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Little Cities of Black Diamonds Council
Shawnee
Southern Perry, northern Athens, and eastern Hocking counties are known as the ‘Little Cities of
Black Diamonds’ for the coal, oil, clay, and iron ore industries that have been there since the
19th century. Believing that citizens who understand the region’s history and assets will be more
active in revitalizing it, the Little Cities of Black Diamonds Council organizes events, tours, and
educational projects that promote the historical, cultural, civic, and environmental assets of the
area. Although their efforts have been largely volunteer, they have maintained a level of
scholarship and quality that would be the envy of many communities, forming local history
committees; embarking on programs to raise awareness about threatened landmarks; developing a local
history curriculum for Southern Perry County schools; publishing local histories; developing
heritage tourism and eco-tourism programs; maintaining a website; and working tirelessly to "move
the image of the region away from one of poverty and decay, toward an image of quality small town
and rural living where historical and cultural exploration are commonplace and where community and
environmental regeneration are a way of life." Key to their efforts have been John Winnenberg and
Sandra Landis; through the Council and other non-profit organizations, Winnenberg and Landis have
sought and won funding with creative ideas, a comprehensive approach, imaginative ways of matching
available funds, and a sense of pride and appreciation for the region’s historical, cultural, and
architectural assets.
Past Recipients:
For a list of past Ohio Historic Preservation Office Award recipients
click here.
The Ohio Historic Preservation Office is Ohio's official historic preservation agency. A part of
the Ohio Historical Society, it identifies historic places in Ohio, nominates properties to the
National Register of Historic Places, reviews federally-assisted projects for effects on Ohio's
historic, architectural, and archaeological resources, consults on the conservation of older
buildings and sites, and offers educational programs and publications.
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