Visitors to the FAC were quickly drawn into the history in the many photographs lining the walls of the gallery.
One of the newer photographs in the exhibit came from a 1981 article in the Gallipolis Daily Tribune documenting a fire that claimed a wing of the Gallia County Courthouse.
This very old photo depicts early construction along Second Ave. in Gallipolis.
Jenny Myers enthusiastically points out the features of photo after photo during her interview with the Gallipolis Daily Tribune.
In 1940, people filled the sidewalks and the city park for a parade commemorating the 150th anniversary of the founding of Gallipolis.
Several tractor owners lined up in front of the Agee & Son Implement Co., to advertise the upcoming 4H Pie Social to be held at the Ohio Valley Grange Hall in April. Agee & Son sold Farmall and International tractors and parts, among other things.
The Gallia Academy High School girls basketball team of 1908.
GALLIPOLIS — History, when retold, has a way of coming alive again. There is this sense of having been there, even when you weren’t. That’s the sense one gets when walking through the galleries of the French Art Colony (FAC) for their current photographic exhibit, “Remember When …”
The galleries are filled with mostly black and white photos ranging from the late 1800s to the 1980s and contain images that skillfully capture moments in Gallia County’s history. The majority of the photographs are on loan from David Tawney, who alongside his father Max Tawney, operated a long-standing and esteemed photography business on Second Ave. in Gallipolis. Those photos that did not come from Tawney were organized by Cheryl Enyart, who also voluntarily hung the exhibit.
Jenny Myers, office assistant at the FAC, was visibly energized by the exhibit.
“It’s one of the most fun exhibits we’ve had in a while,” said Myers.
She said as a person who knew the area well, left for a time and came back, the photos jog a lot of great memories.
“It gives me a sense of belonging to the community,” said Myers. “The photos tie memories from different decades together to create a full picture of the city.”
The photographs are grouped together in categories such as the City Park, First Ave., Second Ave., Businesses through the Years, Civic Groups, the Silver Bridge, the Ohio River, Churches, Local Families and Notable Locals.
“Anyone who lives in this area would love to see all these pictures,” said Myers, as she pointed out one after the other. “I’d say older residents would have stories about many of the places in the photos.”
The exhibit will be on display at the FAC through January 30. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The public is encouraged to attend and may walk through the exhibit at their leisure.
Post a Comment
