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The 2023 summer season of concerts and activities at Historic Fort Steuben is drawing to a close and it's a good time to thank all those who made this another successful year.
For those who like numbers, since June 1, we welcomed more than 2,600 visitors from 28 states and seven countries. Many came to tour the fort, purchase city and state souvenirs, explore family history or simply use the restrooms while getting travel information.
Our friendly volunteers presented a positive image of Steubenville and the Ohio Valley.
The 2023 Fort Steuben Summer Concerts were attended by more than 6,500 people, with an additional 2,000 on the Fourth of July for the city fireworks. The concert planners tried to provide a variety of musical genres for the audience that has so faithfully supported these free programs for 17 years.
We are so grateful to our concert sponsors, especially those who have been with us since we began: The Kessler Family, the Center of Music and Art, WTOV-TV, Trinity Health System, Fort Steuben Maintenance and Capital Health Services. Thanks to Ed and Sue Hershey, John Cucarese Financial Services, Upper Ohio Valley Building and Construction Trades Council, Naples Spaghetti House, Hauser's Furniture, Apollo Restoration, Dominic and Debbie Macedonia, D'Anniballe and Co. and Bradley Lawn Care. Thanks to Ace Optical, Barium and Chemicals, Mosti Funeral Home, Yorgo's Gyros and Potatoes, Borden Office Equipment, Bates Amusements, Cattrell Cos. Inc., Main Street Bank, Hancock County Savings Bank, Maryland Market, Chug and Debbie Roberts, J.K. Autoglass, Valley Converting, Downtown Bakery, Steubenville Electrical LMCC, First Choice America Community Federal Credit Union and Steubenville Kiwanis. And this year we were pleased to receive a grant from the Ohio Arts Council.
As you can see, these concerts are truly a well-supported community event, especially considering we were able to meet our budget of $36,000. Additional thanks to Rick and Deb Witkowski of Studio L, who booked the bands and were masters of ceremony for each concert.
Earl Tuttle and his crew at Ohio Valley Audio ensured that the performers sounded great. And, our volunteers Sam Bezak and Larry Bauer kept the grass cut and trimmed. We hope those who attended will fill out the survey we will be posting in the Herald-Star and online so we can better plan for next year.
We also want to thank Wal-Mart Distribution Center for sponsoring Ohio Valley Frontier Days in June. That festival is part of our mission of Keeping History Alive. And, we are grateful to WTOV-TV for spearheading the Fountain Restoration Project and to all those who have donated toward it.
Although Historic Fort Steuben is a private nonprofit, the founders envisioned it as a spark for downtown revitalization and community engagement, bringing history and the arts to the public.
Through the support of so many in the area, we have been able to do so and hope to continue to do so for years to come.
(Bratten is assistant director of Historic Fort Steuben)