Some people assume their pleasant
existence is solely dependent upon factors now present in their own
backyards. They define the status of their blessed communities
through the beautiful homes, public services, and thriving businesses
that adorn their surroundings. This assumption may deny the major
role that history has played in their own community development –
the role of the ordinary people and their real struggles
and triumphs.
No society should ignore the events of
its past. It is imperative that people understand their present state
of well-being is largely a product of their heritage. Our
predecessors have entrusted us not only to be good stewards of the
land but also to be faithful protectors of the knowledge that records
and explains events of long ago. In short, a study of local history
is vital to the acumen of all residents.
American novelist Michael Crichton once
used this metaphor to explain the role of history: “If you don't
know history, then you don't know anything. You are a leaf that
doesn't know it is part of a tree.” Those “trees” each breathe
a lengthy narrative of stories and deeds that once took place in
their particular locations. For generations, people have taken great
pains to preserve these accounts in order that others may stay
connected to their roots.
The acquisition of historical knowledge
strengthens community pride and social fabric. Dr. Jonathan Healey,
author and winner of the Thirsk-Feinstein Dissertation Prize for 2008
by the Economic History Society, cites specific reasons for the
importance of local studies:
“Local studies are
important also for two more scholarly reasons. First, they reflect
the social reality that our lives are lived out in particular
localities:our place in the geography of the world is a major
determinant of our lives in that world.
“Second, local
studies allow a degree of depth that simply isn’t possible in more
wide-ranging studies. It allows us to get ‘under the skin’ of a
historical community, to understand peoples’ relations to one
another in much more detail than if we had simply seen them is part
of a faceless mass of national statistics.”
(Jonathan Healey. “Why
Local History Matters.” Lecture delivered at the
Oxford University Department for Continuing Education. November 14,
2012.)
Lucasville, Ohio, has a
rich history and a fabled identify. The town, itself, traces its
European beginnings to 1800 and Captain William Lucas, who moved his
family from Virginia to Ohio and took up a home in what was to become
the village named for the family.
At the time of his coming,
William was 58 years-old and a veteran of the Revolutionary War.
Captain Lucas was the father of five sons and three daughters. One of
his sons, Robert, commanded the local militia. He later became a
general who served in the War of 1812. Later Robert was elected State
Senator, and eventually Governor of Ohio and Governor of the Iowa
Territory. Lucasville was platted on August 7, 1819, by John Lucas,
William's brother.
The Lucasville Area
Historical Society, a dedicated group of local residents has worked
for many years to preserve the local heritage. Through their
determined efforts and the undying work of community stalwarts like
Alice Barker, Nelle Marie Yeager Bumgarner, and John Artis (just to
name a few), they have collected a plethora of photos, clippings, and
other artifacts. In fact, the society has published three major
publications: Lucasville Ohio: Sesquicentennial 1819-1969 and
A Backward Glance: The Lucasville, Ohio Area 1819-1919 volumes
I and II.
At present, these
invaluable materials are housed in a very small outbuilding in
Lucasville. The collection is extensive and beautifully illustrative
of the long past of the town. The present structure is much too small
for adequate storage, display, and meeting. The society needs more
space.
And now, the group has
reached a crossroads. It is desperately seeking a permanent home
suitable for their purposes. If no such facility is found, the
community risks losing all of the artifacts, and, quite frankly,
losing the society itself. What some see as old junk and worthless
items, others see as irreplaceable folk treasures that require
continued preservation.
The Lucasville Area
Historical Society is planning to attend the meeting of Valley
Trustees on Monday, June 26 at 6:00 p.m. The group hopes to go en
masse to request using part of the old fire station for a home. They
are asking for your support in this endeavor. You do not have to be a
member of the society to attend and help the group. The meeting will
take place at the new fire station.
Local studies do matter.
In fact, they help establish us in a place. As people – friends,
relatives, co-workers – we rely upon each other for vital
connections. But also, we rely upon our history – family and local
– to bind us as a cooperative social unit.
A strong tree of history,
close to 200 years old, is waiting to be studied thanks to the
Lucasville Area Historical Society. God pray that the gusty winds of
time don't scatter the leaves, never to be discovered by inquisitive
future generations. The astronomical loss would leave a space that
could not be filled. Lucasville deserves loving care as one of the
oldest, most respected communities in this part of the country.
Preservation will increase wonderful future acquisition.
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