During this early 21st Century we live in an electronic state where our view of the world often appears on screens: the internet, facebook, i-phones, satellite tv, etc. On these screens community seems more often to be defined around a particular interest or need--a political perspective, a hobby, or a shopping desire catered to by a particular show, web site, “wall” or blog. In this world of screens it is easy to experience “place” as somewhere out in space, at times not connected to personal reality at all. Despite this sometimes entertaining and educational, sometimes sad and sobering circumstance, there are still people who are caring for real live places.

After having our place defined by Dateline NBC's Friends & Neighbors show recently, we once again are struggling with the reality of “our place” being seen as a place of impoverishment, rather than one of rich history and a recovering natural environment. I don't dispute the poverty claim, nor begrudge the need for immediate relief. However, in light of this feature story (one that get told about us in the major media every few years), I do feel even more compelled to work to strengthen our region's assets of history, natural environment, cultural arts and civic effort to provide a more complete picture of who we are as a people. I also contend that by doing this over the long haul, our quality of life will make us all less vulnerable, including those who live in poverty.

“This Place Matters!” is the motto being promoted by the National Trust for Historic Preservation these days is as it continues to raise funds to save historic treasures in our country. It is a fitting one, shared by Ann Curry of NBC as well as those of us who care about nurturing our many assets. In that spirit this issue of Black Diamond Press is devoted to people and organizations that demonstrate that “This place matters” through their hard work this summer, in the midst of the Great Recession, as well as over the years when times seem a bit more hopeful.

Let's start with the late Reverend Paul Johnson of Millfield (who recently passed away) and his counterpart Rodney Galentin of Buchtel, supported by the administration at Hocking College. Neglected and long seen as an intrusion on the pioneer era theme of Robbins Crossing at Hocking, the small white clapboard Don Nunley Mine Museum is in the process of finding a more appropriate home. The museum is off its foundation and sitting on skids ready for a trip to the park in Buchtel where it will be resurrected as a place to learn about mining in Athens County. This project has taken the determination and persuasive good nature of these two men to remove countless barriers over the past year. Watch on our web site for the date of the rededication of the building at Buchtel.

On the outskirts of Shawnee this summer, dirt is flying at two former mining sites with aquatic life in the nearby streams surprisingly enjoying the benefit. Major mine subsidences at the old Mine #21 site on the south side of Rt. 155 are being closed, and coal waste is being sealed at the headwaters of Sunday Creek's West Branch by the Sunday Creek Watershed Group. In the opposite direction at the Rock Run mine site just off Rt. 93 South on the road to New Straitsville, an even more extensive project is being undertaken by the Wayne National Forest in cooperation with the Monday Creek Restoration Project. Once complete, this project will create a small lake and recreation area for local citizens. Both projects will eliminate Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) from these long abandoned mine sites. AMD is created when water mixes with minerals to create a high level of acidity that destroys aquatic life in streams. Hats off to inspired people such Mike Steinmaus at the Monday Creek Restoration Project, Gary Willison at the Wayne National Forest and various folks at the Sunday Creek Watershed Group who have worked hard over the past several decades to bring funding to these much needed projects that make this place a better place for all living creatures!!

In museums at Haydenville and New Straitsville, volunteers are updating exhibits and welcoming guests on a regular basis this summer. In Haydenville the community spirit of the history group has inspired many improvements to the town, including a new playground for children located on the former school lot. In Rendville, volunteers are cleaning up and painting an abandoned house and the Town Hall in anticipation of the dedication of a historic marker there this fall. At Payne's Crossing volunteers assisted Wayne Forest staff in gravestone repair at Payne Cemetery for a historic maker dedication in June. (see story on page 2).

Individuals can do inspiring things as well, as church member Ada Vernon of Salem Hollow demonstrates, She is over half way to her goal of raising $3,100 is to save and reopen the historic Mt. Zion Church building near New Straitsville. If you wish to contribute you can do so via a check to LCBD Council-Mt. Zion Church Fund. Call our office at 740-394-3011 for details.

Place doesn't as seem so important when there aren't' people using it, other than in the case of our forest where we happily see it used by creatures ranging from bear (spotted in Athens County on July 31) to Bald Eagles (now nesting at Burr Oak Lake). Thus it is important to recognize those who have been busy this summer keeping our places and spaces alive with activity. Among those deserving a tip of the hat are Michelle Davis Starner at the Corning-Monroe Civic Center where community events ranging from Fish Fries to Scrap Booking workshops improve life for citizens; and Stuart's Opera House where free concerts in downtown Nelsonville are a gift to quality of life here. The list expands to those who keep annual festivals alive such as 4th of July Celebrations in Murray City and Corning; the Ohio Fiesta (formerly Chile Pepper) Festival in Glouster, the Moonshine Festival in New Straitsville, the Congo and Shawnee Homecomings and the season-ending Parade of the Hills in Nelsonville and Old Settlers Reunion in Jacksonville. A lot of volunteer work goes into these events!

Despite the distraction from “place” we attribute to technology, place can matter “on-line” and on television as well. That is the case with the Little Cities Archive as volunteers Lilian Winnenberg and Joe Winnenberg are putting in dozens of hours this summer cataloging and entering (see story page 3) photos, artifacts, books and other documents that tell the story of the Little Cities region. We also have enjoyed the support of news reporter Mike Jackson of NBC4 in Columbus to tell our story this summer, with a presence and coverage at the Payne Cemetery celebration in June and expected coverage of the Rendville marker dedication this fall.

Finally, my work along with colleague Sandra Landis and the faithful Sunday Creek Associates board has been, and continues to be inspired by place. SCA cares about the future of this microregion. In this spirit two developments worthy of sharing are in the works this summer. First, the Ohio Humanities Council has selected Sunday Creek Associates (and the Ohio Hill Country Heritage Area) to work with them to identify what our organization has done during the past twenty years to support “the poetry of place” that leads to what is being popularized as “Civic Tourism”. Civic Tourism is defined as tourism that is inspired by witnessing the caring for and improvement of place by its citizens. Next, is planning by SCA to convert the first floor of the Tecumseh Theater Building in Shawnee (former library space) into a “space” for multi-purpose learning activities for local citizens and tourists. If a place is cared for and made interesting by its citizens, then others will want to visit and learn about that place's story. If its any indication of all of our efforts here to understand and improve our “impoverished place”, seventeen foreign journalists, 30 northeastern Ohio school teachers and 17 homemakers from the farmlands of northern Perry County all have visited the Little Cities this summer on tours this summer. It wasn't amusement parks and shopping they were looking for, it was the story and importance of this place.....its history, its environment and the people who are struggling every day to care of it....make it a better place. Hats off to all of you who are doing just that.....making sure that this place matters!