FYI; we posted this on MyHometownOhio last night....

 

presOhio/Thomas

 

BREAKING NEWS -- Historic District Files Suit Against Historical Society

 

In a continuation of a story previously covered on MyHometownOhio, Preservation Ohio received a press release this evening from the Center Street Historic District Association in Ashland concerning the A. N. Myers House.

 

The fate of the Myers House has been the subject of intense discussion in this Ohio county seat town for several months, and has received local, statewide and national attention – including this story in Preservation Online, the online publication of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

 

The entire press release is included here:

 

“The Ashland County Historical Society received a demolition permit last month for a home on the National Register of Historic Places. This classic example of colonial revival architecture was built in 1892 by Alva N. Myers, a member of the board of the F.E. Myers and Bro. Company. The house is located adjacent to the Ashland County Historical Society Campus on Center Street in the City of Ashland. In 1976 Alta Sims did research which led to the acceptance of Center Street on the National Register as a Historic District. Sims consulted with Jeff Darbee, who was with the Ohio State Preservation Office. He called Center Street "a veritable textbook of architectural styles." Destroying any historic home on the street takes away from the District as a whole.

 

Ashland's Ordinance 51-05 was enacted June 7, 2005 to "safeguard the heritage of Ashland as represented by those buildings, districts, sites and structures which reflect significant elements of Ashland history...Applications for demolition are reviewed by the Ashland Preservation Board based on the over all impact the demolition will have to the Historic District and the community." The Preservation Board denied the request for demolition on August 2, 2006.

 

The Ashland County Historical Society originally submitted a proposal for demolition on June 19, 2006 causing concern among residents of the Historic District. Before applying for demolition, Tina Carpenter, Director of Operations of the Society, made a written request to change the status of the A.N. Myers Home on the National Register to non-contributing, claiming the house had lost its character and history. The Ohio Historic Preservation Office, which oversees the National Register in Ohio, denied their request stating that the home is a contributing structure and retains significant exterior architectural details.

 

The Center Street Historic District Association which is made up of home and business owners within the District has the purpose of educating the "public with respect to the necessity and advisability of the preservation of historic structures." At the end of September, the Association made an offer to purchase the home in an effort to prevent its demolition. On October 25, 2006 the Association received a "final" offer from the Society to purchase the home for a dollar and move the structure. The Association was expected to reply within seven days and if the offer was accepted the home would have to be moved off of the lot by March 15, 2007. The lack of an available lot in the Historic District makes this offer impossible to consider. With hopes that the National Registered Alva N. Myers Home would be restored on its original location as a contributing structure in the Historic District and as an asset to the Society's existing campus, the Association has filed for an injunction to prevent this demolition."

 

Additional information on this developing story will be included on MyHometownOhio as it becomes available.  For local individuals to contact with more information, please send Preservation Ohio an e-mail at: [email protected].

 

Here's the link to the story:

 

http://myhometownohio.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2006/11/1/2467172.html

Did I miss why the historical society wants the house gone?

Yeah, I was wondering the same thing.  Following preOhio's links, I hit this story, which explains it:

 

http://www.nationaltrust.org/Magazine/archives/arc_news_2006/081006.htm

 

 

Historical Society Plans Demolition of Historic House

Story by Margaret Foster / Aug. 10, 2006

 

Image: The Alva N. Myers House in Ashland, Ohio (Kyle O. von Kamp)

 

Instead of campaigning to save a colonial revival house built in 1892, an Ohio historical society wants to tear down the landmark.

 

Last week, however, the Ashland County historic preservation board voted 3-1 to reject the county historical society's June 19 request to demolish the Alva N. Myers house, located in a National Register-listed historic district in Ashland, Ohio.

 

...

$1M to renovate that? Hard to believe this is an accurate figure.

From the 1/17/07 Ashland Times-Gazette:

 

 

Myers home injunction decision expected in Feb.

Center Street Historical District Association seeks court ruling to prevent demolition of house

January 17, 2007

By DARCIE LORENO

T-G Staff Writer

 

A decision should be made by early next month on a preliminary injunction that would prevent the demolition of the A.N. Myers home until the dispute between the Center Street Historical District Association and the Ashland County Historical Society is heard in court.

 

After the testimony of four association members Tuesday, acting Wayne County Judge Mark Wiest said a previously issued temporary restraining order regarding the home would remain in effect.

 

...

 

http://www.times-gazette.com/news/article/1488251

 

From the 3/13/07 Ashland Times-Gazette:

 

 

Myers house coming down

Judge denies preliminary injunction barring demolition of historic home

March 13, 2007

By MEGAN EDWARDS

T-G Staff Writer

 

The walls of the A.N. Myers home soon will come tumbling down. The aluminum siding already was off Monday.

 

Acting Wayne County Judge Mark Wiest denied a preliminary injunction Friday which barred the Ashland County Historical Society from tearing down the historic home at 408 Center St. The judge also dissolved a temporary restraining order against the society, which was granted in December when a portion of the aluminum siding was removed from the home.

 

...

 

http://www.times-gazette.com/news/article/1715402

 

I can't believe the $1 million dollar figure- maybe for a full period restoration, but not likely even then.  Renovation is expensive too, no doubt, but for $1 million they must be putting in gold plating instead of drywall.

Goodbye.

 

 

PHOTO: A crew from H&R Excavating demolished the A.N. Myers home on Center Street Thursday.  Photo By Tom E. Puskar

 

Myers house comes down

By DARCIE LORENO

T-G Staff Writer

 

The A.N. Myers Home is almost gone for good.

 

Workers Thursday reduced the the Ashland County Historical Society's 408 Center St. home to a pile of rubble, including tearing down an addition at the back.

 

...

 

http://www.times-gazette.com/news/article/1728492