presOhio

A beautiful afternoon for a trip to Gambier and the campus of Kenyon College. Several of these photos are of the exterior and interior of the Church of the Holy Spirit, an 1871 design by noted Episcopal church architect Gordon W. Lloyd. Lloyd was a key figure in the history of Anglican church architecture, particularly in the evangelical architectural response to the Oxford Movement of the mid-19th century.

Images from a visit to Mount Vernon on February 20, 2016.

You are correct, jjames, however early last year the building was closed after discovery that the renovation work performed in the early 2000s had been badly flawed. In one spot, for instance, over 20 inches of concrete was used to level a sagging floor! The Central Hotel was evacuated, and it was determined that saving the building would take over $3 million of new investment. Both the Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing and the City of Galion stepped up to avoid the loss of the building and the return of 30 living units to the heart of our downtown area. Awesome! I always liked Galion's downtown. There's a decent selection of store-fronts and always have loved Evergreen Company. You'll have to come back to visit. We have had a new Ohio craft beer venue and a candy store open up right next to The Evergreen Company, and a new bike shop across the street.

You are correct, jjames, however early last year the building was closed after discovery that the renovation work performed in the early 2000s had been badly flawed. In one spot, for instance, over 20 inches of concrete was used to level a sagging floor! The Central Hotel was evacuated, and it was determined that saving the building would take over $3 million of new investment. Both the Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing and the City of Galion stepped up to avoid the loss of the building and the return of 30 living units to the heart of our downtown area.

Our Central Hotel renovation project is heading toward a mid-year conclusion in Galion, and we're pretty thrilled about the results. A significant piece of local history has been preserved and promises additional decades of useful life. I visited the project yesterday and posted this on LinkedIn --> https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/checking-central-hotel-thomas-palmer?trk=hp-feed-article-title-publish

All: I thought that I would post the Request for Proposals for the Big Four Depot in Galion here on UrbanOhio. If you know of anyone remotely interested in pursuing a lease or purchase of this great piece of Ohio railroad history, please pass this along. The RFP can be found at this link: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B2Vkh35-oV_AOXNHTDQ4czRfb2M/edit?pli=1 If you have direct questions, send me a message. Thomas

I was able to take a top to bottom tour of the Steele Mansion this past Saturday. What a place. Fantastic history, wonderful restoration and rebuild -- just a great project!

Just posted this on the Preservation Ohio website... Fans of Ohio rail history can take heart about a decision by a local city council this week to begin the process of stabilizing, maintaining, and renovating one of Ohio’s largest surviving railroad depots. On Tuesday evening, the City Council in Galion voted unanimously on its 2014 Appropriations, which included some $50,000 earmarked for the landmark Big Four Depot on North Washington Street. The city has additional funding available through a local foundation grant to start the long process of addressing the structure’s condition. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Big Four Depot has been owned by the City of Galion since the 1990s, and has been vacant for the last 15 years. The Depot is a unique part of Ohio’s transportation history, according to this information on the Ohio Historical Marker which in on the property: ”This Depot, dedicated on December 27, 1900, served as division headquarters for the Cleveland, Chicago, Cincinnati, and St. Louis railroad, commonly called the Big Four. Peak passenger usage occurred during and after World War I when 32 trains stopped here daily. Railway Express serviced as many as 20 trains a day into the 1950s, and Galion became a "whistle stop" for presidential campaigns with speeches from the train platform from such candidates as Al Smith in 1928, Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932, and Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon in 1952. In 1929 the New York Central acquired the Big Four, which moved the division headquarters west to Bellefontaine in Logan County. The ticket office remained opened until 1964, but all railroad offices closed in 1969. “ The building is a mix of Queen Anne architecture and Richardson Romanesque influences, with a cut stone first floor exterior. The building still has its original ticket windows, freight office, stained glass window, and detailing. While reduced in length from the original, part of the original platform canopy remains as well. A tour and public meeting to begin planning for the effort will take place next Wednesday in Galion, which is located in north-central Ohio, 55 miles north of Columbus. http://preserveohio.com/2013/12/12/council-votes-to-invest-in-historic-depot/

That was stunning! Thank you for sharing.

Nice to see downtown Lancaster holding up well -- love the courthouse concept. Also great to see the Mithoff still standing.

It's been quite a long time since I have posted in here ... but thought I would share an update on our multi-year project to restore the Bloomer and Nellie Gill House in Galion. In a nutshell, here's what's up with this project. The house was constructed in 1902-1904 for a Galion industrial executive who had friendly ties with Henry Ford (who we have discovered drove the first car in Galion when he came to visit the Gills near the turn of the last century), and family ties to Thomas A. Edison (Edison's second wife was Nellie Gill's childhood friend). The house itself is little short of stunning. It was designed for the Gills by noted Detroit architect Louis Kamper, who had trained with Stanford White with McKim, Mead, and White in New York City. It is strongly influenced by the Michigan Building at the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, and is the only known Kamper design to be built in Ohio (the only other non-Michigan commission was in Pennsylvania, which has since burnt). We acquired the Gill House two years ago, and even to this day are continuing to uncover elements of the house's incredible architecture and history. If you ever in the Galion area, let me know and I will give you a tour. Long term, the goal is to restore it for use as a center for community non-profit organizations, weddings, business meetings, etc.. Some pictures (out of hundreds I have) are attached. Thomas/presOhio

http://preserveohio.com/2012/04/25/forbidden-city-tour-coming-on-may-5/ What lurks behind those walls? A secret skylit atrium with balconies. A former mill building. A traditional lodge hall with a cavernous meeting room lined with detailed trimwork, carved plaster eagles, and a stage. A former mortuary building with interior spaces sure to tempt the ghost hunter. Find out during a unique type of tour, one which showcases properties with powerful preservation development potential while providing outstanding urban exploration and photography opportunities. On Saturday, May 5, the second installment of a singular statewide experience is taking place along the streets of downtown Mansfield. Known as the “Forbidden City Tour,” the event will showcase the interior of several properties which are have not been seen by the public in many years — and in some cases, several decades. The Forbidden City Tour is co-sponsored by Preservation Ohio and Downtown Mansfield, Inc.. The first such tour took place in Springfield in 2010, and drew visitors from across the state. The tour will take place on Saturday, May 5 from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.. Preservationists, urban photographers or just plain curious, this tour is for you! Tickets are $20 per person, and may be purchased in advance online through a link at the following information page: http://www.facebook.com/events/281881215233393/, or at the day of the event at Engwiller Properties, located at 4 West Fourth Street. Guests should plan to begin their self guided tour at the Engwiller Properties Building, where maps and information about each location will be available. Buildings include: City Mills building, 160 North Main Street Eagles Building, 133 North Main Street City News building, 98 North Main Street City Grille building, 37 East Fourth Street Charles Schroer Mortuary Building, 131 North Diamond Street Participants are advised to wear appropriate clothing and shoes. The spaces are safe and free of debris, but require walking and are currently undeveloped. Volunteers will be on hand to answer questions about the spaces and flashlights will be shared when appropriate. For additional information, please contact 419-522-0099 or: [email protected].

I really appreciate the responses. Here's the scoop -- we (Preservation Ohio) are working with the Columbus Landmarks Foundation (the local preservation organization there) to host a summit meeting on the topic in May. The event will be in Columbus. The primary focus will be to compare notes and to analyze a possible preservation-based approach and reaction to the massive demolitions -- primarily residential -- occurring in many Ohio cities, as well as the challenges presented by abandoned and vacant properties. Knox Hill is already on the list I sent to Columbus to receive an invitation. I will do my best to empty my inbox, but in the meantime, please feel free to e-mail directly at: [email protected]. On a side note, I am speaking in Mansfield tomorrow morning at the Property Conference there, on the very same topic. I will be sharing insights on the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit and the Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit. Should have some coverage and photos up on our Facebook Page over the weekend (facebook.com/preservationohio). Thomas/presohio

Looking for ideas on organizations, individuals, etc. across Ohio that might want to be part of a new initiative in formulating a preservation-based response and action plan on the issue of mass demolitions of vacant and abandoned properties. Do you know of any local organizations and/or people who have been working to gain a seat at the table when local government makes decisions about where and how those monies will be spent -- either in reference to a single neighborhood or an entire city? We're needing people that might have experience and ideas to share at an upcoming summit meeting in Columbus. Please feel free to send me direct messages with questions, etc.. Thanks! Thomas/Preservation Ohio

I absolutely LOVE the fact there's a Battle Creek thread! My parents were both raised there, and that was where both sets of my grandparents lived during my youth. We took my mother back there for a milestone birthday a couple years back, and I took a handful of photos. My camera pretty much stunk at the time, but these might give some additional insight into how downtown BC looks. In particular, those Art Deco towers have stunning interiors.