January/February Exhibit

OFFICERS:
President:
Judy Robson
Vice President:
Mike Fedler
Vice President:
Bill Kline
Treasurer:
Rich Vanek
Secretary:
Debbi Waring

BOARD MEMBERS:
Baerbel Baginski, WSL
Steve Candella
Neroy Carter
Arnie Esterer
Mary Ellen Higley
Ken Johnson
Mark Jones
Randy Jones
Gloria Kaull
Kim Laurello
Chris McClure
Tom Picken
Bruce Schlosser
Dixie Selip
Scot Sinkler
Chris Tredent, WSL
Tami Turner
Linda VanBuren
Joseph Varckette
Ellen Winer

Arts Center Staff

Beth Koski
Executive Director
Cindy Rimpela
Business Manager
Pamela Hammond
Public Relations/Marketing Coordinator
Shelagh Dubsky
Dance Coordinator
Lyn Rocco
Music Coordinator
Meeghan Humphrey
Visual Arts Coordinator
Phil Mullet
Technical Liason
Marquitta Mollick
Evening Desk Coordinator

This Dept's Archives

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Ashtabula Arts Center GB Community Theatre

Ashtabula Arts Center GB Community Theatre

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2928 West 13th St. Ashtabula, Ohio 44004
phone: 440-964-3396

January/February Exhibit:

Posted: Thursday, December 22, 2005

“ASHTABULA COUNTY WESTERN RESERVE GREENWAYUNDERGROUND RAILROAD HISTORY SIGN PROJECT”

On display January 6 - February 28.

Join us for an opening reception on Friday, January 27, 2006 from 6 - 7:30 p.m. Admission is free.

The Western Reserve Greenway in Ashtabula County, Ohio is a 27-mile linear park where users pursue various forms of recreation, exercise and transportation. The Greenway experience will soon be improved by the Ashtabula County Metroparks through the installation of interpretive signs regarding the Ashtabula County and Ohio Underground Railroad (UGRR) Trail.

After an exhaustive three year effort, the signs will be unveiled to the public at the Ashtabula Arts Center. The twelve 60" x 40" signs tell the proud story of Ashtabula County's abolitionist history. They will remain on exhibit through January and February as part of the Arts Center's celebration of Black History Month. The signs will be permanently installed on the Greenway this spring where they will serve as possibly the only interpretive markers of their kind in the United States.

The Rotary Clubs of Ashtabula County commissioned the artwork, research and development of the project; funding for the signs' production was provided through a grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation. Additional organizational support came from The Ashtabula Foundation, The Civic Development Corporation for Ashtabula County, the Ashtabula County Parks Foundation, the Hubbard House UGRR Museum and the Ashtabula County Historical Society.

Kevin Grippi conceived of the project and also served as its leader and fund raiser. Ralph Bacon was the graphic artist and creative director. Norma Waters donated the narrative history of Ashtabula County's UGRR.

Other key contributors included Warren Dillaway (photography), Dick Coski (editor) and Carl Feather (historian). Also, Daisy Baskerville, Brittany Howe, Alfred Sturkie, Alex Sturkie, Jack Young, Fred Robsel and Margaret Ticknor contributed research and actively participated as re-enactors for phtographs.

One of the northernmost terminals of the Ohio UGRR is the Hubbard House Underground Railroad Museum in the Ashtabula Harbor area. The museum is located on the proposed North Shore Trail, which will connect directly to the Western Reserve Greenway. Many of Ashtabula County's safe houses for the Underground Railroad are located along State Route 45, which parallels the Western Reserve Greenway by approximately a quarter mile.