Tuscarawas County, Ohio (WJER) - The Tuscarawas County Historical Society wants to honor a new class of residents working to preserve local history. 

Curator Kim Jurkovic says they are accepting nominations for the annual Zeisberger-Heckewelder awards, presented annually to people who show care for Tuscarawas County and its origins in a variety of ways.

“It’s to exemplify people who make Tuscarawas County a better place to live. That can be through effort in local history. It can be through preservation efforts. We’ve also given out awards over the years to like people in industry,” she says. 

Jurkovic says those chosen for the awards are entered into a class alongside some significant people.

“They’ve gone to people like Bryce Browning, who started the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District; Paul Green, who wrote the Trumpet in the Land play; Vic Marsh and Max Miller, some local industry people,” she says.

Jurkovic says the awards help secure the things that will eventually become history in Tuscarawas County while shining a spotlight on the people who made it possible.

“We’re not a very big area. A lot of people are like, ‘Where did you say you’re from?’ and this is just a great way to bring out the wonderful role that Tuscarawas County plays,” she says. 

Jurkovic says nominations are due by February 1st and must include the address and phone number of both the nominator and the person being nominated. Nominations can be mailed to the society at PO Box 462, New Philadelphia, OH 44663; or dropped at the Tusc Kent Archives in Founders Hall between 8 am and noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 

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