Memorial Pavilion and mural to be dedicated in Ragersville July 24
By Tricia Flickinger
July 13, 2011
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The Ragersville Historical Society invites everyone in the community to a special, historical event on July 24. Members of the historical society will dedicate the new Earl R. Hisrich Memorial Pavilion, and a mural depicting the history of Ragersville will be unveiled. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. behind the Emmanuel Lutheran Church.
As a member of the Ragersville Historical Society from 1979 until his death on June 27, 2010, Hisrich always wanted to have a pavilion in the community. He wanted it to be a place where residents of Ragersville could gather to socialize and share memories, so the historical society did just that. Along with the restored 1830 schoolhouse, the Conrad Rager cabin, the cheese house and the 1846 wine cellar, the pavilion is just one more landmark in the community that will represent a lot of history.
We wanted to add an attraction to show the history of our town, said Candy Beaber, member of the Ragersville Historical Society. Its not just for the past, but its for the future.
Hisrich was a lifetime resident of Ragersville. He graduated from Sugarcreek-Shanesville High School in 1944 and immediately entered the military. When he returned to Ragersville, he married Connie Zifer in 1949, and they started the Ragersville Barber and Beauty Shop, which was in business from 1949-2000.
Among many properties Hisrich bought and restored in Ragersville was the 1830 schoolhouse. He had a vision of protecting and preserving the history of the village. He later donated the schoolhouse to the historical society, as well as the land adjacent to the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, which is where the Conrad Rager cabin was built. As a founding member of the historical society, committee members wanted to be sure that the pavilion be named after Hisrich.
Hisrichs great nephews constructed the memorial pavilion. Beaber said that the pavilion will eventually have garage doors on the sides, provided by Wayne Door of Dover, so that it can be used in any type of weather conditions. Members of the community can rent the pavilion at any time for use.
Along with the dedication of the Earl R. Hisrich Memorial Pavilion, a mural created by Gene Troyer and his Central Catholic students will be unveiled. Beaber suggested the idea of a mural last summer after seeing the Tuscarawas County Mural on Fair Avenue in New Philadelphia. Committee members brainstormed over 100 ideas for which landmarks and individuals should be portrayed on the mural.
We had a lot of ideas, Beaber said. We had to narrow the ideas down to the most important events and individuals in Ragersville.
Troyer grew up in Auburn Township and attended Ragersville Elementary. After seeing the work of Troyer and his students on the mural in New Philadelphia, Beaber wanted them to design and create the mural.
He is one of us, Beaber added. I was really impressed with Gene and the work of his students. His connection to Ragersville is why they picked him. He was quite enthused and the kids were excited about it, too.
The mural, which contains nine panels and is seven-and-a-half-feet tall and 36 feet wide, is triangular shaped and fits in the peak above the pavilion. Troyer and his students worked on the mural the entire school year.
We think the mural is fantastic, Beaber said. It is really special since it tells the history of our town. I am so pleased we were able to accomplish this and Gene was willing to do this for us with the help of his students.
Following the ceremonies, food will be provided for those in attendance.
People will want to come, because of Earl and to see the mural, Beaber said. Some people know about it, and some dont know about it. Once they find out this is what we are doing, I think a lot of people will be interested in it.
