Heritage Commission designs social distancing activity

The South Charleston Heritage Commission has created a social distancing activity for residents to do at the Greenlawn Cemetery, 234 N. Chillicothe St.

The South Charleston Heritage Commission has created a social distancing activity for residents to do at the Greenlawn Cemetery, 234 N. Chillicothe St.

The South Charleston Heritage Commission has designed a booklet for individuals to tour the Greenlawn Cemetery, while practicing social distancing.

“Because our traditional way of outreach was group activities, we’ve had to learn to recreate our outreach to connect with the village and the surrounding people,” Sue Mattinson, president of the South Charleston Heritage Commission said.

The historical Greenlawn Cemetery booklet includes 36 stops within the cemetery located at 234 N. Chillicothe St.

The stops include four Revolutionary War veterans, one War of 1812 veteran, many early South Charleston residents and a variety of Victorian gravestone symbols, Mattinson explained.

The booklet has a map and an index, so graves do not have to be visited along a specific route.

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“We’re trying to provide opportunities for anyone regardless of their life circumstances,” Mattinson said. “Everyone shares the experiences of joys and sorrow, living and dying. These cemetery booklets tell stories of our shared history.”

The booklet costs $5 if it is picked-up or $7 if it is mailed. Proceeds will be used to maintain the historical sites that the South Charleston Heritage Commission oversees.

Mattinson said within the first two weeks, 50 booklets were sold.

“We’re getting good feedback. People like the stories,” Mattinson said. “We have a lot of support in this town. It really is a history loving town.”

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The Heritage Commission is hoping to open their 1825 Log House and 1879 DT&I Depot to the public on some Sunday afternoons later in the summer, Mattinson said.

“We’re trying to see where this is going and we want to ensure the safety of the visitors and the safety of the Heritage Commission trustees, so we’re cautiously planning things like that,” Mattinson said.

She added, “We just enjoy sharing with the community.”

To order a booklet, email hccofscoh@gmail.com, call 937-503-2492, send a message to the South Charleston Ohio Heritage Commission on Facebook or send a request to PO Box 457, South Charleston, Ohio 45368.

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