By Randy McNutt
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COLUMBUS - One bicentennial legacy is the Ohio Memory Project, designed to store facts and pictures about artifacts on one Web site.
Since the project hit full speed last year, it has accumulated an impressive collection of artifacts from Buckeye history.
The project's mission is to provide access to historic items in a scrapbook format that commemorates the bicentennial and celebrates state and local history.
One of my favorite items is the Cincinnati Base Ball Club's 1894 scorebook, which features a color drawing of a game and the words National League.
Other interesting items include a photograph of the 1887 Marysville German Band, Annie Oakley, the Wright Brothers' first successful airplane, Civil War letters, an anti-saloon league membership card, bicycle clubs, quilts, Thomas Edison, mastodons and the poet Paul Laurence Dunbar.
To see the project, visit Web site.
Questions? Contact the Ohio Memory Project, c/o the Ohio Historical Society, 1982 Velma Avenue, Columbus, OH 43211-2497. E-mail: ohiomemory@ohiohistory.org. Telephone: (614) 297-2576.
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DAYTON - Ten gas-powered balloons will participate in a competition, "The Race to Kitty Hawk," starting from the grounds of the U.S. Air Force Museum today.
The event is a part of Inventing Flight, a tribute to the 100th anniversary of manned flight.
Rules allow the balloons to leave anytime during the weekend. Balloonists will attempt to fly to Kitty Hawk, N.C., where the Wright Brothers flew the first successful manned flight in December 1903.
All weekend, 150 balloons will participate in an air show. Mass ascension is set for 6 a.m. today .
Visitors are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs, but not coolers, cans or glass containers. Concessions will be available on the grounds.
Information: (937) 255-8046, ext. 490 or 371; online: www.remax.com.
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WEST CHESTER - A historical marker has been dedicated at the Voice of America's Bethany Station, 8070 Tylersville Road, in Butler County.
The marker tells the story of how for 50 years the VOA site delivered news and freedom's voice to people around the world.
The station opened in 1944 with the help of Cincinnati's Crosley Broadcasting Corp. Engineers built one of the world's most powerful short wave radio transmitters. Its messages prompted Hitler to refer to the VOA site as "Cincinnati's liars."
The Bethany station closed in 1995 and was decommissioned by the federal government in 1999. The site is now a park.
Information: Chrisbelle Bednar, 759-7305.
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NEW RICHMOND - A new historical marker commemorates New Richmond's role in helping runaway slaves in the days before the Civil War.
The riverfront, where the marker was erected, was used as a port in the 1800s and early 1900s. The area is now a park.
Information: Becky Ploucha, 553-4146.
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DAYTON - The Ohio Bicentennial bell casting for Montgomery County will be at the 20th German Picnic in Carillon Park 3-5 p.m. Aug. 9 and noon-5 p.m. Aug. 10.
The park is at 1000 Carillon Boulevard, off Patterson Boulevard. Admission and parking are free.
Information: Wanda Wiedman, 937-293-3099.
Bicentennial Notebook appears periodically. Send items to Randy McNutt, the Enquirer, 7700 Service Center Drive, West Chester OH 45069. Telephone: 755-4158. Fax: 755-4150. E-mail: rmcnutt@enquirer.com.
