The Nelsonville High School Alumni Association is the alumni organization for the former Nelsonville High School in Nelsonville, Ohio. NHS merged with York High School to form Nelsonville-York Schools in 1968; the last graduating class from NHS was 1967. An annual alumni dinner and dance is hosted each year in May on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. At the dinner, old friendships are renewed and new ones are established with scholarship award winners introduced. The organization created and maintains the NHS Alumni Scholarship Fund whose mission is to preserve the  spirit and traditions of NHS by building a strong foundation of scholarship support for Nelsonville-York High School graduates.

The Route 33 Bypass

It was a gorgeous, cool, and sunny Saturday in September 2013 as runners, walkers, and

cyclists gathered for a once-in-a-lifetime event in our region,  The Nelsonville Bypass

Opening.  Early in the morning, school buses from Hocking College shuttled participants

from the Public  Square to their starting marks on the recently completed bypass. For

a few brief hours the roads were occupied not by cars and eighteen wheelers, but by

people of all ages geared up in their running shoes and bright blue t-shirts. Doubtless

many were captivated by the beauty of the bypass surroundings of Wayne National

Forest. Many were in awe of the rare experience to traverse the now peaceful, quiet

highway soon to be open to tens of thousands of vehicles rushing through the Hocking

Valley.

It has now been over a year and a half since that eventful Saturday, and

the  Nelsonville  bypass section of Route 33 is as busy as ever with vehicle traffic. Many

here anticipated the completion of the bypass for years. They also wondered what the

effect would be on the quiet city of Nelsonville (which, on days like Homecoming or

Parents’ Weekend at Ohio University, wasn’t all that “quiet.”) Route 33, or Canal Street,

was a perpetual bustle of car and truck activity since I arrived to town four years ago. I

quickly became familiar with the oft-repeated phrase, “If you want to get through

southeastern Ohio, you have to go through Nelsonville.” Some businesses thrived from

all of the through-traffic, and certainly fuel and eating establishments popped up

because of it. What was to happen when the bypass opened? How would Nelsonville

fair?

The answer to this question is still in process. Ask a resident in Nelsonville today the question, “How has the bypass affected your life?” and you will hear a variety of answers: How pleasant it is to be able to cross the street without waiting for five minutes. How good it is not to have to drive that dangerous section of Old 33. How some long-time businesses such as a gas station and used car dealers have closed their doors. How others have fought to remain resilient and adaptive. Many I talk to are hopeful about this city, looking for the bypass to help, not hinder, brighter days of tourist activity, thriving small businesses, and “small town charm” to come.  New businesses have opened such as the campground and canoe livery on the East entrance to the city.  Two transportation companies specializing in trucks and trailers have opened on Canal Street, a pizza shop has expanded to include in-store dining  and another existing restaurant in town is moving  to a larger and more accessible location on Canal Street.   In keeping with Nelsonville’s arts heritage, a new art studio and gallery has located on Canal Street.   The Hocking ValleyScenic Railway introduces their restored steam locomotive for the first time this season and has already attracted media coverage. 

The effects of the bypass may take some time yet to unfold, and questions remain as to its long-term effect. Still, there are many households, small businesses, school rooms, offices, and gathering places, in which community, hard-work, and dreams for Nelsonville continue to thrive.

Peter Galbraith

Pastor

First Presbyterian Church of Nelsonville

Good to Know

Route 33 Bypass - The long awaited route around Nelsonville opened in the October 2013 with fanfare. Happy drivers now make the trip from Columbus to Athens and beyond cutting 20 minutes from their drive. Read about the impact of the bypass in an article by Peter Galbraith to be posted on the NHS SAGA blog in June.

Hitch-Hikers music supports Food Cupboard - The Nelsonville High School garage band of the I 960s that entertained at local dances and won first place in the Parade of the Hills Battle of the Bands in 1966 makes music again this year at alumni weekend and the Parade of the Hills. NHS grads from the Class of 1966 Terry Daugherty, Mike Guess and Jon Flowers will play at Stuart's Opera House Friday night of alumni weekend. Daugherty's grandson Zach Daugherty and grandson-in-law Dusty Johnson round out the band in place of original members the late Chuck Mohney NHS '65 and former NHS teacher and coach Phil Fawcett. Concert proceeds are donated to the Nelsonville Food Cupboard.

Ohio Health - Ohio Health s announced plans to build a new medical facility in Nelsonville. With the purchase of Doctors Hospital, Ohio Health became a new community partner in Nelonville. But with changing health care climate, the hospital will eventually close to be replaced by the new medical building and urgent care facility. News articles at the time of the announcement offered some fond memories of the former Mount St. Mary Hospital.

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