Zoar and Dennison Depot receive much-needed funding

On Oct. 29 the Zoar Community Association hosted a recognition ceremony celebrating funding they and the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum recently received from the Ohio Humanities Council. The grants, made possible by COVID relief funds, are intended to help both organizations recover from revenues lost during the pandemic.

Historic Zoar Village received $26,000, and the Dennison Depot received $17,898. The funds were gratefully received by both historic sites after having to close their doors and cancel important fundraising events.

Rebecca Asmo, executive director of the OHC, said organizations like Historic Zoar Village and the Dennison Depot not only make history relevant, but also have an economic impact.

“They and all of the other sites in Tuscarawas County are on the front lines of making sure everyday Ohioans can have a connection, not just to history, but to all of the humanities, which help us connect with one another, spark conversation and inspire ideas.”

Asmo said in a typical year the OHC gives away about $500,000, but with the help of the state, it has been able to grant about $2.5 million this year.

County commissioners Al Landis and Chris Abbuhl presented recognition proclamations to both organizations. In accepting the proclamation, Tammy Shrum, site director for Historic Zoar Village, said, “The funding helped us, not only in terms of lost revenue, but also with our journey to recovery. Many of our tour guides would not have been able to return to their jobs without this funding. Thank you for providing us with this much-needed grant funding and for being a beacon of light in a dark time for the humanities.”

Wendy Zucal, executive director of the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum, said, “This check doesn’t help just one organization. It helps three because we have the honor and privilege of operating three sites: the Dennison Depot, Historic Schoenbrunn and the Clay Museum. Your support has helped us to survive the pandemic but, even more important, to move forward.”

Landis said it was important for the commissioners to commend the organizations once they learned of the grant funding. “We felt we needed to recognize them for their perseverance during a very tough period of time because they both depend very heavily on tourism,” he said. “We think it’s fantastic that these organizations right here in Tuscarawas County were selected to be the recipients of these funds to help offset some of the loss they had in 2021.”

Scott Gordon, the mayor of Zoar, said he appreciated the village being recognized, especially in the area of the humanities. "The humanities were an important part of the original Zoar Separatist’s lives. They were very gifted in music, in art, and they had a lot of talents we’d like to retain in the village. Supporting the humanities is really an important part of doing that."

The event also was attended by State Rep. Bret Hillyer and State Sen. Jay Hottinger, who were instrumental in loosening up funds for the grants.

“Certainly the pandemic has been difficult for tourism in getting people to visit the treasures we have in Tuscarawas County,” Hillyer said. “So it’s good to be here and great to see these awards going to these two groups.”

Hottinger agreed the county’s tourism industry was hit hard during the pandemic. “Finding revenue and keeping the humanities, the arts, museums alive is difficult in good times,” he said. “But the role they play is significant in Tuscarawas County, where travel and tourism is a huge portion of the economy. While this doesn’t make up for all the losses, every little bit helps, and we’re happy to play a small role in that.”