The late 1800s brought railroads through the mineral rich areas of Southeastern Ohio. Along these railroads, little cities formed as a result of the mineral deposits and the boom to extract them. The next century was spent mining the abundant deposits of coal, iron ore, and clay available in the region. These extractive industries helped to build booming economies in many of the local communities, then referred to as The Little Cities of Black Diamonds. Glouster, Ohio, one of the Little Cities located in Athens County, once boasted a downtown center full of businesses, liquor establishments, and restaurants. Long-time residents of Glouster fondly recall the town’s former, bustling demeanor and recount stories of the 17 bars on the main street, often viewed as a gauge of success—both the positive economy and large population to support those establishments. Most of this, however, changed in the 1950’s and 60’s as the extractive industries drained local natural resources before relocating to more prosperous areas. Glouster is now a shadow of it’s former self. According to the 2000 census, the median income sits just under $12,000 per year, with 28.2% of individuals living below the poverty line. Like many post-extractive industry towns in Appalachia, poverty is not the only issue plaguing Glouster. Opiate abuse is on the rise, specifically in Southeastern Ohio. The network of freeways that runs through Ohio is troubling to federal Drug Enforcement Administration officials who have dubbed both Route 70 and Route 33 “Heroin Highway.”

Andrew Spear is a Midwest-based photographer currently living in Athens, Ohio and finishing his degree at Ohio University’s School of Visual Communication.
He is a contributing photographer for Aurora Select, and his clients include the AARP Bulletin, Builder magazine, Ohio magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and Washington Technology magazine.
His work has been recognized by the NPPA and POYi 66 for content in the 2008 Soul of Athens project.
He enjoys skiing, riding bikes, taking pictures, writing, and Mexican food.
andrewspearphoto.com