spiritseeker31

Knowing that some of you are really into buildings and architecture (hehe) I wanted to share a project that the City of Akron and many volunteers have been involved with. Some of you may be interested in visiting Akron to join in on this building ‘scavenger hunt’. "The History Trails Project" is designed to bring awareness to our continuing historic preservation projects. Through 1929 - 1932 the city’s most notable buildings were constructed, some of them being the YMCA, YWCA, Mayflower Hotel, First Merit Tower (Central Depositors Bank and Trust), and the Akron Fulton Airport Terminal. To celebrate the 75th year of these landmarks, the City of Akron, along with First Merit and the partners of the Lock 3 Akron History Museum, are sponsoring the Akron History Trails Project. Beginning the weekend of July 4, everyone will have an opportunity to visit these as well as other historic building and institutions. Visitors may pick up an Akron History Trails “passport” at participating institutions, visit each of the twenty-two sites, and have their passports stamped. At the end of the summer participants who have completed their passports are to receive a commemorative gift. Those who have collected all twenty-two stamps will be eligible for a prize drawing. The historical buildings will be open (some with access to the roof) for touring during the Akron Family Barbecue that starts on June 30 and ends with a traditional fireworks display at 9:45 pm on Tuesday. Be sure to visit the Lock 3 Akron History Museum in the O’Neil’s Commons. http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/14910774.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_news Thanks to MayDay and ColDayMan for donating photographs! We just put the sites up and are still adding to them.... www.buildings.akronhistory.org (75 yrs and older) & www.passport.akronhistory.org

The have actually started building condo/apartments (very colorful, oldtime looking) down along the canal near Elizabeth Park. The have been redoing the canal/towpath along the same area. Not too many people are happy about them building there but it cleans the area up a bit. - Crack haven down there under the Y bridge. I would love for them to renovate the entire canal but it seems that only very few bits and pieces have been utilized for scenery or back to working mode. I spend a lot of my time hiking/photographing the canal/locks within the Cuyahoga Valley. There needs to be a site called Rural Ohio! The building you were referring to is the Civic Theatre built in 1929. Very neat place inside and out. And, not that you asked :), it was once referred to as the Loew's Theater. It is one of only five remaining theaters in the country where one can experience a twinkling star-lit sky, including clouds, that move across the horizon.

It is the same airdock that caught fire on May 18th. Looking at the photo, you can't really see any damage. The fire was located the end facing us, on the left at the very top. When driving around the Fulton Airport, I was able to see a slight difference where the fire was - the top wasn't perfectly shaped anymore. Thanks everyone for your kind words and I'll post more Akron shots soon. On June 30th I'll be going to the various (75 yr old +) buildings and will have access to the roof on most of them.

I've enjoyed all of your pictures so much. Some of you have even been gracious enough to share some of your photos for our Akron History website soooo I thought I'd share some photos I captured today. I'm not a photographer by any means but I had fun!

We have a website called History of Akron & Summit County (www.akronhistory.org) that has the local history. This July Akron will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of several buildings including O'Neils and Polsky's Department Stores. I am currently working on the history of both buildings and they will be up by mid to late May (2006). Check it out, it may answer any questions or maybe you can add some of your memories or info about Polsky's, O'Neils or anything else on the website.