Josh Duplechian

Projects: Glouster

Glouster, Ohio was once a booming town in the fifties and sixties, but time has changed the atmosphere drastically. Glouster is a rural ex-coal mining town in southeastern Ohio. I mainly became interested in this town because of its desolate nature and rich history. Many of Glouster’s current residents love the community, but others hate it and cannot seem to find any reason why they are still there. My goal was to unearth the many individual stories of this interesting town that time seemed to forget and piece them in a collective whole to preserve the history of this small rural town.

Route 13 is a major road taken to travel through the town of Glouster. This road is the main artery of the town with many people dependent on its existence because of the access to other towns and businesses.
  
Deliveries of food and supplies are stocked daily along Route 13 to the local restaurant owners. Most of the restaurants are small little home cooking places where everyone knows each other.
   
Frogranch Salsa owner Craig Cornett reaches for a jar of salsa before it hits the floor. The salsa company has been serving people throughout Athens and outlying counties for eight years. “This stuff is so hot it might give you another reason to drink another beer,” exclaimed Cornett.
     
  
The past and the future are on display in an abandonded shop window. The towns youth find it amusing to write derogitory messages to each other on the many abandoned shop windows in town.
   
Johnny Stouart, 9, spends his summer days practicing wrestling moves on a trampoline in his parents backyard just off of Route 13 in Glouster.
   
Sam’s Gym, located directly off of Route 13, serves as a refuge for those who want to train either as a professional or amateur boxer. “It’s a good way to give some of these kids something to do beside get into trouble,” stated Sam. The gym, which is open every Monday and Wednesday, houses as many as 16-20 people.
     
  
In the 1980's Ida Mae Stoneburner and several other women started the Women of Glouster program in the old train depot. These women meet every Tuesday and Saturday to construct quilts of all sizes and colors. The proceeds from the quilts go back to the community to purchase various items to help in the revitalization of the town. In 2001 the women raised close to $40,000 to purchase a roof for the old hotel building.
  
Fights are not uncommon in this house along the main street. This particular fight between brothers resulted with both of them getting arrested. The mother, in the window, watched as both kids were hauled off to the Glouster jail around the corner.
  
“Do you want me to show you what we really do in this town, we drink,” exclaimed Ellen Shafer. At any point in the day there are people in just about every bar. Sunday afternoons are the most crowded times at JR’s Tavern along Main Street.
     
  
“I’m surprised that the creek water hasn’t reached over the road quite yet,” said Wayne Fierce a long time resident of Glouster. The baseball fields are usually the first to flood because they are so close to the river.
  
A slice of americana still exists through the American Legion baseball giving kids of all ages an opportunity to be involved. There are five different fields, all of which are packed every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights.
  
Numerous animal heads and fishing gear litter the walls of the B and B Hook ‘N’ Shoot on the outskirts of Glouster. Although this tackle store has only been around since last labor day word of mouth gets around throughout this small community very quickly. Hunters sometimes gather here just to tell “fish” stories to pass the time.
     
  
Chester Keith stares in amazement at his first kill of the Ohio turkey season. Since Glouster is in a rural part of Ohio hunting is abundant and provides many people with the opportunity to eat fresh meat.
  
Glouster High School prom is one of the bigger events of the year as most converge on the grounds of the school to have their photos taken by parents and friends.
   
As the years pass many residents of Glouster say they hope things will change for their small community mostly for the towns youth.