’s basically three crash sites in Noble County ... One is a farm, and that’s where the control car crashed. It broke off of the main unit and crashed and killed everybody in the control car. Then the site two, if you come down I 77 South, about the 32-mile marker ... The third crash site is out by Sharon. The bow of the ship actually free floated with a few men aboard and a farmer out there. They threw it down a rope to him, and he was able to tie it off,” Minosky says.
Looters raided the crash sites for burnt memorabilia—scraps of the dirigible’s shell, bits of shattered
metal and other surviving parts. This practice became illegal once the U.S. Navy stepped in to formally investigate.
The Navy found several release pressure valves had been removed to make the ship more buoyant, although the official cause of the crash was attributed to turbulence.
Today, many family members
of the locals who gathered debris from the original site have returned pieces out of respect for history and the victims of the crash.
Several memorial sites have been constructed by the Navy and the families of the deceased across Noble County. A yearly memorial service is held in late August to commemorate the incident. Today, descendants of crew members, victims’ grandchildren and even great-grandchildren pay tribute.
The local high school named after the Shenandoah has its marching band play at the service every year.
As the 100th anniversary of the crash approaches, an area full of new people and new families all recognize and respect the tragic turn of events that happened on that September day in 1925.
Though time has passed, generations in Noble County remember and pay tribute.
Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
BELOW: Sightseers surround the wreckage of the Shenandoah's rear section shortly after the crash. / Photo courtesy of Naval History and Heritage Command
Historic Jail & Museum: 419 West St. Caldwell, OH 43724
ABOVE: Onlookers view the wrecked airship toward the back along the port side. / Photo courtesy of Naval History and Heritage Command
From Rescue to Recovery
Jordan Castello’s rehabilitation center gives new hope to injured and orphaned wildlife
STORY BY Kendall Bergeron// PHOTOS Provided
On a warm July day in 2022, an injured southern flying squirrel teeters on the edge of survival. Laying on the forest floor, her small, delicate body is unable to heal itself after sustaining life-threatening injuries. Her oncestrong limbs, built for soaring through the trees, have failed her.
She faces the grim realities of the wild—prolonged suffering or a violent strike from a predator. Just as her fate seems sealed, a human hand appears, lifting her gently from the ground. Her rescuer cares for her for six months before surrendering her to Jordan Castello, the founder of Feronia Wildlife Rehabilitation in Belmont County.
“I’ve had a love for animals my entire life,” Castello says.
Castello named the young flying squirrel Skye and works to provide her with the best life possible in captivity, but Skye can never be released into the wild—her injuries are permanent.
Though Skye’s initial rescuer’s intentions were good, they likely did more harm than good. Her injuries and her imprinting on people could have been prevented with the help of a professional rehabilitator.
Castello obtained an education permit for Skye. Now, the pair is permitted to travel together, teaching crowds about local wildlife rehabilitation.
Feronia Wildlife Rehabilitation is the first and only wildlife rehabilitation in Belmont County and most surrounding counties. Castello manages the entire nonprofit out of her home in Bethesda. She helps around 75-100 animals a year.
Feronia falls under the identification of a home-based rehab, meaning it must follow different protocols than larger rehabilitation centers. Feronia cannot be open for public visitation.
Castello says her mother always told her, “give back to this world more than you take.” She has adopted this life motto, expressing that rehabilitating
wildlife is how she gives back to the world.
In 2013, Castello earned a degree in zoology from Kent State University. While she did not use her degree much formally, she was always the one that people brought local animals to when they were in need. One day, someone brought Castello baby opossums.
“I can’t keep these (opossums),
BELOW: Jordan Castello cares for numerous wild animals at the center.
that's against the law! They're wild animals!” Castello said.
Castello took them to the nearest licensed wildlife rehabilitator in Zanesville. A year later, she received more opossums and made another trip to the same animal rehab. This time, she saw it as a sign.
“I have my degree in zoology, and I absolutely love these guys. What do I have to do?” Castello said.
The Zanesville rehabilitator showed Castello the ropes. She has been rehabilitating wildlife ever since. Castello is now certified to rehabilitate, handle and care for a variety of animals such as songbirds, opossums, raptor birds, waterfowl, chipmunks and rabbits.
Castello believes this planet belongs to animals; we just live on it. She wants people to know how to properly help an injured or orphaned wild animal with as little interference as possible.
If an animal needs help, Castello advises gently putting it into a box that will keep it warm and placing it somewhere dark, quiet and safe.
Then, she suggests a visit to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' website for more information before contacting the nearest rehabilitation center.
It is illegal to keep a wild animal without a license or permit. The best thing for a wild animal in need is to eventually release it. If that is not possible, it’s best for qualified rehabilitators to care for the animal in captivity.
Castello adds that kitten milk and other foods that are rumored to be suitable for baby wildlife are not good for them.
“Those things that you buy at the farm store aren't good for the wildlife,” Castello says. “Can they survive on it and has it been done? Yes—but it does not mean that it's healthy for them. (Rehabilitators are) trained and know where to get the things that are specifically healthy for those animals.”
Additionally, Castello strongly advises people to keep their cats inside and to only allow them outside on a ‘catio’ (an enclosed space outside designated for pet cats.) Besides the
dangers that the outside poses to cats, they also overwhelmingly contribute to the loss of local wildlife. Because of the bacteria in a cat’s saliva, even a small bite can be fatal.
Castello works pro-bono. The operation costs come out of her pocket and from donations. Though grants are available for rehabs, Castello says they are extremely competitive, and Feronia has not yet received any.
“The reward, payment and fulfillment come from seeing an animal grow to become an adult and knowing that, without what we did to help it, it wouldn't exist,” Castello says. “That’s payment enough for me.”
If a wild animal needs help:
1) Gently put it in a box
2) Place it in a warm, dark, quiet and safe place
3) Visit the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Website at ohiodnr.gov to find a rehabilitation center nearest to you
ABOVE: A young squirrel in Castello’s care
Dome of her Own
Marci Hedderson-Carroll’s Geode Nature
Dome provides an Appalachian oasis for yoga, adventure, peace and escape
STORY BY Sabine Obermoller // PHOTOS BY Lydia Perry
ABOVE: Instructor Bethany Garrett leads a sound bath meditation.
At the age of 15, Marci Hedderson-Carroll began practicing yoga. She kept it a secret from her friends, embarrassed by what they might think. Today, she shares her vocation loud and proud, running a onewoman nature dome tucked away in a Chillicothe forest.
Geode Nature Dome is a local yoga and activity center, surrounded by vibrant greenery, the crunch of leaves, sounds of birds chirping and twigs snapping—all offering an oasis under the trees.
Equipped with a hiking trail, a geodesic glamping pod, a barefoot playground and a greenhouse shower, the dome provides a getaway for visitors looking to escape their hectic lives and minds.
“I try to help people find their true north, especially in a chaotic world,” Hedderson-Carroll says. “I think a lot of people aren’t really living their true selves.”
Geode domes are considered ideal settings for yoga retreats because of their ability to allow people to be immersed in nature in a space where they can tap into their energies.
For 30 years, Hedderson-Carroll worked for the Ohio State Highway Patrol, but long hours of driving led to persistent back pains. She turned to yoga as a way of healing. Once she realized how beneficial the practice was for her body, she decided to become a certified yoga instructor.
“I’m living a more peaceful life. I’m slowing down,” HeddersonCarroll says. “I’m getting ready to gear up to do retreats and workshops for people who want to learn how to do that as well. Finding simplicity,
clearing the clutter and finding clarity is my goal for my clients.”
Hedderson-Carroll manages every aspect of her business ranging from social media, the website, planning, emails and even cleaning. The dome offers a variety of adventurous experiences
“ I try to help people find their true north, especially in a chaotic world.”
-Marci Hedderson-Carroll, owner of Geode Nature Dome
outside of yoga, such as stand-up paddleboarding, rappelling and kayaking. The only rule is that activities align with the motto, “come for the thrill, stay for the chill.”
People who visit the dome can expect to leave in a “blissful state of mind,” Hedderson-Carroll says.
Joya Elmore, director of environment-based learning at Wellington School in Columbus, is a frequent visitor to the dome. Thanks to a grant at the school aimed to focus on faculty well-being, she was able to bring a group of colleagues on a retreat to work on mindfulness.
“We encourage teachers to practice mindfulness at school, but it’s really hard to teach something if
ABOVE: Marci Hedderson-Carroll poses in front of Geode Nature Dome.
you don’t have the opportunity (to try it) for yourself,” Elmore says.
The retreat allowed colleagues to form stronger connections, disconnect from technology and be present in the moment.
Kelly Nedrow, a lawyer, has been a yoga instructor for the center since the start. She highlights the inner circle the dome has created for women, especially.
“Marci has really created that space where we can commune with each other and find people who can touch each other’s hearts,” Nedrow says.
Hedderson-Carroll’s goal is to create a safe space for all.
“The mission is to find rest in real time, to step into nature, connect with nature, clear your mind, free your mind, and get back to center,” she says.
“I grew up in geodesic domes, so this is extra special to be able to share this kind of space. I think that this place offers a chance for us to connect to something that is bigger than us,” Elmore says.
ABOVE: Wellington School teachers meditate in the forest . Geode Nature Dome
BELOW: The Geode Nature Dome offers mindfulness in the heart of a Chillicothe forest.
“Who ya gonna call?”
PRISM!
How a Lawrence County paranormal society uncovers local haunted histories
STORY BY Matt Dragani // PHOTOS BY Lydia Perry
As a child, Vineta Shope awoke in the middle of the night to the sound of someone cooking in the kitchen—the unmistakable rattle of pans and silverware. The next morning, her grandmother asked why she had been up so late. Confused, Shope insisted she had not been in the kitchen, although this behavior was reminiscent of her late grandfather. No one admitted to the late-night culinary adventure, leaving one explanation: her grandfather’s spirit had paid them a visit.
“We called (maternal grandparents) Big Mommy and Big Daddy. And I said, Big Mommy, that was you. You got up and went in there and got something to eat. And she said, when I walked past you, was I dragging my feet? And when she said that I automatically knew that it was Big Daddy, who had passed away,” Shope says.
Today, Shope applies her
attunement to the spirit world to run PRISM, the Ohio Paranormal Research Investigation Society in Motion in Lawrence County. PRISM leads ghost hunts across Southeast Ohio. These hunts take place in some of the most notable haunted locations in the state. The region has historic homes, empty buildings and abandoned mines—all attractive locations for a potential specter.
PRISM was founded by Shope and her husband in 2004. Since the organization’s inception, it has become larger and better-equipped, now working with a total of 12 members.
PRISM is dedicated to its mission of identifying and communing with all varieties of ghosts, spirits, apparitions and any other unexplained phenomena. If it’s paranormal, they’ll find it—though Shope wouldn’t describe these phenomena that way.
“There really isn’t a paranormal.
There’s just the normal that people can see and the normal that people can’t,” Shope says.
By day, Shope works as a special education teacher in the Ironton City School District. She enjoys her work but finds a different sort of fulfillment from PRISM.
Shope’s mother and grandmother encouraged her interest in the spectral plane. Throughout her life, Shope has witnessed things she could not easily explain. Once, during an investigation in the Chesapeake Community Center, she describes being thrown against a wall by an unknown entity.
Shope believes that her background gives her a unique connection to the supernatural. In addition to public hunts, PRISM works with individuals to identify potentially dangerous spirits in their homes and cleanse the spaces.
Shope explains how some spirits can be violent demonic presences—
ABOVE: Vineta Shope believes she senses a paranormal presence in Hotel McArthur in Vinton County.
which she refers to as “the worstcase scenario.” Most of the time, the spirits are benign with no intent to harm the living. But the process is always the same.
“We go in, we investigate, we compile our evidence and then sit down with the family to talk to them about it,” Shope says. “Almost all of the families ask for their house to be cleansed and blessed.”
Their equipment includes the standard gear employed by para-fessionals (paranormal professionals): EVP (electronic voice phenomenon) readers, EMF (electromagnetic frequency) readers and spirit boxes.
EVPs are intended to translate and record speech from spirits, and EMF readers are designed to detect abnormal electromagnetic frequencies in the immediate area—a sign of a ghost’s presence. Spirit boxes attempt to recreate a ghost’s voice by allowing them to manipulate nearby radio waves.
While the group has high-tech gadgets, Shope says she prefers the basics: a dowsing rod and a simple rubber ball.
Dowsing rods have been used for millennia to locate water, and Shope believes spirits can interact with the rods to make their presence known.
As for the ball, it’s one of the simplest objects and something every child is likely familiar with. When resting the ball on her palm, Shope asks a ghost to knock it off. If the ball moves or falls, the spirit has
made its presence known.
Shope also searches for cryptids across Southern Ohio and West Virginia, such as the iconic furball known as Bigfoot or Ohio Grassman. Though usually reported in the Northwest United States, in places like Oregon or Washington, Shope believes some may have migrated.
“One of our members had an experience near Moonville Tunnel. They saw something that appeared to be Bigfoot,” Shope says.
Julie Vance, a close friend of Shope and a member of PRISM, has a deep appreciation for the paranormal and seeing the group’s investigations grow.
“[PRISM keeps me young, I just kind of follow along with these young kids ... seeing what they get into,” Vance says.
When asked about skeptics, Shope slips a chuckle and pauses,
“If they want to figure it out, they need to just go out and experience it,” Shope says.
1039 County Road 4 Pedro, Ohio 45659
BELOW: PRISM uses “spirit boxes,” during paranormal investigations to contact ghosts.
ABOVE: The McArthur Hotel undergoes renovations in Vinton County. PRISM:
Smackdowns for a Cause
STORY BY Kennedy Stana // PHOTOS BY Jessica Horner
Spot Monkey Promotions brings pro-wrestling action to fundraise for school athletic departments
Doors open for the line at 6 p.m. outside the Peebles High School gym in Adams County, where audience members purchase lastminute tickets, get snacks at the concessions and meet some of the wrestlers. The gymnasium is loud as excited fans fill up the seats. Suddenly, an announcer takes the stage, telling the audience that the show is about to start.
Bell time: 7 p.m.
The wrestlers aren’t here for money, fame or glory. They are raising money for the Peebles High School Girls Basketball team as volunteers for Spot Monkey Promotions, an organization that plans fundraising events for school athletic departments around Southeast Ohio.
Tonight’s show will feature seven matches including the main event, a six-man match—three versus three. The wrestlers hope to raise $1,000 to $1,500 for athletic gear.
Spot Monkey first began in 2021. The economic stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic created a greater need for fundraisers to support athletic programs. Taylor started with his hometown of Williamsburg.
“The pandemic put a damper on the income for a lot of the athletic programs,” Taylor says. “They had been hurt so bad by the pandemic; they were certainly open to the idea of a fundraiser.”
Since then, Taylor has hosted wrestling match-style fundraisers throughout Southeast Ohio.
Tonight’s fundraiser started with Peebles Elementary School teacher, Justin Smith. When Smith—who has been watching WWE matches ever since he could walk—learned about Spot Monkey Promotions, it was love at first headlock. Smith approached Sidney Pell, head coach for the girls’ basketball team at Peebles High School, with the idea
of using Spot Monkey to fundraise for the team.
“Around here, Peebles basketball is the number one sport. I want to make sure the girls get the recognition they deserve, because I know how much time and effort Sid puts in,” Smith says.
The events have concessions, wrestler autographs, photo opportunities and merchandise. All ticket and concession sales go toward the Peebles Girls Basketball team.
“Pro wrestling has a stigma of being a whole bunch of beer bellied, middle aged men out there in their underwear, sweating and fake punching each other, but it truly is a pageantry event. These guys put their bodies on the line to entertain us, and all the money goes to a good cause,” Smith says.
The crowd comes alive as the main event begins: Team A features Carson Drake, Dalton McKenzie
ABOVE: Jake Omen (left), Jack Vaughn (middle) and Lord Crew (right) pose after winning their match.
and Aaron Williams. Team B includes Jack Vaughn, Jake Omen and Lord Crew.
The match heats up as Team A engages the crowd with some playful smack talk. The audience starts to boo Team A, making them the “villains” of the match and Team B the “heroes.”
The heroes set to work on the villains. The villains retaliate,
teaming up on hero Omen, tagging in and out in a merciless attack. Omen struggles in the ring until he finally taps in his teammates. Together, the heroes finally start to defeat the villains.
Drake remains the last villain standing. Though he tries with all his strength, he is unable to defeat his opponents. As the match comes to an end, the audience stands and
cheers with excitement.
While Spot Monkey loves to thrill their audience, they keep the show family friendly, inviting everyone to join in on the fun.
“There (is) no vulgarity, no foul language. Everything (is) good, clean, wholesome wrestling,” Smith says.
Professional wrestlers can be stereotyped as fakers, but Spot Monkey wrestler Chris Ledbetter, known as Sargent Ledbetter in the ring, is quick to defend his sport.
“Wrestling is 100% fake and 100% real at the exact same time, if that makes sense, because obviously we're going out there and we are cooperating with each other. We're putting on a show for the fans, and that's what matters,” Ledbetter says.
Everyone looks as if they were having the time of their lives, especially the girls’ basketball coach. Pell was up there with the wrestlers getting in on the action. She was the “coach” for one of the wrestlers helping him knock out his opponent.
“I've never actually been to one of these before, so I'm having a blast. It's a lot of fun,” Pell says.
The last bell rings at 9:30 p.m. Final count: Spot Monkey has raised $800 from ticket sales and $250 from concessions for a total of $1,050, meeting the team’s goal.
BELOW: Zachary Don slams Casey King on the ground during a wrestling match at Peebles High School.
Where there’s a hwyl there's a way
Dan Rowbotham preserves Southeast Ohio’s Welsh history
STORY AND PHOTOS BY Jack Rabe
Imagine the year 1818: six families set sail from a rocky coast, their only guide a pamphlet called The American Traveler, or Guide through the United States. The families make their way to Ohio, where they purchase 40 acres for $50. They have no idea their arrival will spark a migration of 3,000 to 4,000 Welsh settlers.
Today, it is estimated that about 100,000 people in the state can claim some Welsh descent, including famed Gallia County restaurant entrepreneur Bob Evans.
In Jackson County, Dan Rowbotham, another descendant of these original immigrants, works to connect the region to its Welsh roots. Dan Rowbotham now directs the Madoge Center for Welsh Studies at the University of Rio Grande, the only Welsh study center in the U.S. and Canada.
Rowbotham’s journey to his current position began in 2018 with a part-time internship at the Madoge Center, teaching Welsh
culture to elementary students. After a few years, Rowbotham received a life-changing offer: to become the director. Rowbotham recalls the moment vividly.
"The whole flight back to Heathrow in London, I literally didn't sleep,” Rowbotham says. “I put in my notes all my ideas and things I'd love to see and do."
One could say Rowbotham has a hywl for the culture, a Welsh word for expressing a stirring sensation, emotion and enthusiasm. He officially assumed his position as director in August of 2023.
According to Rowbotham, Welsh customs are often reflected in Southeast Ohio culture, even if people don't realize it. He often speaks to residents who are unaware of their Welsh traditions.
One example is quilting, a beloved pastime in the area and a Welsh tradition dating back hundreds
BELOW: The Jefferson Furnace in Jackson County, founded by Welsh immigrants, is a historic site known for producing quality iron during the Civil War.
ABOVE: The Welsh Moriah Church in Jackson County was a stop for traveling priests along the Welsh Scenic Byway.
of years. Another aspect of Welsh heritage ingrained in local culture is the eisteddfod, a celebration of culture that includes singing, dancing, playing instruments and other art competitions.
The tradition is, as Rowbotham puts it, "A celebration of all things artsy."
For years, the city of Jackson hosted local eisteddfods until public support for them waned. Jackson City Schools picked the tradition back up and now hosts them every year with students.
Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, the Moriah Church, known as “The Mother of Welsh Churches,” received a historical destination marker in Jackson. Welsh churches, like Moriah, are so common in Jackson that the Welsh-American Heritage Museum was built inside one.
The Welsh Scenic Byway is lined with historic landmarks, underscoring the influence of Welsh settlers in the area.
What is next for the Welsh
Center and Welsh History Museum?
Both institutions are funded almost entirely by donations, a testament to the residents’ dedication to preserving Welsh history. And now, Rowbotham is looking across the pond for help.
The center is working on a strategic plan in order to gain more access to funding available from the Welsh government and other sources. The plan outlines innovative programs, such as a Welsh studies minor, the digitization of historical records and a studyaway program connecting students in Ohio and Wales. The hope is that diversification of the Madoge Center's offerings could open possibilities for more funding in the form of grants, and registration fees.
A larger source of funding would allow Rowbotham to spend more time connecting with others and spreading the customs, language and culture of Wales.
Engaging young people remains challenging for the center. As the
center grows, Rowbotham hopes to bring Wales to the forefront of their minds.
No matter what the future holds, Rowbotham is happy to share what he loves with others.
"If someone told (my younger self) that you could go and do things, and that you could travel, and that you could get on a plane by yourself with a suitcase and go and move and have a job which is awesome and you'd love, and you'd love getting up and going to it every day, he wouldn't have believed you," Rowbotham says.
Madoge Center: 15 Lake Dr. Rio Grande Ohio
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madogrio/
Welsh American Heritage Museum: 412 E Main St, Oak Hill, OH
Website: https://welshmuseum.com/
ABOVE: Dan Robotham holds symbolic Welsh red dragon in front of the Welsh History museum.
Green Beans and Banjo Strings
Pennyroyal Opera House showcases weekly Bluegrass bands and dinners for a tight-knit scene of music lovers
STORY AND PHOTOS BY Bea Traum
In the summer of 1995, Frank Gadd’s father took him to a Bluegrass festival. There, he soaked up the rhythms with every pluck of a banjo and lonesome fiddle note. That day sparked a vision that would eventually lead him to own the Pennyroyal Opera House.
“Doesn’t matter where you’re at, if there are Bluegrass musicians, you can just step right in, start right up and you can hear some of the best
music you’ve ever heard,” Gadd says.
Located in Guernsey County, the Pennyroyal Opera House is a notable presence on Fair Avenue. The vibrant white exterior features brick-red doors that open to bands and guests.
Built in 1830, the building served as a church before the Pennyroyal Reunion Association purchased it for $300 in 1910. The building has since undergone extensive
restorations and renovations, cultivating an inviting environment.
Frank Gadd, alongside his wife Cathy Gadd, has been actively involved in the upkeep and operation of the venue. Over the years they have replaced the windows and added a steel roof, thanks to local donations.
The Pennyroyal opens its doors roughly twice a month on Fridays, but sometimes more often depending on the availability of
ABOVE: Brother Randall & Friends band performs at the Pennyroyal Opera House as the opening act.
performers. The average bluegrass show at Pennyroyal brings in about 25 to 30 people a night.
The lower level of the venue features a newly renovated kitchen, and a social hall filled with tables and folding chairs. Family and friends gather to chat before the show begins upstairs. The kitchen opens most nights before performances to sell hotdogs, fried bologna sandwiches, french fries and a series of handmade pies ranging from custard to pumpkin.
The crowd consists of about 25 to 30 people who have been consistent attendees for decades, making up a core group of Pennyroyal regulars.
The entire venue is run by dedicated volunteers. Bluegrass fan Betty Eddy has been working at the Pennyroyal for 27 years.
“I’ve been here since the beginning,” Eddy says.
As the meals are slowly finished in the social hall, everyone begins to make their way up the stairs into the main concert hall. The cushioned seats provide a comfortable viewing experience as guests excitedly wait for Frank Gadd to come on stage to introduce the opening act.
A moment later, the lights suddenly dim, the once chattering crowd goes silent and the stage begins to glow as the musicians take their places. Like calm weather before a storm, one second everyone is waiting for the stampede of music to hit their ears, the next moment, a trance is placed on everyone in the audience: the band begins to play.
Gadd is not only an avid supporter of the Bluegrass genre but a talented musician as well.
Gadd’s involvement in the culture of Bluegrass grew after attending multiple festivals where he met musicians from all over the country.
“(You can find the) best singing right in the middle of the night, on a front porch or in the backyard, campfire, or going to camp out, or whatever,” Gadd says.
Inspired by the musicians he met, he started to learn how to play
guitar, even selling his own boat to purchase a new one.
Gadd uses his connections from years of being involved in the Bluegrass community, he looks to local and national levels to find bands to perform at the Pennyroyal.
When national bands are featured, Gadd tries to make sure that local bands are the openers to retain a community focus. In addition to the loyal audience, Gadd also wants to reach out to newer, younger audiences.
“Everyone who comes to the Pennyroyal, especially younger audiences, end up becoming fascinated by the instruments and
voices,” Gadd says.
Gadd knows about the magical pull—or “Bluegrass bug”—that can occur when you give a young person the opportunity to engage with the music.
“Bluegrass is usually not plugged in,” Gadd says. “It is straight up in your face.”
Penny Royal Opera House: 139 Fair Ave, Quaker City, OH 43773
Website: pennyroyalbluegrass.com
BELOW: The Pennyroyal Opera House hosts regular, local bluegrass shows.
Art Takes Flight in Zanesville
Ron Cole’s aviation art museum merges the history of flight with creative vision
STORY BY Emma Erion // PHOTOS BY Mia Ashby
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s wait, it actually is a plane! It’s one of the few original, unrestored Japanese Zero fighter planes left in the world, shipped all the way from the Solomon Islands.
For the past 20 years, Ron Cole has dedicated himself to sharing his love for aviation history and art with the people of Zanesville, even if the journey from Hollywood designer to niche museum curator required a divorce and a massive career change.
Today, Cole applies the skills he learned working for companies such as Pixar and Mattel, to teach the younger generation aviation history in an interactive way. Cole’s Aircraft serves two purposes; showcase his art pieces available for purchase and display his stunning aviation artifact collection.
Cole has dedicated himself to his museum and art shop, Cole’s Aircraft. Every inch of the walls features a piece of history, from an autograph by William Messerschmitt, the creator of the most used German plane in WWII, to a painting of the 1903 Wright Flyer, featuring an original piece of linen.
Cole’s love for aviation started long before he had ever heard of Muskingum County.
Cole grew up in Binghamton, New York. He yawns after sharing this information about himself, implying that the mid-sized city may not have been the most exciting place for a young boy. He knew he needed to find a hobby, and so his love for aircraft began to flourish.
ABOVE: Ron Cole combines aviation history and art at his museum in Muskingum County.
“I was basically an aviation history nerd,” Cole says. “I had the best backyard in the neighborhood for outdoor activities that I never used. All the neighborhood kids would be out there playing kickball or whatever, and I would be inside with the shades drawn reading aviation books or building scale models of World War II airplanes.”
Eventually, his fascination for models and design led him to the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he studied industrial design.
After graduation, he moved across the country to Los Angeles, California, to work as a designer and product development engineer. Cole worked on movie sets alongside stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Mike Myers, building models and character studies. He also worked on movies such as Shark Tales and Madagascar.
“There’s an interview with David Schwimmer, who did the voice for the giraffe (in Madagascar), and
he’s sitting next to an end table on a set, and on the end table is my scale model of his giraffe character,” Cole says.
After 15 years working in the film industry, Cole’s family moved back across the country to Southeast Ohio, for his ex-wife’s job at Muskingum University.
“We moved to LA for my career, so we’ll move back to Ohio for your career, right? She’s moved on and I’m still here, and now I’ve been remarried for eight years,” Cole says with a chuckle.
After the move Cole needed a new occupation
“I was just like; I’m going to take
ABOVE: Photographs and memorabilia at Cole's Aircraft showcase a range of aviation history.
BELOW: Ron Cole displays his piece of the unrestored Japanese Zero Fighter after several years of negotiation.
my skillet and combine it with my passion. I always say, if you’re going to start your own business, do what you know. So, in 2006, I started my for-profit business Cole’s Aircraft Aviation Art,” Cole says.
Cole has proven to have a talent for creating what he boasts as “conversation pieces.” Cole sells his work online and even has a yearly calendar with Barnes and Noble.
What Cole loves most though, is connecting his art with aviation history, using Cole’s Aircraft as a space to highlight both. He combines a piece of the plane with a painting of that plane in action, such as taking off a runway or in active combat.
“ Put things in their hands and all of a sudden it becomes real, doesn't it?”
-Ron Cole, Cole’s Aircraft owner
Many of Cole’s art pieces show off the storied history of WWII aviation. Cole is lucky enough to have secured one of the original, unrestored Japanese Zero planes left in the world.
“It (the process to get the Zero) took 17 years, all told. From the point where negotiations began with
the government of the Solomon Islands, to the point where the aircraft literally got dropped off in a container that was loaded in Australia, after having gone through the Panama Canal during Covid no less,” Cole says.
The Zero planes were most infamously used by the Japanese army in the attack on Pearl Harbor. Given their importance to aviation history, Cole was excited to turn them into art.
“The artwork that resulted and now accompanies it (the Zero fighter), showing that aircraft in action with pieces of an American B-17, that the Zero plane met in combat in the South Pacific. It’s so amazing to bring them back together all these years later on the other side of the world,” Cole says.
Recently, he and his wife, Erin, have been working on their nonprofit restoration, Cole’s Center. Cole’s Center aims to bring more aviation history to life by putting Zanesville on the map with marquee pieces such as a replica of the Wright Flyer III, which Cole won in a heated bidding war.
All told, Cole wants to continue to provide a space for the people of Zanesville to directly interact with the planes of the past.“It’s the idea of show, don’t tell,” Cole says. “Put things in their hands, and all of a sudden, it becomes real, doesn’t it?”
ABOVE: Ron Cole’s aviation art museum highlights aviation history through art and artifacts.
Building on the Past
Southeast Ohio’s historic buildings granted new life through adaptive reuse
STORY BY Dylan Thatcher // PHOTOS BY Dylan Thatcher
ABOVE: Tom O’Grady, Director of Outreach at the Southeast Ohio History Center, poses for a photo at his desk.
Icontemplate a sturdy hardwood desk in the Southeast Ohio History Center in Athens, wondering if they make things like they used to. I look around the office and take note of rust-colored brick walls and dark wooden window frames.
“Where are you from?” asks Tom O’Grady, the Director of Outreach at the Southeast Ohio History Center.
After telling him I’m from Dayton, Ohio, O’Grady begins to teach me the historical significance of my hometown. O’Grady believes in the power of one’s roots.
O’Grady works to preserve the region’s cultural heritage and history through educational opportunities for local communities. He has a storied career in promoting the reduction of waste, establishing Ohio’s first comprehensive curbside recycling program. These days, he is passionate about adaptive reuse.
Adaptive reuse is the re-
purposing of an existing structure for new use. The practice is typically applied to older buildings that have outlived their original purpose, granting them new life.
The Southeast Ohio History Center models the benefits of adaptive reuse; The building was constructed in 1916 and served as the First Christian Church of Athens until the Southeast Ohio History Center purchased it in 2015.
“The old buildings are made of the primeval materials of Ohio’s landscape,” O’Grady says. “People think the primeval forests of Ohio are gone. They’re not. They’re holding up the roofs of barns, factories, mills and many houses. You’ll never get to work with trees like that again.”
The energy required to mill the wood, cut the stone from bedrock and melt the sand into glass windowpanes is substantial. When an old building is torn down, “you can’t recover that energy,” O’Grady says.
In O’Grady’s mind, these materials, derived from original resources, are monuments of the region’s natural and cultural heritage.
The architectural integrity of historic buildings adds to their importance. The quality of the materials used to build pre-World War II structures cannot be matched at an affordable price today. This is why modern buildings tend to have a life expectancy of 30-40 years, whereas pre-WWII buildings can last many generations, according to Norwalk Tomorrow, a Connecticut based city-planning organization.
“The buildings we’re building [now] don’t have that kind of longevity built into them,” says O’Grady. “So, what we have inherited, what’s left, we should do everything in our power to preserve it and reuse.”
Another reason to re-purpose materials is the carbon footprint
ABOVE: The Southeast Ohio History Center sits at the corner of West State Street and North Congress Street in Athens.
that comes with demolishing old buildings and constructing new ones.
As of 2023, 40% of natural resources are used in construction, totaling 3 billion tons annually, while only one-third of construction and demolition waste is re-purposed, according to the U.S. Green Building Council. Adaptive reuse promotes the reduction of raw material use, and in turn, reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Environmental initiatives highlight the importance of recycling materials such as bottles, cans and newspapers, but fewer people consider adaptive reuse of construction materials.
“If it’s important to conserve those things, think about how important preserving and reusing a building is to conservation and sustainability,” says O’Grady.
If a historic structure is beyond repair, deconstruction is preferred to demolition. In deconstruction, high-quality materials can be preserved and used again for new projects, lessening the need for new materials, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
With my new understanding of the cultural, architectural and environmental benefits of adaptive reuse, I decided to visit the Federal
Valley Resource Center and see what a current adaptive reuse project looks like.
Federal Valley Resource Center
The story of the Federal Valley Resource Center (FVRC) begins in 1897, when a two-room brick schoolhouse was built in Stewart.
After 100 years of name changes and expansions, the Stewart school complex closed its doors. In 1999, the original schoolhouse, the addition to
the schoolhouse and a gymnasium sat vacant and dilapidated. That same year, the FVRC was organized. Initially, the FVRC consisted of a computer lab and a senior club in the school complex’s main building before it evolved into a non-profit organization.
In 2000, the newly formed organization rented the school grounds and its buildings for $1 a year, assuming all costs of maintenance.
In 2012, the FVRC bought the former Stewart school complex and transformed it into a community center. The organization regularly renovates its buildings, working to improve functionality through adaptive reuse.
Today, the FVRC offers Stewart and the surrounding townships a food pantry, thrift store, community garden, gymnasium, mobile health unit and a music lending library. The FVRC has plans to make the facility a center for Appalachian art as well.
Near the FVRC, an old brick bell tower sports an orange aluminum roof. Around the corner a “ROMECANAAN” sign is plastered across the most recent addition to the schoolhouse, completed in 1920.
Theresa Lacky, president
ABOVE: Photos of the Stewart school complex and the surrounding community pinned to a cork board in the facility.
ABOVE: The Southeast Ohio History Center resides on the corner of West State Street and North Congress Street in Athens.
of FVRC sits in the instrumentlending library. Lackey is a former music teacher and taught at Federal Hocking Middle School while it was still located at the Stewart school complex.
Lackey has a deep connection to the facility and is dedicated to FVRC’s goal of using the old school to provide for the community. Even with recent renovations, like the handicap-accessible ramps that were poured just two weeks before my visit, the work is far from over.
“We continue to upgrade everything that we can,” Lackey says.
Lackey’s hard work was evident when she briefly suspended my facility tour as she talked shop with contractors renovating the gymnasium.
Despite the continuous need for renovations, Lackey refuses to replace many original structures. Her dedication to preservation is especially apparent in the original two-room schoolhouse.
“People say, ‘it’s old, knock it down.’ Not necessarily. 1897 is pretty old, but we’ve worked and worked on it. We probably will not
have the floors ever redone. Look at them. They’re beautiful!” Lackey says.
The previously mentioned bell tower fashioned with a brand-new roof, represents the organization’s balance between preserving the century-old architecture while maintaining the facility’s structural integrity.
New roofs are a priority
renovation when preserving an older structure. A leaky roof can derail an adaptive reuse project before it even begins, as water damage can greatly deteriorate a building’s durability, according to Stevens Roofing Corporation.
“Since 2011, every dollar that was given and every dollar that was made in the thrift store went into the roof fund,” says Lackey.
ABOVE: FVRC boasts a regulation-size basketball court in the gymnasium on facility grounds. The court is freshly lacquered and modeled after the 1940 court design.
BELOW: The 1920 addition to the original Stewart school complex built in 1897, as seen from State Route 329.
BELOW: Theresa Lackey, President of FVRC, stands in the music lending library. FVRC offers free instrument rentals in addition to the rest of its services.
" People think the primeval forests of Ohio are gone. They’re not. They’re holding up the roofs of barns, factories, mills and many houses. You’ll never get to work with trees like that again.”
-John Ruskin
Fortunately, the FVRC received a $500,000 grant in addition to all the money saved, allowing every roof to be replaced at the facility.
By replacing the roofs of even the vacant buildings, the FVRC reserves the opportunity to use the buildings in the future.
The Future
Lackey hopes that adaptive reuse will become a trend throughout the region and encourages residents to preserve historic buildings in their own communities. She suggests that starting a reuse project in one’s own community might be as simple as asking a few questions.
“Find out who owns the building and ask how you can help,” Lackey says. “‘Do you need help cutting
grass? Or do you mind if I cut those vines off the brick, because we know it’s sucking the moisture out of them. Is there a room that is usable? Could I rent this room? Do you already have ideas how it could be used?’”
During my drive home, I pondered Lackey’s advice. I considered how past generations might encourage us to preserve the buildings we inherited, recalling a quote that O’Grady had cited John Ruskin:
“When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight, nor for present use alone; let it be such work as our descendants will thank us for, and let us think, as we lay stone on stone, that a time is to come when those stones will be held sacred because
our hands have touched them, and that men will say as they look upon the labor and wrought substance of them, See! This our fathers did for us.”
Will Southeast Ohio be left with a heritage worth preserving? That largely depends on the answer to one question.
Where are you from?
The Southeast Ohio History Center
24 W State St. Athens, OH 45778
Federal Valley Resource Center
8225 St Rt 329, Stewart, OH 45778
Left: A 1947 Rome-Canaan High School class composite hangs in FVRC hallway.
A Little Bit Wilder
Nancy Stranahan, executive director of the Arc of Appalachia, works to preserve Appalachian wildlands
STORY BY Bea Traum // PHOTOS BY Jessica Horner
As I drove my 2012 Nissan Cube up the driveway, the low grumble of the dirt roads let me know I was going off the beaten path. I was not sure how off that path I would be until I landed in what looked like a different world.
Tree branches formed a canopy over the drive with specks of sunlight shining through. Little bugs flew around the sunlight, traveling from leaf to leaf, flower to flower and in between the trees. A liveliness seeped into all aspects of the forest, from a trickling stream to moss slowly creeping up a decaying tree, covered in small insects.
I could not believe I was still in southern Ohio.
Origin of the Arc
Nancy Stranahan walked through the front door of the Appalachian Forest Museum Visitor Center with a confident stride. A short woman with bright white hair and a wide smile greeted me with a strong, confident handshake. I could tell she knew what she wanted to say, and I could not wait to hear her story.
For the last 30 years, Stranahan has dedicated herself to rewilding Adams County forests and the surrounding area to their previous glory. 12,670 acres have been preserved so far and counting.
The Arc of Appalachia is a conservation nonprofit dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the ancient forests in Appalachian Ohio and West Virginia. Stranahan works to purchase and protect the remaining natural areas, helping ensure the beauty and biodiversity of these forests for the future. With a vision of reversing centuries of deforestation, the arc protects
forest fragments with the hopes of restoring a once vibrant ecosystem.
The arc is home to a variety of hiking trails, rentable cabins,
workshops and seasonal events all centered around the goal of connecting visitors with nature. Guests are encouraged to participate
ABOVE: Nancy Stranahan hikes one of 83 miles of trail within the Arc of Appalachia,
BELOW: Rewilding of the land allows native wildflowers to thrive again. Spring flowers usually start blooming late March.
in wildlife workshops and experience an unplugged retreat.
Stranahan spent her early career working as a naturalist for the Ohio state park system. She left after feeling unsatisfied with the atmosphere the parks offered. She sought a less corporate environment.
“I wanted a little bit wilder,” Stranahan says.
For the next 20 years Stranahan ran a bakery and a soup kitchen before she sat down to think, “What do I really want in my life?” She decided to travel to Costa Rica where she became enamored with the rainforests.
Upon her return to the United States, Stranahan knew one thing: she wanted to be in the wild. But to do that, she needed to find land—and lots of it.
After a great deal of time and research, Stranahan discovered she could buy land and have it protected with the help of the Ohio Public
Works Commission and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Ownership meant that she could prevent external companies from exploiting the area, protecting it from harmful activities such as fracking.
With the help of the Clean Ohio fund and ODNR, she could leverage state protections on the land by declaring them “natural areas.”
In 1995, Stranahan and her husband were traveling down Cave Road in Bainbridge when they noticed for sale signs placed in front of a plot of land. As a teenager, Stranahan had visited Seven Caves, where she would immerse herself in the surrounding wildlife. The land had been privately owned and used since the 1920s as a family cave exploration park.
The for-sale sign made them realize that their dreams for preservation could become a reality.
“Oh my god [we said], we could
buy a cave,” Stranahan says. “And so, we did.”
She and her husband purchased the land for $203,000 by working with the state through the Clean Ohio initiative. The Clean Ohio program will pay up to 75% of the acquisition costs through grants. The program also helps with the purchase itself and assists with applying protection to the land while allowing Stranahan to remain in charge of upkeep. Stranahan ensures that the trails are cleared for hiking and all the roads are accessible to the cabins and buildings.
Unlike many other regions, the land that is owned and preserved under the Arc of Appalachia has ownership of the area’s mineral rights, protecting the land from extraction of natural resources and ecologically harmful practices.
Stranahan continues to build the Arc of Appalachia through a network of sponsors that she discovers
ABOVE: The Appalachian Forest Museum tells the story of how colonizers deforested the Great Hardwood Forest.
through word of mouth and local connections.
What first started as a couple purchasing a tract of land has grown into an expansive conservation effort. 47 acres have since grown into 12,670 acres spanning 73 different properties in Ohio and more recently, West Virginia.
For the area to receive official classification, the land must contain “remnants of Ohio’s pre-settlement past, rare and endangered species, and wondrous geologic features,” according to the ODNR’s Division of Natural Areas and Preserves website. The landowner must file articles of dedication, which state that want the land to be classified and protected as a natural area.
The Legacy of the Luna Moth
The Appalachian Forest Museum tells the story of deforestation and the history of the Great Hardwood Forest through a series of educational displays. Each panel features a short synopsis of the history of the forest, accompanied by detailed paintings. The images show an untouched and fully preserved forest, a glimpse of what the land would still look like if it weren’t for human expansion and occupation— something that the arc is diligently working to rebuild.
The Great Hardwood Forest was once a nearly unbroken forest that covered the eastern third of our nation for over 40 million years and boasted a complexity second only to the tropical rainforest. In a short time, colonizers took the forest to the ground.
The arc also works to preserve wetlands. The land in southern Ohio, especially in regions such as Lawrence County, is surprisingly swampy. Nearly 20% of Ohio used to be comprised of wetlands (also dubbed “nature’s kidneys”)—a significantly high percentage when compared to other states in the U.S.
Today, 90% of the Ohio wetlands are gone, according to a report by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The 10% of wetlands
that remain in Ohio are small and fragmented, some of which are preserved through the arc, the others scattered across the state.
If it were not for the care and empathy of Stranahan and others who have joined the arc’s mission, these very forests would cease to exist. Now, the arc casts a bright light in the wake of decades of destruction, demonstrating that it only takes one person to truly make a big difference. The arc aims to preserve what it can. To achieve this goal, Stranahan tries to only purchase untouched land that has not been cleared for farming.
One of the arc’s popular events that is held annually is called the Wildflower Pilgrimage. During the pilgrimage, guests are invited to attend hikes, workshops, and speakers to learn more about the
complexities of the wildflowers within their ecosystems.
In a forest where native trees such as pawpaw, white cedar, oak, and wildflowers such as trillium, trout lily, blue mistflower, are allowed to reach full maturity, fauna like the luna moth can thrive.
As one of the most notable representations of the arc, the luna moth, is featured on almost every pamphlet, display, and sign board of the organization, alongside a Fibonacci spiral.
The luna moth is unique due to its neon green, papery wings that luster pearly white in the moonlight.
When asked about the meaning of the luna moth, Stranahan says that she was “attracted to the ethereal feeling” of seeing one.
“[The luna moth] symbolizes balance,” Stranahan says.
ABOVE: Trails guide hikers through canyons, springs, stone arches, and rock formations such as the Three Sisters, pictured. Five of the original caves have been restored, providing muchneeded habitats for Ohio's bats.
“We will never know the magic that is going to happen on the trail,”
-Nancy Stranahan
Hiking with Nancy
Few people know how to communicate with Mother Nature; but Stranahan does.
83 miles of trails throughout the arc have been created for the public to enjoy the natural beauty with minimum impact to the environment, so native plants and creatures can continue to thrive. Hikes such as Etawah Woods, Kamelands, Barrier Ridge and McKimmie’s Cave, range on a scale of moderate to difficult.
Stranahan and I hiked the Valley of the Ancients, her feet clearly familiar with each step.
As Stranahan walks the densely packed woods, she touches each of the trees’ rough bark with her fingertips. She says that like books, trees hold stories of our history and our past. The age of the wild lands surrounding us is greater than any individual. Stranahan compares the wild to the human body, with the trees as bones and the rest of the ecosystem as flesh.
The trail begins to open to a larger clearing, where we can see different caves etched into the sides of a valley.
Stranahan explains how centuries ago, the valley was filled with running water and underwater caves. Further into the valley, the temperature drops a few degrees, providing a refreshing, cooling sensation.
The biodiversity comes alive through small, subtle movements noticed only with a watchful eye. As a crawfish scurries across the small trickling creek, Stranahan picks up a fallen pawpaw, a fruit native to
southern Ohio. She smiles before handing the green fruit to me.
“We will never know the magic that is going to happen on [the] trail. Somebody’s going to have their first kiss. Somebody is going to have a deep dark confession. But all we had to do was put a trail in. Everything else was out of our control,” Stranahan says.
The Future
As the arc grew, Stranahan realized that she would need help with the day-to-day operations. Today, she has a small staff and a loyal base of volunteers that help to maintain the land, bonded by their appreciation of wild lands.
Each volunteer committee has group chats filled with messages and photos about finds on trails or beautiful sunsets.
Kim Baker the outreach coordinator of the Arc, has been working as a caretaker for Quiverheart Gorge Preserve, one of the arc’s land preserves, since 2021.
“You really have to find someone who wants to do this type of work,” Baker says.
“This is a dream come true kind of job,” Baker says.
The arc functions with the support of Stranahan’s years of dedication and staff, loyal volunteers and funders. The arc hosts various events throughout the year to engage with local regions and their supporters.
Stranahan describes the wild as a type of community, where each part plays a different role in the ecosystem’s wellbeing.
Individual funders have allowed Stranahan to acquire land and expand the arc. It is not an individual cause of action, but rather one that takes a whole community to fulfill the need for preservation.
While not everyone may be lucky enough to be able to fully work for the wild like Stranahan, everyone has the opportunity to volunteer or donate.
“One of our educational messages is that the community is rich, and it is complex, and we know very little about it and we sure don’t want to lose it before we figure it out,” Stranahan says.
What is Clean Ohio?
Clean Ohio is a grant program that is run through the Ohio Public Works Commission. According to the Ohio Public Works Commission website, Clean Ohio grants can pay for up to 75% of the acquisition costs. For couples like the Stranahan's, the grants provided by Clean Ohio are instrumental in obtaining the land. Clean Ohio provides funding in two main project areas: open spaces and riparian corridors. The open spaces projects are centered on land acquisitions such as wetlands and forests, while the riparian corridors are related to bodies of water such as streams and rivers. Annually, the program provides up to $37.5 million for conservation and protection efforts.
Arc of Appalachia: 7660 Cave Road, Bainbridge, OH 45612
Website: https://www.arcofappalachia.org/
Dates of operation: March 15 - November 15
Hours: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Music follows Renée Stewart everywhere. Based in Meigs County, she has been singing since her early childhood and playing guitar since age 16. In 2017, Stewart released her first official single, Wild Horses. Since then, her music career has been gaining momentum across Southeast Ohio. In a conversation with Southeast Ohio magazine, Stewart speaks about her life off-stage, her challenges as the lead singer in an up-and-coming band and her personal connection with songwriting.
How did you start the Renée Stewart Band?
I’ve been writing (music) forever but had previously been reluctant to share anything. Eventually, I did post something and mentioned in the caption that I needed a real guitar part. Dustin Nash, who is our guitar player now, reached out and was like, "Hey, if you really want a guitar part on this, I’d love to work on it.’"We got together,
"If music feels good in your soul, friggin’ make music."
Renée Stewart, a Meigs County singer-songwriter, opens up about healing through music
STORY BY Mia Ashby // PHOTO Provided
LEFT: Renée Stewart Band performing music from her newly released album, Makin’ Love and Runnin’ Wild at the International Mothman Festival in Point Pleasant, WV on Sept. 21, 2024
and he had written something that I loved. He’s so talented and makes everything look crazy easy, and after we worked on (the song), he said, "What would you think about starting a band?" He had already masterminded the whole thing. From there it just really took off.
In one sentence, how would you describe your music to people who haven’t listened to it before?
I would say we’re rock and roll roots, heavily influenced by blues and gospel, and a mix of guitar and big feelings. I think there’s an emotional honesty there, I hope some folks identify with parts of it, if not all.
What is your favorite song you’ve written so far?
I have such an emotional connection to "Ghost." That song is super special to me. Not only is it about my brother who died in 2018, but a lot of it is pulled memories from when we were kids. I have a memory of my brother and I singing Counting Crows while we were getting ready for school one morning.
About a year and a half after he died, I was with Dustin and I was reluctant to say, "I want to write a song about my brother," because it’s so heavy. He was so crazy supportive and then the rest of the band
was not shy at all about saying, “You should say exactly what you want to say. You don’t have to water that down for us, and you certainly don’t need to water it down for anybody else.” There was a lot of healing.
What was one of the biggest challenges when starting the band?
Feeling confident enough to do it was and remains my biggest challenge. In certain aspects, I still look for people to give me permission to do it. It’s not exactly healthy, but it’s where I am, and it’s something I’m still working through. For example, I’ve been playing guitar since I was 16. My grandpa taught me my first three-chord song, but I’ve only actually played a song in front of people less than half a dozen times until earlier this year. I remember feeling like, “Why would you even make music if you’re not trying to make it your career, move to Nashville?”
But then I stopped and was like “Wait a second. People who aren’t good enough for the NBA still play basketball on the weekends, have fun with their friends, and they feel good doing it, so why am I denying myself something I know I love doing?" If music feels good in your soul, friggin’ make music. If it’s what lights you up from the inside, you should be doing it.
Southeast Ohio Magazine
E.W. Scripps School of Journalism
1 Ohio University Athens, Ohio 45701
BELOW: Dog owners dress their wiener dogs in costumes during Marietta's inaugural dachshund derby. pg.4
