The Over-the-Rhine Museum is delighted to announce the next installment in our story-sharing series, “Three Acts in Over-the-Rhine” on Tuesday, March 29th at The Orbit Room (1833 Vine Street). This program features three stories that shed light on the lived experiences of Over-the-Rhine residents during the 1970s. Guest speakers are: Greg Hand, family member to former Orchard Street residents responsible for planting the well-known trees; Netra Owensby, an Over-the-Rhine adolescent during the 1970s; and Stephen Albert, a photographer with a collection focused on the neighborhood during this decade. Event check-in will start at 6:00 pm and the program will begin at 6:30 pm.
Reserve your seat for this program today! Tickets can be purchased on a “pay what you would like” donation basis. We recommend $5-10 per person. Due to the capacity of the venue, tickets will be capped at 30 attendees.This program will also be available to watch live via facebook.com/OTRmuseum. Please join us in celebrating these stories of Over-the-Rhine’s recent past! Event image was provided by Stephen Albert.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Greg Hand
Greg Hand, proprietor of the “Cincinnati Curiosities” blog, retired from the University of Cincinnati as associate vice president for public relations. Before his employment by the university, Hand was editor of the Western Hills Press in suburban Cincinnati. In addition to his blog, Hand is a freelance writer and consults on public relations planning and crisis communication. He contributes regularly to Cincinnati Magazine’s digital platform and the WCPO-TV “Cincy Lifestyles” show.
Each spring, the trees along Orchard Street blossom into magnificence. The trees were planted and nurtured by two dedicated residents, Greg Haas and Dorothy Glanzer, who shared their love and ideals in Over-the-Rhine during the 1970s and 1980s. Greg Hand will share their story.
Netra Owensby
Netra Ownensby’s journey in the Over-the-Rhine community began long before she existed. Netra is one of 12 children born to Roy and Essie Owensby, all born and raised in Over-the-Rhine. Both parents came to Cincinnati during the Great Migration, a movement of Black Americans leaving the cruelty of the south for a "less'' cruel north. Netra spent her adolescence to young adulthood in Over-the-Rhine. Early memories go back to living on Milton street with her family. The family owned and operated a store on 12th and Pendleton streets for many years. Their family home was on Loth Street near Vine Street Elementary School. Netra attended Washington Park Elementary School and graduated High School at Robert A. Taft High School. She currently works in the nearby West End at the United States Postal Service and plans to retire in the very near future.
Stephen Albert
Stephen Albert began taking photographs in Over-the-Rhine in 1971. He had a two person show with California photographer John Divola in 1977 at Camera Works Gallery in Mount Adams. Albert worked at Quality Photo Shops in Corryville from 1975 until 1982. He received a master’s degree in library science from the University of Kentucky in 1983. He worked at Wilmington College Library, Thomas More College Library and Kenton County Public Library until his retirement in 2016. In November 2021, Albert published a book entitled “Over-the-Rhine in the 1970s: A Journey into a Unique Cincinnati Neighborhood.” A selection of photographs from the book were on display at the Mohawk Gallery within Robin Imaging from October 25, 2021 through February 2022. Stephen’s presentation will share and discuss a selection of the nearly 100 photographs that are included in his book.
Three Acts in Over-the-Rhine is an innovative lecture series designed to expose attendees to stories of the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Each event features three, fifteen-minute talks on the history of Over-the-Rhine. All three presenters answer questions together at the end about their talks.
The Over-the-Rhine Museum welcomes your support for these provocative stories. Donate online at otrmuseum.org/donate.
The Over-the-Rhine Museum inspires understanding and respect for the people who have created and lived in Cincinnati’s historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood by working with community members to uncover, present, and preserve their stories.