Smithsonian Traveling exhibit coming April 9 - May 7, 2010
Wood County Historical Center & Museum, Bowling Green, OH

The Wood County Historical Society is proud to present the Smithsonian traveling exhibit BETWEEN FENCES at the Wood County Historical Center & Museum April 9 - May 7, 2010.

In conjunction with this exhibit, the Wood County Historical Museum is planning a variety of additional programming to create an awareness of our own fences in Wood County and Northwest Ohio.

BETWEEN FENCES - April 9 - May 7, 2010 Wood County Historical Museum The exhibit looks at fences, both physical and figurative, and will focus on the definition of home, farm, and factory; materials used to build fences in different parts of the country; and an unusual look at its representation as a division of race, culture, or class. BETWEEN FENCES is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and the Federation of State Humanities Councils. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United State Congress. OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY - April 8, 4:30-6:30 PM as part of the PORCH RENOVATION PROJECT RIBBON CUTTING. Opening remarks by Representative Randy Gardner. Refreshments on the newly renovated Museum porches. Museum open until 6:30 PM for visitors to see our new exhibits and the Smithsonian "Between Fences" exhibit. BEHIND FENCES: Life at the Wood County Infirmary Wood County Historical Museum Our companion exhibit takes a closer view at the Infirmary's physical fence, the Brandeberry Wall, as well as the perceived fences between Infirmary residents and the community. BUILDING FENCES Wood County Historical Museum : Hands-on History Room This interactive component allows youngsters to build fences using materials such as construction paper, Legos, and split rail. BETWEEN FENCES IN THE COMMUNITY - April, 2010 Find our mini-exhibits around the community at the Bowling Green Convention & Visitors' Bureau, the Wood County District Public Library, and the Defiance Public Library.   BETWEEN FENCES TEA & TOUR - APRIL 8, 2 PM Wood County Historical Museum A poignant program about fences and boundaries within our community followed by a tour of the Smithsonian traveling exhibit "Between Fences." Reservation Details. CURATOR DISCUSSION & TOUR - APRIL 14, 7 PM Wood County Historical Museum Museum Curator Randy Brown will discuss the theoretical and physical boundaries that separated the Infirmary residents from the rest of Wood County’s population, followed by a guided tour of "Between Fences" and "Behind Fences." FREE and open to the public.   LONELY ARE THE BRAVE (1962) - APRIL 22, 6-9 PM Cla-Zel Theatre , 127 N. Main St, BG Film showing followed by discussion lead by Dr. Nathan Crook, a communications instructor from Defiance College. This film is an adaptation of the novel The Brave Cowboy by Edward Abbey. On horseback, Jack Burns rides out of the dusty Old West and into the gleaming New West where traditional boundaries, such as mountains and rivers, are replaced by barbed wire fences and the interstate highway system. The 1962 film stars Kirk Douglas, Gena Rowlands, Walter Matthau, Michael Kane, Carroll O’Connor, and William Schallert. FREE and open to the public. CHECK IT OUT! Video Spectrum Choose from a variety of fence-themed films hand-selected by the store owner of Bowling Green's locally owned and operated "movie buff's paradise." Available in DVD and VHS formats (VCR rental available). Recommended filmography

FENCES on FLICKR - is a digital photo gallery of fences around Wood County SUBMIT A PHOTO or SEE THE GALLERY <-- see a few gallery images to the left. New photos just added [go to FLICKR] VIDEO SEGMENT on YouTube Watch this mini-documentary video about historic boundaries at the Infirmary and in Wood County. Produced by Michelle Carlisle, Defiance College. As seen on DCTV Channel 5, Defiance, Ohio. Road Reports Across America Museum on Main Street Blog about our upcoming look at Between Fences plus photos and Twitter updates from other host sites [check it out!]   FENCES ART SHOW 2- and 3-D art show focused on K-12. Teachers and parents, if you would like for your children to participate, contact Education Coordinator Michael McMaster at 419.352.0967 or education@woodcountyhistory.org Museum on Main Street provides many valuable resources to assist teachers in weaving this topic into the classroom. See MoMs Resources on Fences   APRIL SNACK -N- YAK - APRIL 20, 2:30 PM Wood County District Public Library [BGMS Library] "Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy" by Gary D.Schmidt. This powerful novel about a preacher's son who moves to small Maine town, befriends a girl and together they stand up against racism. Turner Buckminter is taught many lessons after throwing stones at a neighbor's fence and learns a great deal about overcoming barriers. APRIL PRE-SCHOOL STORYTIME Wood County District Public Library [Children's Place] A series of children's picture books are being selected for April storytime with a focus on fences. NOVEL CHIT CHATS - APRIL 12, 7 PM Wood County District Public Library [Children's Place] "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain. This book discussion meets monthly and includes adults and children ages 9+. Anyone is encouraged to join us ~ this classic story will be a wonderful book to discuss, particularly the fence whitewashing chapter!  READ BETWEEN THE FENCES Wood County District Public Library | Defiance Public Library April's featured reading at our local libraries will include many books that address fences in our lives. Recommended books for children Recommended books for young adults

"Fences" may not immediately trigger interesting visuals, but here are some concepts to consider:

• How do fences preserve the peace among neighbors?
• How do fences amplify tensions between neighbors?
• Are there markers or man-made borders of interest?
• Are there things citizens can do on one side of a fence that they can't do on the other?
• Consider the difference between real or artificial borders.
• Do fences separate socio-economic classes, ethnicity, race, or other groups?
• Do fences make good neighbors? Or divide them?
• How do you build a fence? What materials are used in Northwest Ohio? What materials are used today that differ from fences constructed in 1909?
• What makes up a natural fence - hedge, plantings, trees, etc.
• Is there any notable significance or history to this fence?

Locally, conversations have surrounded topics such as the Wood County Infirmary and its Brandeberry Wall, the Prisoner of War camps in Bowling Green, "Hog Town," among others...

Source: Center for Archival Collections/BGSU Are there things citizens can do on one side of a fence that they can't do on the other? Bricker Field. The Wood County Airport was dedicated in 1942 and named after Ohio Governor John W. Bricker. The 120-acre airport expanded the size of BGSU and was its economic salvation during the enrollment downturn of World War II. Military personnel used the university for training and helped make up the difference. In addition to providing a facility for local pilots, Bricker Field was used for the Civilian Pilot Training Program, around 1939.

Source: BGFile Are there markers or man-made borders of interest? The Poe Road Improvement Project was developed in 2005 by a class in BGSU's School of Art. “The People” was chosen because it "brought the community into it, and [brought] art into the community,” according to student designer Jason Karas. Placed along the mural are 120 silhouettes of Bowling Green residents made from photographs taken of individuals involved in their daily lives. The corner of E. Poe Road and North College Drive is no longer another empty lot bordered with a plain wire fence. Instead it's become a proud tribute to the city and an important historical depiction of the Great Black Swamp.

We look forward to hearing or seeing your interprepation of fences. Please join us in April for the exhibit opening, and we hope you will join in on one of the several companion programs we have to offer.

Ohio Humanities Council

BETWEEN FENCES is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and the Federation of State Humanities Councils. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United State Congress.

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