ASHLAND — The Ashland County Historical Society (ACHS) is excited and humbled to share that it recently received an award of distinction from the Ohio Local History Alliance (OHLA).
At the 2026 OLHA annual meeting, ACHS accepted the Outstanding History Outreach Award for its third annual Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom program on June 19, 2026.
The OLHA History Outreach Awards recognize outstanding projects that have educational content, that have contributed to the promotion and understanding of local and state history, and that have had an impact on the community.
These awards recognize projects that have inspired, connected, and educated audiences about local history.
“We’re humbled and elated to be the recipient of the 2026 Outstanding Achievement Award from OLHA,” stated ACHS Executive Director Sara Fisher. “The role of the historical society is to amplify the stories of all who have lived, worked, and visited our communities in Ashland County.
“And, for many of these stories, they have been left out of our written local histories for generations. We’re grateful for the volunteers and staff who joined us in making the Juneteenth events welcoming for our community.”
The third annual Juneteenth Celebration was the most ambitious installment in what has become the ACHS’s largest educational event of the year. Welcoming over 110 participants from all walks of life, the event brought history to life through well-researched living history vignettes.
Participants previewed the America 250 exhibit “Moments that Made Us: Ashland County,” engaged in story time with the Ashland Public Library, explored the meaning and need for the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments with the guidance of President Abraham Lincoln, and enjoyed a community picnic and jazz performance by the Afrxnts.
The year 2026 also gave the community a chance to connect with the region’s broader local history with help from our local history partners at the Cleo Redd Fisher Museum, Richland County Historical Society, the Oberlin Heritage Center, and the Undertold Stories Committee of the America 250-Ohio Commission.
The day was bookended by a documentary screening of “A Higher Law: The Oberlin Wellington Rescue of 1858” with the documentarians at The Ashland Theatre.
Officially recognized as a federal holiday in 2019, Juneteenth has been commemorated for over 160 years and celebrates the long struggle toward abolishing slavery in the United States and the legacy of freedom promised in the Declaration of Independence finally being fulfilled for all. Juneteenth celebrates the moment when word reached Galveston, TX, in 1865 of the Emancipation Proclamation.
“This was the most ambitious event that sought to connect local experiences to our national history,” according to ACHS Event Coordinator Eparaima Wild. “The event would not have been possible without our community partners and volunteers.
“From guest direction provided by the Mohican Theatre Company to the hours of volunteer time researching, planning, and executing the event, we’re excited to build on the success of 2026 into future years.”
Planning is underway for the 2027 event, which will take place on Friday, June 18, 2027.
“We’re grateful to OLHA for this recognition for the scholarly research, time, effort, and drive to spotlight local stories from around the Ashland County and look forward to welcoming everyone for a day of reflection, community, and celebration in the coming years,” Fisher said.
The Ashland County Historical Society is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to bring history to life through education, preservation, and community engagement.
Established in 1951, ACHS headquarters are at 420 Center Street, Ashland, and is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for self-guided tours. Guided tours are available by appointment.
The campus includes the Noonan and Manor Houses, Freer Home, and the Carriage House, which serves as the research library. For more information, visit www.ashlandhistory.org or call 419-289-3111.
The Ohio Local History Alliance is a 501(c)3 advances the field of local history in Ohio through education, advocacy, and collaboration. It represents over 300 member organizations ranging from small neighborhood historical societies to large history museums.
Governed by a volunteer, 23-member board of Trustees representing all areas of Ohio, OLHA awards organizations for exemplifying best practices and relevant projects at its Annual Meeting. To learn more about OLHA, visit www.ohiolha.org.