Three county residents recognized as 2022 Heroes of History
DOVER — The mayor of Dennison and a New Philadelphia couple were honored Thursday as the 2022 Heroes of History by the Tuscarawas County Heritage Home Association.
Mayor Greg DiDonato and Don and Susie Whittingham received their awards at a ceremony held at the Geib Family Center in Dover.
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DiDonato was recognized for his work to improve the village of Dennison, including two properties he owned on Grant Street that were restored.
"I love history," he said in accepting the award. "I believe that we need to remember where we came from. That's what makes the country great, strong, I think."
But he noted that keeping a community's downtown vital is also important, though it can be difficult in Appalachia. He credited the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum in helping efforts to keep the downtown area alive.
"It's our gimmick to bring people to town, to keep a vibrant downtown and to keep the central part of your community from decay. I think it's really paid off, with the great work of (Depot Executive Director) Wendy (Zucal), the great work of many people through the years."
He said the improvements in Dennison have been the result of a group effort and not the work of one individual.
New Philadelphia Mayor Joel Day presented the Heroes of History Award to the Whittinghams. They were honored for contributing $15,000 to a project to restore New Philadelphia's Welcome to Our City sign, which was severely damaged by a windstorm last year.
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In addition, the couple have financed arts projects in the downtown, including murals and mosaic trash cans.
"If you look at downtown New Philadelphia and the revitalization that we have underway there, Don and Susie are responsible for a lot of that," he said.
Whittingham thanked the mayor and Service Director Ron McAbier for allowing the couple to partner with local artists on projects.
"This is how you facilitate an arts scene, a local arts community. You start with the artists that are here. They don't live that far away. They live next door," he said.
"Art is the soul of the community. Will we ever become a Eureka Springs, Ark., a Yellow Springs, Ohio, Bisbee, Ariz., Marfa, Texas, I don't know, but why not try it? The artists will come if you give them a place to express their art, create their art, show their art. They will come. It could be musicians, it could dancers, theater, all types. Our community has so much to offer. We're just complementing it with visual arts."
The couple has also purchased the old API paint store at 112 Fair Ave. NE, next to the Craft restaurant, and plan to restore it. They are considering turning it into a space for music, arts and other cultural events to try to help the music scene in the area.
The first ever Jeff Miller Memorial Tradesman Award was presented to Davis P. Chrisman, son of David and Megan Chrisman. He is a senior at Buckeye Career Center and Harrison Central High School, specializing in electrical systems technology.
He has been accepted into the Pittsburgh Technical College in electrician technology.
The Heritage Home Association also presented several Heroes of Preservation awards to individuals and organizations that have restored houses or buildings in the county.
Receiving the awards were:
• Beth and Louis Catola for their house at 313 N. Broadway, New Philadelphia.
• Steve Gray for his house at 708 E. High Ave., New Philadelphia.
• Brooke and Keith Riddle for their house at 506 Cornet St., Port Washington. They were presented the award by Mayor Tom Gardner.
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• Alan Rodriguez for the Alexander building (the House of Stones), at 108 E. High Ave., New Philadelphia.
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• Marty Miller and Rosette Miller for Miller's Clothing and Shoes, 159 W. High Ave., New Philadelphia.
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• Nicole and Dale Douglass, Jr., owners of Olde Towne Tavern, 108 S. Main St., Tuscarawas. The award was presented by Mayor Dana Moore.
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• The Dennison Railroad Depot Museum, 400 Center St., for restoring a Pullman car that has been turned into a bed and breakfast.
• The village of Dennison for restoring the Railroad Room, the third floor auditorium at the municipal building at 302 Grant St.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Three county residents recognized as 2022 Heroes of History
