My Town Monday: Home is Where the Art Is
The Village of Peninsula, Ohio, population 602, has a long history of creativity and of independent thinking. From the early settlers to the builders of the railroad and the Ohio and Erie Canal, people in the area took risks, expanded their horizons and shared their visions.
In the late 1930’s-early 1940’s, a number of artistically inclined families relocated to Peninsula; they were dubbed Peninsula’s Artist Colony. In the 1940’s one member of the group, Honore Guilbeau Cooke, turned her barn into an art and dance school for children. There were printmakers, painters, potters, weavers and others. The Peninsula Players’ Barn was a showcase for local talent, and is still standing.
The Village’s artistic legacy continues, as it is the home of many artists’ studios and galleries including the Peninsula Art Academy, the Log Cabin Gallery, Curious Masks, and our Bures Pottery and Elements Gallery. The community hosts art walks and shows, and the Boston Mills Art Festival brings artists and fine craftspeople from all over the country.
I continue to learn more and more about the rich history of my town. The more stories I tell, the more I find out. Next week: the story of the Peninsula Python. We’ll be giving away some great Peninsula stuff over the next few weeks.
Please visit the other My Town Monday crew at chief Marauder, Travis Erwin’s blog, One Word, One Rung, One Day.
***On another note: I have been summoned for jury duty for the next week. I’ll be checking in but may not have time to post.
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Travis Erwin said,
May 18, 2008 @ 11:23 pm
You’ve done a great job through out your MTM posts of selling your town. One of thee days I’m gonna have to make it to your area.
Terrie Farley Moran said,
May 18, 2008 @ 11:54 pm
For a town of 602, you sure have a lot of creativity going on in Peninsula.
Terrie
Cathy said,
May 19, 2008 @ 7:10 am
Very cool to live in such an artsy place!! Every time I go to jury duty I get sent home by noon…wishing you the same luck!!
Patti Abbott said,
May 19, 2008 @ 7:27 am
MY husband’s hometown in PA, New Hope sounds a lot like Peninsula.
Mary Witzl said,
May 19, 2008 @ 7:59 am
How nice to live in a town with so many other artists! The town where we spent almost a decade in Japan was famous for its artists as well, but sadly the tradition had not carried on to the same extent.
Good luck on the jury duty. I’d be torn between wanting to do it and wanting to be dismissed immediately…
Larramie said,
May 19, 2008 @ 1:07 pm
Now I’m wondering if the Peninsula Python is any relation to Monty?
Just couldn’t resist…
Linda / Lyndi said,
May 19, 2008 @ 2:36 pm
Artsy towns are always interesting to visit and to live in. Your town sounds like a lovely place to live.
Hope you don’t get stuck on a long-term jury.
Linda
Eryl Shields said,
May 19, 2008 @ 8:09 pm
Your town sounds more and more interesting every Monday. Makes me want to move.
fromskilledhands said,
May 20, 2008 @ 1:04 pm
Travis, when you make it to my town, I shall take you and your kidlets on a family oriented tour—–without the calf fries!
There is a lot of creativity in this Village, Terrie–always has been–and hopefully always will
Cathy–I was at jury duty until around 4. I was excused from a very intense criminal case.
It is wonderful to be in a beautiful place with other artists, Mary. The jury duty experience was very interesting and intense. I have no doubt that I would have been a good jury; due to the nature of the case, and my past experiences, I asked to be excused.
No Monty here, Larramie. Some aren’t even certai about the python
Thanks for stopping by, Linda. This sure is a wonderful place to be! I have to call every day after 5pm to see if I have to come in for jury duty the next day.
Hey Eryl. If you come even for a visit, we can have our coffee and cheesecake. I will even make one!