October 3, 2018 – Akron, Ohio
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens and The University of Akron present a premier screening of the documentary, Lost Voices of the Great War: Summit County in the First World War, followed by a panel discussion on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at 7 pm in the Main Auditorium of the Akron-Summit County Public Library, 60 South High Street, Akron, Ohio. The screening is open to the public free of charge.
Recounting the story of Summit County residents’ experiences at home and overseas during the First World War, the documentary uses dramatic reenactment footage, narration, interviews, period music and sound effects to bring to life local hidden collections of 100-year-old letters, film, photographs, images, and documents. A wide variety of voices tell the story, including:
This documentary was produced by Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens and The University of Akron, especially its University Libraries, as part of a larger partnership, Summit County and the Great War, formed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of American involvement in the First World War.
This documentary was made possible, in part, by Ohio Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Donna Spiegler, Communications Manager, Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, dspiegler@stanhywet.org or 330.315.3294
Victor Fleischer, University Archivist and Head, Archival Services, The University of Akron, svfleis@uakron.edu or 330.972.6253.
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens is the former estate of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company co-founder F.A. Seiberling, and his family. In 1957, Stan Hywet became a non-profit historic estate museum so that the public could benefit from the cultural, educational, and inspirational riches of one of the most significant achievements in architecture and horticulture to come out of America’s Industrial Age. Open for tours April through December, Stan Hywet is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and is Akron, Ohio’s oldest National Historic Landmark.
Established in 1870, The University of Akron (UA) offers a wide range of in-demand associate, bachelor's, professional and doctoral degree programs in the liberal arts, sciences, health care, engineering, law, business, education and more. Its beautiful metropolitan campus, located in the heart of Ohio’s fifth-largest city, is surrounded by more than 21,000 businesses in the Akron metropolitan area, providing diverse experiential learning opportunities to its more than 22,000 students hailing from 45 states and 78 countries. With championship-winning NCAA Division I sports teams, more than 300 student organizations and a top-ranked Student Recreation and Wellness Center, UA provides the full campus experience.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Akron, Ohio. March 3, 2017) A collaborative initiative, "Summit County and the Great War," will mark the centennial of America's entry into World War I, and commemorate Summit County's contributions.
The first in a series of local events will be held at 11:00am, Monday, April 3, 2017 at Summit County's World War I Memorial, adjacent to Charles Goodyear Park, 174 S High St. The official ceremony marking America's entry into the war is sponsored by the Summit County Historical Society and will be held at "The Spirit of the American Doughboy"statue in front of the Summit County Courthouse.
Featured speakers include Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro, Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan, and State Senator Frank LaRose. The Salvation Army - a strong partner to Akron troops in WWI - will be represented by the local citadel's brass choir, which will provide music for the occasion. The event is free, open to the public, and will adjourn at 11:30.
On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war against Germany. Within the week, Akron joined the nation in mustering its collective will to save Europe. Akron provided more men to the war effort in 1917 than any city in Ohio except Cleveland and Cincinnati - nearly 9,000 "GI's" (a term coined during WWI.) Akron men were mostly assigned to the 83rd "All Ohio" Division, which trained at Camp Sherman in Chillicothe, and were deployed in June 1918 as part of the American Expeditionary Force. In less than two years, over 116,000 Americans would perish in the "The War to End All Wars."
An exhibit honoring Akron soldiers in WWI will open April 3 inside the Summit County Courthouse, and remain on display through the end of the year. The exhibit will include the role that members of the Akron Bar played during the war.
A map showing WWI monuments, memorials, cemeteries, exhibits, events and more relating to Summit County's involvement in the Great War is part of the exhibit, and will be available at the website created by the local coalition, www.SummitWWI.org. This site will be active for the duration of the two year project and will list commemorative programs, events, activities and locations around the county from 2017-2018.
On Tuesday, April 18 the Historical Society and Summit Metro Parks will sponsor a downtown walking tour highlighting World War I veterans 11:30am-1pm. Meet in the lobby of the Polsky Building off High Street. Free and open to the public.
The Society will make its Discovery Trunk, "Over There," available to groups who schedule a speaker. Call 330.535.1120.
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens commemorates Akron's role in World War I on Sunday, May 21 from 12 noon to 4 pm with displays, first person interpreters and a special program by the University of Akron's Dr. Kevin Kern. From April - December 2017, guests to the estate may take a tour of the Manor House, viewing artifacts and articles from F.A. and Gertrude Seiberling's oldest son, Fred Seiberling, who served in France from 1917 - 1918. A new permanent exhibit, The Seiberling Legacy, highlights the family's legacy including its contributions to both World Wars. Visit www.stanhywet.org for more information.
In commemoration of the centennial, the University of Akron Archival Services, a division of University Libraries, has preserved and made available to the public the records of Akron's American Legion Post 209, which includes hundreds of historic documents and photographs relating to Post members who served during World War I. The inventory to the collection can be accessed at www.uakron.edu/libraries/archives. Many of these items have been digitized and made available online. See the University Libraries' Facebook page at uakronlibraries.
"Discovering Your Military Ancestors" is a program open to the public that will be held Saturday, August 5 at the Main Library, 60 S. High St., 9:30am-4pm. Military historian Eric Johnson and accredited genealogist Michael Strauss will discuss researching the military service of ancestors, including a session dedicated to researching World War I servicemen and women.
On Sunday, November 5 the Main Library will screen "For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots (2010)," 1-3 pm. Go to www.akronlibrary.org.
Summit County's official World War I memorial has led an interesting life over its 86 years. In 1931, it was to be located on George Washington Boulevard near the new Akron airport. A memorial plaque was affixed to a large boulder, but when the statue arrived in 1934, city officials preferred the Akron Armory downtown (the present site of the Ocasek State Office Building) after an act of vandalism at the airport memorial forced the site to be abandoned.
Smithsonian's American Art Museum lists 159 locations for the mass produced piece. E.M. Viquesney's statue has been seen by more people than any sculpture in the United States. Akron's Doughboy was one of the first of a cast zinc version, and dedicated in 1934.
The soldier's upward extended right arm holds a grenade. His left arm carries a bayonetted 1903 Springfield rifle. He wears a flat steel helmet, trousers bloused above the knee with puttees (leg wrappings) below the knee. He carries a bedroll backpack, a scabbard, gas mask pouch, cartridge belt, canteen, mess kit, and first aid kit. The hollow statue weighs 200 pounds. An inscription on the base reads: "SPIRIT OF THE AMERICAN DOUGHBOY." A plaque on one side of the base reads:
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN & WOMEN WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY
FROM SUMMIT COUNTY DURING THE WORLD WAR
PRESENTED BY THE GOLD STAR MOTHERS OF SUMMIT COUNTY
NOVEMBER 11, 1934
The base also lists the names of 66 Summit Countians who lost their lives in the war. In 1982, the monument was moved from its original location to prepare for construction of the new state office building. In 2013, a refurbishment project was completed by Thomarios Construction, which cleaned the statue, added bronze plate, and sealed the statue.
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens: Toivo Motter, Julie Frey; Jennifer McDowell
Summit County Historical Society: Leianne Neff Heppner, Claire Lucas, Dave Lieberth
Akron-Summit County Public Library: Rebecca Larson-Troyer, Mary Plazo, Janice Radl
University of Akron Archival Services: Vic Fleischer
The United States World War One Commission, website www.worldwar1centennial.org.
PBS will air the American Experience film, "The Great War" three nights in April, beginning April 6. See www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/great-war/player