Into the past

BOWLING GREEN — Eight citizens of the past will be honored as the 17th annual Wood County Living History Day takes place Aug. 23. The event is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Wood County Museum grounds, with area residents portraying early citizens of the county. This year's honorees were chosen as the county celebrates its bicentennial. The event is free and open to the public. "A Joyful Noise" will provide music before the event. Parking will be available in the museum's parking lot. The Wood County Sheriff's Auxiliary will provide free rides from the parking lot to the program location. Due to the coronavirus, those attending are asked to bring a lawn chair and mask. In case of heavy rain, the program will be moved into the museum's meeting room. The capacity will be limited to 35 to adhere to social distancing guidelines. The 2020 honorees are: Harriet Covert Battles — President of the first Wood County Women's Suffrage Club. Portrayed by Joyce Coutinho. Sheriff George Murray Brown — The county sheriff from 1882 to 1887 oversaw the hangings of Carl Bach (Wood County Courthouse) and Arthur J. Glover (Ohio Penitentiary). Portrayed by Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn. Charlie Evers — Former editor of the Wood County Sentinel and author of "Pioneer Scrapbook of Wood County." Portrayed by Thomas Edge. Peter Kramp — The "Oil Prince of Wood County." Portrayed by Geoff Howes. Elizabeth LaFarrie — A pioneer wife who overcame death and disease to clear the swamp in 1832. Portrayed by Heather Bloom. Charles Sumner Van Tassel — Former editor of the Wood County Sentinel and author of "The First One Hundred Years of Bowling Green. Portrayed by Bob Midden. Dr. John Whitehead — Prominent doctor in early Wood County; commemorated by the Cunning & Whitehead Building in downtown Bowling Green. Portrayed by Gus Coutinho. Dottie Zimmerman — A teacher for 50 years, starting with the Portage Village one-room school, Weston Township DeWeese and Weston School. Portrayed by Alyssa Garland. Event details and past honorees can be found at woodcountyhistory.org. Support for this program was provided by the Exchange Club of Bowling Green, Portage Center Arbor Gleaners 524, the Wood County Genealogical Society, Michele Raine, Mike Sibbersen, the Frisch Family Fund of the Toledo Community Foundation, the Wood County Historical Society, the city of Bowling Green, the Wood County Sheriff's Office and Auxiliary, DBD Sound Reinforcement, the Living History Day committee, Ohio Humanities, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the federal CARES Act of 2020.