SOURCE: Post Research, 1990 Census Jeremy DeLuca / THE POST

Tucked between the Ohio River and the hills of southern Ohio, two neighboring cities share more in common than just proximity. They also share a desire to grow.

For 35 years, leaders of Pomeroy and Middleport, located 28 miles south of Athens, have been trying to generate jobs and tourism and have found it difficult with the lack of major highways throughout the region. But after years of promises, some people are ready to take matters into their own hands.

The two communities came together April 9 with citizens of Meigs County and West Virginia to show their support for two roads in a "Rally for the Roads." More than 450 people attended the rally, only to find standing room only.

The two roads they are pushing the state to build are a 15-mile road, called the Ravenswood Connector, from the Ohio River to U.S. Route 7 east of Pomeroy and a reconstruction of 11 miles of state Route 33 from Athens to Darwin. The new route would shave 45 miles off a trip between Columbus and Charleston, W.Va.

Rich-Joseph Facun/THE POST Lee Musick tickles her daughter Joyce Anna Marie, 3, on a step of the Pomeroy Courthouse. Musick was waiting for the Courthouse employees to return from their lunch break so she could get a title for a house.

"Middleport would benefit a lot from the connector roads," said Kathy Pickens, a Pomeroy resident and an employee of Mitch's Produce in Middleport. "Businesses close down all the time here in Middleport; Pomeroy survives better."

The road projects are expected to provide jobs for all of Meigs County, which has one of the state's highest unemployment rates at 13 percent, not only during construction but also when the roads are complete.

"It certainly will bring business back to the communities; if the county seat prospers, then the whole county will too," Pomeroy Mayor Frank Vaughn said. "It will also bring traffic all the way from Toledo down into West Virginia."

With more traffic making its way through the villages, the communities will be able to show more people Pomeroy and Middleport's history and tourism.

One of the biggest events of the year is the Big Band Sternwheel Festival, held every October in Pomeroy. The festival, which runs three days, includes about 25 sternwheel boats, crafts, fireworks and parades, all free of charge.

Another aspect of the festival is the queen contest for juniors and seniors in high school. The girls are judged on their trivia and their costumes, which have to be in Victorian style.

"We also test them on their knowledge of Meigs County so that the emphasis is not only on looks but it also makes the girls ambassadors of the county," Johnson said.

The Big Band Sternwheel Festival is not the only Victorian-style event in the two villages. Tourists also can tour the communities guided by a Victorian-dressed tour guide.

"We have 10 costumes which were made with the historical society to guarantee authenticity," Johnson said.

One of the most popular stops in Middleport is the Ohio River Bear Company. The company was started 11 years ago by accident after the owner, Sue Baker, made a teddy bear for her own child. Soon the bear was in high demand. The company now sells to merchants in 49 states and five foreign countries, including Japan and Germany.

The Ohio River Bear Company is not the only aspect of the villages that is nationally known. Pomeroy, Meigs' county seat, has gained fame of its own for being in Ripley's Believe It or Not museums.

The county courthouse is built into the side of the hill so that the three-story structure allows for ground entrances on every floor. The town also is noted for being the only county seat in the nation with no four-way intersections.