SUMMERFIELD Ground has been broken along Route 513 in Noble County, and a wigwam was erected as the first of several authentic replicas of dwellings and other structures used by the ancient indigenous people of the eastern woodlands.
The Historical Ancient Indigenous Village will offer tourists visiting the southeastern Ohio the opportunity to view and interact with a traditional lifestyle dating to the earliest times of man on earth.
The ancient village is expected to generate 70,000 tourists per season. Experienced guides will lead tourists through authentic structures, and will teach and demonstrate the practices and means of living from this ancient time.
Visitors may also choose to actually dress and live as the ancient peoples did through programs offered by the Center for Human Development, the non-profit organization that is overseeing the project.
The village will feature the mainstay structures of authentic peace villages of the eastern woodlands people, known historically as the real people. These will include: five log cabins, which were the residence buildings; the seven-sided council house, which seated the government; the townhouse, were people gathered for community events; the dance plaza, where social and ceremonial events took place; the moon lodge and the sacred rock lodges, where healing occurred; the smoke house; and the summer kitchen, where food was prepared.
Guides will not only lead tours through these buildings, but will also teach and demonstrate the various aspects of life. Tourists will have the opportunity to participate in activities taking place, and will thus be able to step back in time and become part of the community.
Arts and crafts, clothing and food will be available for purchase to enhance the experience and to give each person the ability to take with them memorabilia to preserve the magical nature of their experience.
The Historic Ancient Indigenous Village will be managed by a non-profit organization, the Center for Human Development, founded by a Cherokee elder who was raised in the traditional lifestyle which will be shared in the village. The guides will be trained in the practices and activities that are demonstrated. Crafts and food will be prepared under the special supervision of the elder.
The capital budget for building the structures which represent the heart of this historical village totals $355,000. The operating budget projects that $175,000 will be needed to fund the project for its first six months through its start-up phase, and that it will generate profits of at least $60,000 per year thereafter. The Board of Directors expects to obtain grants and loans to provide the capital and start-up budgets.
Tax deductible contributions of materials and funds are welcome. Contact the Center for Human Development at (740) 838-4033 for more information.
More than 80,000 tourists travel through Ohio every season, many interested in the history and lifestyle of the original populants of America. This village will offer tourists samplings of social life, government operation, recreation, arts and crafts and cuisine. It offers many tastes, sounds, sights and activities for vacationers interested in discovering history.