Photo courtesy of: Patton College of EducationRendville, the smallest incorporated town in Ohio, has resurrected Emancipation Day, a celebration that was held from the town’s founding in the 1880s until the 1960s.
The Rendville Historic Preservation Society (RHPS) will be hosting the Rendville Emancipation Day Celebration on Saturday, September 22 from noon until 5 p.m. on Main Street in Rendville, Ohio.
Rendville is the smallest incorporated town in Ohio with significant African American history and a compelling story of ethnic diversity. Emancipation Day celebrations were held in the village from the town’s founding in the 1880s until the 1960s.
The Patton College of Education’s Teacher Education students play a large role in this event. Dr. Mike Kopish’s “Introduction to Teaching Secondary Social Studies” students partner with RHPS to support historical and cultural preservation efforts.
The students collaborate with community partners to learn about the rich African-American history of the town, provide support and labor for the Emancipation Day celebration, and contribute to the program with authentic research delivered as Ted-style talks that they will present this Saturday.
The event will also include a screening of a mini-documentary, “Rendville Across the Color Line,” by OHIO Communication Media MFA student Burr Beard.
In addition, the celebration will include live music, living history, speakers, activities for children, student presentations, dance and song entertainment, and a dedication of the Richard L. Davis Ohio Historical Marker at 12:30 p.m. Davis was a member of the United Mine Workers of America and served as a Hocking Valley labor organizer during the late 1800s. Dance entertainment will include the Akwaaba African dancers and drummers from Columbus, Ohio.
This year’s theme is “Don’t Drop the Ball” and will highlight the many outstanding athletes from Rendville, including OHIO Bobcat Hall of Famer and State of Ohio Basketball Hall of Famer Jerry D. Jackson. He played for Corning High School, Ohio University, and had a short stint with the Detroit Pistons. Jackson brought fame to the village in the 1960s when he led the Bobcats to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament.
Rendville has been known for its ethnic diversity where the people lived, worked, relaxed together and got along with one another. Rendville has a rich history and traditions that are important to preserve. Many significant and well-known people have come from Rendville, including Richard L. Davis, Adam Clayton Powell Sr., Isaiah Tuppins (state’s first African American mayor in Ohio), Roberta Preston (state’s first African American postmistress), Sophia Mitchell (state’s first African American woman mayor) and others.
The Rendville Historic Preservation Society includes representation from Ohio University faculty, notably Dr. Frans Doppen, chair of the Teacher Education Department in The Patton College, the Little Cities of Black Diamonds Council, Rendville Art Works located in the former Baptist Church in the village, Rendville mayor Byran Bailey, and many former residents of the town whose population stood at 34 in the 2010 census. Among the vendors, Rendville Art Works will be open to the public.
One of the purposes of the Rendville Historic Preservation Society is to establish a museum in one of the older existing homes, now dubbed as the Little White House. The house was donated to the Society by New Lexington businessman, Rob Ogden. Progress is underway, and donations will be accepted at the event for this project. Persons wishing to support this effort or help with expenses for the Emancipation Day celebration may contact the Society’s treasurer, Dr. Frans Doppen at doppen@ohio.edu.
Rendville is located in the Wayne National Forest on State Route 13 in southern Perry County (25 miles north of Athens, 25 miles south of Zanesville, and 65 miles southeast of Columbus). Attendees are asked to bring a dish or a desert to share during the event. A picnic lunch will begin at 1 p.m. Descendants or friends of Rendville are asked to bring historic pictures and documents to have scanned for media purposes and to be shared by the Rendville Historic Preservation Society.
For more information, contact the Society’s president, Jerry D. Jackson at bobcatjdj@wildblue.net or visit www.rendvillehistory.org.
Photo courtesy of: Patton College of EducationFormer Rendvillians enjoy a homecoming visit.
Photo courtesy of: Patton College of EducationFrom a previous annual celebration, Jerry Jackson, president of the Rendville Historic Preservation Society (middle) and Denver Norman, a board member of the Society, listen to a former resident tell tales from the past.