Ohio historic sites open their doors to celebrate 50th anniversary of National Historic Preservation Act (photos)

By Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer

on September 06, 2016 at 11:40 AM, updated September 06, 2016 at 1:25 PM

 

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Without it, our country would be a little less historic.

 

Fifty years ago next month, President Lyndon Johnson signed the National Historic Preservation Act, which has helped protect and preserve tens of thousands of buildings and districts throughout the United States.

 

Ohio History Connection, the state's historical society, is celebrating the anniversary with a special 10-day event, during which more than 100 historic sites across the state will showcase their past -- and their present -- with special tours, programs and events.

 

Some of these places aren't normally open to the public; others are offering a closer look at what may be familiar spaces.

 

MORE:

http://www.cleveland.com/travel/index.ssf/2016/09/ohios_historic_sites_open_thei.html

Perry's Monument won't open in 2017

 

PUT-IN-BAY — An iconic and popular monument symbolizing peace on Lake Erie will not reopen in 2017.

 

Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial rises 352 feet above Put-in-Bay and dominates the South Bass Island skyline. The monument will undergo a series of repairs this year and likely won’t reopen to guests until 2018.

 

FULL STORY: http://www.sanduskyregister.com/story/201704110038

 

For your enjoyment, here are a few photos of mine taken of and from the monument in June 2015:

 

 

 

 

Owner of historic Xenia home seeks tax credits for multi-unit renovation

 

An application submitted to the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program shows a historic home in Xenia dating back to the late 19th century is under consideration for renovation.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2017/11/07/owner-of-historic-xenia-home-seeks-tax-credits-for.html

Group seeks to revive two historic Dayton-area buildings

 

A Geneva, Ill.-based development group is seeking $4.5 million in tax credits from Ohio's Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program to give new life to two buildings.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2017/11/09/group-seeks-to-revive-two-historicdayton-area.html

Painesville's Gage House (1858) is under new ownership by an outfit called Fairport Rentals. This house, a funeral home back in my day, was moved from its original location about six years ago, a few blocks up the street. It was purchased a few years ago, with the then-new owner making big promises to fully restore it and bring it back to life. It seems like it never happened. Here's hoping for a better day :(

 

https://www.wolfehousebuildingmovers.com/testimonials/city-of-painesville-oh-historic-brick-house-move/

 

"This home was believed to be designed by the architectural firm of Heard and Porter, the Gage House was built in 1858 as an investment for Charles Avery. Charles Heard and Simeon Porter were the acclaimed architects of Cleveland’s Old Stone Church and numerous homes along Euclid Avenue (Millionaire’s Row). Charles Heard was the apprentice and son-in-law of Jonathan Goldsmith, a nationally recognized master builder of the Greek Revival period in northeastern Ohio during the early 1800’s. Several Goldsmith projects include the Seeley House, Mathews House, Morley House, and the original Fairport Harbor Lighthouse."

 

 

 

Either there is a $60-$80 million project or the entire historic complex gets demolished? That's a shameful lack of creativity for a city that has a lot of creative people....

 

Giving up on reuse, Fergus Falls moves to demolish old state mental hospital

https://t.co/qcO4U50ohk

Great, another historic district :( While I'm not opposed to this sort of thing, it would be nice to actually see businesses coming back downtown. I guess in the meantime maintaining what's left is a good idea. As you can see if you watch the video (Grand Aerial Tour de Painesville--lol), the results of the destruction caused by Painesville's misguided urban renewal scheme of forty years ago (!) are readily apparent (a block in the middle of a historic town shouldn't look like a suburban car dealership :P). On the bright side, there are a lot of upgrades to the adjacent parkland, even expanding into some of the areas along the riverfront. Well, if you can't go shopping, you can go fishing (and at least there's a lot of parking available :) )

Downtown Painesville Organization meets with the Ohio History Connection to discuss national historic designation

 

http://www.news-herald.com/general-news/20180213/downtown-painesville-organization-meets-with-the-ohio-history-connection-to-discuss-national-historic-designation

 

"The Downtown Painesville Organization has begun the process for a National Register historic designation.

 

On Feb. 13, the DPO Design Committee met with Ohio History Connection Survey and National Register Managers Ross Nelson and Susan Tietz to discuss the proposed Painesville Historic District and the National Register nomination process.

 

The design committee is comprised of about six members who were responsible for establishing this proposed district of more than 50 structures that are over 50 years old."

 

I used to covet this home everytime I walked past it (and as I recall, the owner, Kathleen Cotter, was on city council, when I was a teen--100 years ago--lol)--

 

Cool Spaces: Painesville home built in 1890 is well-preserved: photos, video

By Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer | Posted on February 26, 2018 6:55 AM | Updated February 28, 2018 9:56 AM

 

http://www.cleveland.com/insideout/index.ssf/2018/02/cool_spaces_painesville_home_b.html

 

 

this guy's cat is a little scary

 

btw, this house, another gem, is located next door (I think there's a really small house in between--?)

Wasn't exactly sure where to post this, but here goes!

 

^Imagine the impression that that film would have made when screened at rural movie theaters. 

^Imagine the impression that that film would have made when screened at rural movie theaters. 

 

Right. I'm surprised at how immaculate the city appears in a lot of this footage.

Historic former Piqua library building to undergo restoration

 

 

A historic property in downtown Piqua will soon be transformed into a private residence.

 

The former Flesh Public Library building at 126 W. Greene St. was purchased in November by Linda Brotkin and David Dial, a couple who currently divide their time between Dallas and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Brotkin grew up in Piqua, and she and Dial noticed the historic property was for sale when visiting the town last winter.

 

Dial said the couple has a passion for restoring and renovating old buildings, and decided to invest a "considerable" amount into transforming the former library into their new home.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2018/11/28/historic-former-piqua-library-building-to-undergo.html

Unionville Tavern restoration moves toward second phase

By Bill DeBus [email protected]

 

https://www.news-herald.com/news/unionville-tavern-restoration-moves-toward-second-phase/article_0b565178-f969-11e8-b501-4794c2adebad.html

Abolitionist John Brown’s Summit County home focus of preservationist: ‘Save our history now, or it’s over’

 

https://www.cleveland.com/expo/news/g66l-2019/03/cd2fa988684045/abolitionist-john-browns-summit-county-home-focus-of-preservationist-save-our-history-now-or-its-over.html

this seems like an interesting new project   

 

 

^Look at how different the houses are after 1932. Way less detail and ornamentation. Far less bold layouts as well.

22 hours ago, GCrites80s said:

^Look at how different the houses are after 1932. Way less detail and ornamentation. Far less bold layouts as well.

I disagree.  That's a very broad statement.  It depends on the house, neighborhood and price point.  Look at the houses built in Rocky River, Lakewood, The Heights in the 1930s.  If you said, "post war", I think that would make more sense.

^I'm only talking about the ones in those particular Sears catalog, tho

On 4/13/2019 at 5:12 PM, GCrites80s said:

^I'm only talking about the ones in those particular Sears catalog, tho

 

I knew what you meant, but I guess mts was correct also about the price point, etc. Here's a Sears house in Painesville that sold recently (130K) that dates from 1930 (according to the real estate listing). It's pretty basic, and not in a really upscale neighborhood (not that there are too many of those there--even in 1930 lol). Judging by the interior (which looks almost funereal) it looks like the original owner's family might still have been been living there. 

 

 

 

 

 

  

On 3/11/2019 at 3:30 PM, eastvillagedon said:

this seems like an interesting new project   

 

 

 

Not to get too far off topic, but I only recently realized that the catalog home buying experience is not entirely a thing of the past. I was at Menards a few weekends ago and noticed that they sell entire houses:

 

https://www.menards.com/main/building-materials/the-project-store/home-projects/c-1474668109497.htm

 

 

 

you can buy tiny homes at home depot -- not sure if those count, but they are a thing these days.

 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Outdoor-Living-Today-12-ft-x-8-ft-Studio-Garden-Shed-STU128/304543144?cm_mmc=Shopping|G|Base|D28I|28-21_STORAGE+BUILDINGS|NA|PLA|Fixed|71700000041090936|58700004390909251|92700036924270281&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_NXJ8vnU4QIVXUwNCh0qVQoAEAQYAiABEgIL7PD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

$400K fundraising campaign aims to return 94-year-old Columbus-area library to its former glory

 

 

Wagnalls Memorial Library has stood for nearly 100 years as the crown jewel and cultural hub of Lithopolis, the tiny town of 1,573 people about 25 minutes from downtown Columbus. 

 

But now, the 1925 Tudor-Gothic building has fallen into major disrepair. There’s rotting wood. The leaded glass windows are shot. 

 

And, most embarrassing for Library Director Tami Morehart, a water leak trickles down from the ceiling as she checks out patrons at the library’s circulation desk.

 

“If you don’t look up close, it’s beautiful,” Morehart said of the building donated to the village nearly 100 years ago by Mabel Wagnalls, daughter of dictionary and encyclopedia publisher Funk & Wagnalls co-owner Adam Wagnalls. 

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/09/16/400k-fundraising-campaign-aims-to-return-94-year.html

an 1820 Jonathan Goldsmith house in Painesville is for sale, but what in the heck did they do to the back?!

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1201414853349675/permalink/1382282168596275/

 

At first I thought Lake Erie College Hall was in danger of being demolished ?, but it's about getting more funding for preservation efforts

 

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/voteyourmainstreet/painesville/

 

 

 

 

87 buildings, 220 acres of Dayton now part of historic district

 

Quote

 

Most of Dayton’s Central Business District has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places, which will make it easier for developers and buildings to get tax incentives that have helped transform downtown.

 

Dayton becomes the largest Ohio city with a comprehensive downtown historic district, and its new district has 87 buildings that “contribute” to its historic significance, said Tony Kroeger, Dayton’s planning division manager.

 

 

More below:

https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local/buildings-220-acres-dayton-now-part-historic-district/5sntMNwJ71Uz6OZOYj1csM/?fbclid=IwAR0zjZHf3X0U5i6QDkt6VI2kE132woVx4U2YtOIcdZocjW4F1KcvfzJeUNQ

 

 

On 9/24/2019 at 2:23 PM, eastvillagedon said:

 

At first I thought Lake Erie College Hall was in danger of being demolished ?, but it's about getting more funding for preservation efforts

 

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/voteyourmainstreet/painesville/

 

 

 

 

 

tomorrow there will be an open house at Lake Erie's College Hall in respect to this contest (the last I read it was in 6th place out of 20 sites), which runs through Oct. 29--

 

 

Painesville City Manager Monica Irelan wins 2019 Heritage Ohio award for Outstanding Leader in Revitalization. No details yet about what this encompasses, but she once posed with Batman and Robin lol

 

 

  

On 10/4/2019 at 2:48 PM, eastvillagedon said:

 

tomorrow there will be an open house at Lake Erie's College Hall in respect to this contest (the last I read it was in 6th place out of 20 sites), which runs through Oct. 29--

 

 

 

the winners have been announced, and Lake Erie College came in barely by the skin of its teeth at 11th place  out of 13 sites eligible for funding (with 20 entrants competing). #1 was the Janesville Woman's Club. Isn't that Paul Ryan's hometown and base?? Sounds suspicious?

 

 

An old high school in Sarasota, Florida has been transformed into a contemporary art museum as part of the Ringling School of Art and Design. My grandmother lived a few blocks from this location and I used to pass it when I walked downtown. A beautiful, historic school building saved.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/02/travel/sarasota-art-museum-ringling.html

 

 

 

Love this. My gf grew up in Sarasota and went to Ringling. They did a really nice job with the school. 

 

I guess this sort of falls under the category of historic preservation. I don't know if this organization has any connection to the "nonpartisan" National Archives. Maybe they can throw in a gratuitous anti-Trump reference when creating the commemorative sign.

 

Edited January 19, 20205 yr by eastvillagedon

my only objection to this is that Painesville has far more rundown homes and crummy neighborhoods in need of revitalization than Fairport Harbor?, but a great project!

 

https://hgtvhometowntakeover.com/

 

^apparently East Liverpool and Tiffin have also applied from Ohio so far

 

https://www.reviewonline.com/news/local-news/2020/01/east-liverpool-hopes-for-home-town-takeover/

 

https://www.advertiser-tribune.com/news/local-news/2020/01/downtown-tiffin-applying-to-be-on-hgtv-show/

On 1/19/2020 at 1:51 PM, eastvillagedon said:

 

I guess this sort of falls under the category of historic preservation. I don't know if this organization has any connection to the "nonpartisan" National Archives. Maybe they can throw in a gratuitous anti-Trump reference when creating the commemorative sign.

 

 

following up on my previous post, I'm glad to see the Casement House getting more attention. This home, in Painesville Township, is spectacular both inside and out--

 

Casement House in Painesville serves as landmark for women's suffrage

 

https://www.news-herald.com/news/lake-county/casement-house-in-painesville-serves-as-landmark-for-women-s/article_10a58968-4919-11ea-8547-0b98de9a8985.html

 

 

 

The people of Bellefontaine - county seat of Logan County located about a hour northwest of Columbus - finished a four year $1.6 million renovation and restoration project of the historic Holland Theatre.  The Holland Theatre opened in 1931 a lavish movie palace.  Now, the restored structure is a 576-seat performing arts theater:

 

https://www.thisweeknews.com/business/20190908/holland-theatre-prepares-to-reopen-in-bellefontaine-windmills-and-all

 

https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/columbus/news/2019/10/11/beloved-holland-theatre-starts-a-new-chapter

Just now, Columbo said:

The people of Bellefontaine - county seat of Logan County located about a hour northwest of Columbus - finished a four year $1.6 million renovation and restoration project of the historic Holland Theatre.  The Holland Theatre opened in 1931 a lavish movie palace.  Now, the restored structure is a 576-seat performing arts theater:

 

https://www.thisweeknews.com/business/20190908/holland-theatre-prepares-to-reopen-in-bellefontaine-windmills-and-all

 

https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/columbus/news/2019/10/11/beloved-holland-theatre-starts-a-new-chapter

 

The Holland Theatre was designed by architect Peter Hulsken, a Dutch native who immigrated to Ohio, and modeled the theater’s interior after his hometown of Arnhem, Holland.  Through paint and plaster, Hulsken transformed the theater’s walls into a Dutch streetscape, complete with illuminated windows, window boxes, gates, streetlights, and two functioning windmills. With a sky-blue ceiling and reflecting clouds and stars, the theater was designed to mimic watching a movie outdoors, in the middle of a Flemish village.

 

The Holland Theatre is located across the street from the Logan County Courthouse in downtown Bellefontaine:

 

Here is the exterior of the Holland Theatre, which show some of the traditional Dutch architectural details it is known for:

 

But it is the theater interior that truly shows off the traditions of Dutch architecture.  Here is the Dutch streetscape scene being restored:

 

And here is the full theater interior showing the restored Dutch streetscape and outdoor town square features:

 

More about the Holland Theatre is available at http://thehollandtheatre.org/

The Holland is an incredible building. Hopefully one day they can restore the marquee and blade sign. 

yeah its a beauty — i guess you cant call the style dutch revival when the designer was dutch!

Butler County commissioners approve funds to study fix of 131-year-old courthouse

 

 

Commissioners have approved an in-depth study into how to fix problems that have plagued the historic Butler County Courthouse in Hamilton, the Journal-News reports.

 

The county has hired THP Ltd. Inc., a Cincinnati structural engineering and design firm, for $18,500 to survey the courthouse and recommend a plan to restore the 131-year-old landmark.

 

The plan developed some urgency recently when patchwork pieces of the building started falling off. The courthouse is home for Butler County Judge Randy Rogers’ Probate Court, and he is retiring this year, another factor that helped push the project along. He has been a leading advocate for improving the courthouse.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/08/26/butler-county-commissioners-ok-funds-to-study-hist.html

lorain locals are trying to restore a caboose that plied the former b&o coal railyard -- 

 

-- i didn't know there were so few traditional styled cabooses made:

 

 

Community Members Hope to Restore a Piece of Lorain's Railroad History

By Enrique Correa Elyria

PUBLISHED 5:00 AM ET Jul. 28, 2020

 

 

LORAIN, Ohio — Gail Bonsor, who is the treasurer of the Lorain Growth Committee, said she wanted to honor the city’s rich train heritage by restoring caboose number 3855.

 

What You Need To Know

The renovated B&O caboose will be used as an educational tool of Lorain's history

 

Less than 100 cabooses like this were ever made

 

The renovation is a part of Lorain's restoration to bring awareness to the city's history

 

.....

 

There were less than 100 B&O cabooses built so it will take some time to find the original parts and complete restoration.

 

more:

https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/columbus/news/2020/07/23/community-members-hope-to-restore-a-piece-of-lorain-s-railroad-history

https://chroniclet.com/news/216625/lorain-caboose-restoration-hopes-to-educate-public-on-the-citys-railroad-history/

 

Please support Painesville's 200+ year old Riders Inn in National Trust's "Backing Historic Small Restaurants" grant program. Ends Tuesday!

 

https://www.facebook.com/downtownpainesville/posts/5157296644311828

 

https://savingplaces.submittable.com/submit/473cf52d-d1b5-4528-a725-260b2ce8412b/backing-historic-small-restaurants

 

Edited March 7, 20214 yr by eastvillagedon

this is the ultimate in restoration:

 

 

The World’s Oldest Home Unearthed in South Africa

 

The findings at Wonderwerk Cave are huge for paleoanthropology, which seeks to understand human evolution.

 

by Sarah Rose Sharp

May 10, 2021

 

more:

https://hyperallergic.com/644417/worlds-oldest-home-in-wonderwerk-cave-south-africa/

 

 

great article on the many historic homes in Salem being restored that were part of the Underground Railroad! (although I object to the first line referring to Salem as a "tiny" town. I would say a place under 2K population would be tiny. Then again, I would be sensitive about that. Well, you know, it's the Wall St Journal. What do you expect?)

 

 

Edited June 13, 20214 yr by eastvillagedon

On 1/19/2020 at 1:51 PM, eastvillagedon said:

 

I guess this sort of falls under the category of historic preservation. I don't know if this organization has any connection to the "nonpartisan" National Archives. Maybe they can throw in a gratuitous anti-Trump reference when creating the commemorative sign.

 

 

The irony is that the enrollment of Lake Erie College--all women for most of its 165-year history--is now 53% male. The founders must be rolling over in their graves. 

 

this is nice

this is a good (really bad ) example of taking a modernist building and "renovating" it into one that looks traditional and presumably more attractive. While I'm not a really a big fan of the original design, it's nonetheless (apparently at least partially) the work of prominent architect Victor Christ-Janer.  Another Christ-Janer building, the Commons at Lake Erie (from the same era), was demolished 😠. He was also responsible for the college's Lincoln Library (not named for Abe, but one of the founding brothers of Lincoln Electric, whose family hailed from Painesville), which fortunately still stands. It almost would seem a later administration at the school "had it in" for this architect.

 

 

Edited November 1, 20213 yr by eastvillagedon

looks like lorain is finally tearing down the lorain products buildings on the east side this spring.

 

not worthy of saving, but it was once an important business, mostly building the insides of phones --

 

too bad the site couldn't attract another biz.

 

good news is instead of another empty lot its supposed to be redevloped into a skate park.

 

 

 

City to demolish Lorain Products building

Carissa Woytach
The Chronicle-Telegram

Aug 09, 2021 9:58 PM

 

LORAIN — By next spring, the old Lorain Products building could find new life.

 

Lorain is proposing to use $250,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds to demolish the site at 1122 F St. and turn it into a skate park.

The sprawling complex on the city’s east side has sat vacant for decades, a thorn in the side for council members and administrations.

 

“I thought I might be dead before this building came down,” Councilwoman Beth Henley, D-1st Ward, said.

 

 

more:

https://chroniclet.com/news/270957/city-to-demolish-lorain-products-building/

 

 

two other buildings are being torn down, along with some condemed houses:

 

the former La Cantina Sports Bar at 2100 E. 28th St. and the former Emerson Network Power building at 1122 F St.

 

The Emerson Power building at 1122 F Street in Lorain in 2012. The building has been slated for demolition.

The Times (Yes, THAT Times) is reporting on Dayton's recent decision to allow demolition of a historic Wright Brothers site. If there's a fight that statewide preservationists should be looking at, it's this one. 

 

A Former Wright Brothers Bicycle Shop Faces Demolition

 

 

In 1892, the brick building at 1005 West Third Street had several large windows that allowed the residents of Dayton, Ohio, to peek inside and see the Wright brothers, who were still years from becoming pioneers of flight, run their bicycle shop.

 

Now, the windows are gone, plywood is in their place and the building could soon be demolished.

 

Dayton’s zoning appeals board on Tuesday approved the city’s request to demolish the building where the state legends Wilbur and Orville Wright opened their first successful bicycle business. City officials plan to review developers’ proposals for the space and then decide who should be awarded the property.

 

 

 

More below:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/28/us/wright-brothers-bike-shop-demolish.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&fbclid=IwAR1GTh8k5gOdWv76XDJ7ioTeeUAz1bRHnv0xUntAe9Q4fkldPnTxoxHsUVs

Edited November 29, 20213 yr by BigDipper 80

I guess there is one less building in Zanesville to be preserved...😥

https://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/story/news/2022/01/07/county-preparing-collapse-masonic-temple/9127403002/.
(I don't know if this link is paywalled or not)

 One of Painesville's most beautiful historic homes--Sessions House (a.k.a. the Tuscan House)--is up for sale.  I had wondered about this place recently, assuming it was in an extreme state of neglect and disrepair. Being offered as an "investment property," it is now an apartment building consisting of 8 units. The building was gut-renovated a few years ago, and while obviously the interior has not been preserved to anything resembling faithful historic accuracy, it nevertheless carries much of that spirit (I think). The individual units are contemporary yet executed in a tasteful manner (I can't believe I said that-sorry). I suppose someone really mean and with deep pockets could kick the current tenants out (don't know if there are laws in Ohio that would prevent this), throw a couple of million more dollars into the place, and to restore it to its original splendor. I don't know who wrote the real estate listing, but you don't need a degree in American architectural history to discern that the house was not built in 1910. It dates from 1873. Also omitted is the fact that it's on the National Register. Maybe these details are beyond the grasp (or interest) of real estate people anxious to find a buyer and cash in. 

 

https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/157-Mentor-Ave-Painesville-OH/25254885/