Three valuable contributors to the local history efforts of the Little Cities of Black Diamonds Council were recognized with the Annual Little Cities Spirit Award at the 17th Annual Little Cities of Black Diamonds Day on October 16.

For over a decade Ken Bowald, former instructor and now Assistant Director of the Hocking College School of Natural Resources, has engaged his Historical Perspectives students in developing interpretive programs telling the story of the Little Cities microregion. These programs have often enlivened events sponsored by the Council and other local history groups in the microregion. In that same vein, Bowald has served as a living history character, regularly interpreting the character of Peter Hayden, the industrialist who founded the mineral rich iron, coal and tile company town of Haydenville. In addition Ken has led guided tours, participated in planning events and programs and is a counted on volunteer at most LCBD events.

After a spell-binding performance as former Corning businesswomen and civic leader Bertha Levion, Kathy Devecka accepted the second award for 2010 in costume. A theater coach and linguist from Athens, Devecka has led the Little Cities Living History Characters program by training other performers for their roles, while also performing the characters of Bertha Levion and mining town women Maria Holt. Devecka has also led the initiation of the Voices of the Little Cities project, where oral and written accounts of key stories in the history of the region are dramatically read by regional performing artists, often accompanied by musicians and media images as well. Devecka is currently an instructor in the theater program at Hocking College.

The final award recipient was Lilian Winnenberg of Corning, a retired teacher who has spent countless hours organizing the Little Cities Archive. In addition to this project, Winnenberg was one of the founding members of the Southern Perry County Incubation Center for Entrepreneurs in Corning.