For Immediate Release

Ohio Historical Society Partners With Cedar Bog Association To Manage Cedar Bog Nature Preserve
Construction of Education Center to Proceed

(Columbus, Ohio, May 5, 2008) - The Ohio Historical Society today announced it has entered into an agreement with the Cedar Bog Association to manage the Cedar Bog Nature Preserve near Urbana, according to William K. Laidlaw, OHS executive Director and CEO.

"Many people consider Cedar Bog as the crown jewel of natural areas in Ohio," said Laidlaw. "The Ohio Historical Society Board of Trustees is pleased to entrust the management of this unique natural history site to a group who has devoted itself to the protection of this delicate ecosystem for many years."

Facing a $2 million budget deficit for the 2009 fiscal year, the Ohio Historical Society began restructuring its site system operations in April, which included finding interested groups to manage four of it sites: Cedar Bog Nature Preserve, Museum of Ceramics in East Liverpool, Ohio Statehouse Education & Visitors Center in Columbus and Tallmadge Church in Tallmadge. With the new agreement, Cedar Bog joins 25 other OHS sites managed by local organizations or state agencies.

Under the 15-year management agreement, which is effective immediately, the Ohio Historical Society will pay the Cedar Bog Association $8,000 a year to carry out the day-to-day operations of the nature preserve. The Association’s responsibilities will include providing visitor services, educational and interpretive programs, basic maintenance and fund raising. In addition to the annual subsidy, the association will keep the income from admissions, program fees and rents from agricultural lands. The Society will continue to provide liability insurance, major maintenance and professional resources as well as administer capital improvement projects. The Friends of Cedar Bog, a committee of the Cedar Bog Association, is working to raise an endowment to support the site as well.

"The Cedar Bog Association has partnered with the Ohio Historical Society for the past 26 years to ensure the protection of Cedar Bog and help to provide access to it for the people of Ohio," said Melanie Pratt, president of the Cedar Bog Association. "This new arrangement will keep the site open to the public for many years to come and it will make it possible to move forward with the construction of the new education center."

According to Laidlaw, the construction of the education center has been awarded to Geuy Construction from Rosewood, Ohio, with construction scheduled to begin in the next few weeks. The Ohio Historical Society will collaborate with the Cedar Bog Association and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources during the education center’s construction and opening later this year.

"The Cedar Bog Education Center will be an added attraction to the site by providing meaningful educational experiences for visitors as well as improved visitor facilities," Laidlaw said. "The long-anticipated project has received tremendous community and statewide support."

The structure will have about 2,600 square feet for a classroom, restrooms, an office, a sales area and exhibit space. The building also will have a number of “green” features to minimize energy consumption and be environmentally sensitive to the nature preserve.

Cedar Bog Nature Preserve is one of 59 sites administered by the Ohio Historical Society, a nonprofit organization that serves as the state’s partner in preserving and interpreting Ohio’s history, archaeology and natural history.

Established in 1885, the Ohio Historical Society is a nonprofit organization that serves as the state's partner in preserving and interpreting Ohio's history, archaeology and natural history. For more information about programs and events, call 614.295.2300/800.686.6124 or go online at www.ohiohistory.org.

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