Knowing Rendville! is on tap for Thursday evening, Feb. 23, from 7-9 p.m. at the Southeast Ohio History Center, 24 W. State St., Athens.
The two-hour program features
- a 30-minute documentary on Rendville produced by the late Mark Leff of WOUB
- a panel of current and former Rendville residents including All-American Ohio University Bobcat Jerry Jackson
- a book signing by Dr. Frans Doppen, author of Richard L. Davis and the Color Line in Ohio Coal. Doppen is an Ohio University professor who has devoted himself to understanding the history of Rendville and is active in the Rendville Historic Preservation Society.
Rendville was a racially integrated Hocking Valley coal mining community formed in the late 1800s that is home to significant African American, state and national history. Today it is Ohio’s smallest incorporated village that is working to save this vital piece of Ohio history for future generations through maintaining a town hall, reviving Emancipation Day celebrations and converting a company style mining house into a visitor’s center.
The program is organized by the Rendville Historic Preservation Society and hosted by the Southeast Ohio History Center. Suggested donation is $5. Thanks to RHPS, the Southeast Ohio History Center, Little Cities of Black Diamonds Council, Ohio University Patton College and African American Studies Department, and Center for Campus & Community Engagement, Ohio’s Hill Country Heritage Area and The Winding Road for the contributions to making this program possible.
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