I don't know why, but I like Massillin.

 

Check out the new strip mall and Bob Evans downtown!

 

 

 

EIFS hotel on a parking garage overlooking parking lots???

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One nice thing about Massillon is that Rt. 21 is a limited-access highway downtown, instead of a four- or six-lane highway at the downtown street level. It has easy exits to downtown, but isn't lined with sprawl. On the other hand, all the sprawl went east of Rt. 30 -- a hideous, endless stretch of strip malls and other ugliness all the way through Perry Township to Canton.

Flashback-1965-Yes, indeed, it is Massillon.  Looks the same.  Only very very minor differences.  And, of course, the strip mall! Not a bad little town.  My mom grew up west of Massillon (E Greenville) and to her it was the Big City.  Believe it or not, in the 20s when she was a little kid it had quite an extensive rail system that connected with Canton, Reedurban, etc.  The interurban went far out Lincoln Highway past my mom's family farm, so that even the most isolated farmers had some kind of transportation link.  Still looks very neat and clean.

that strip mall is notable for having a Rockne's

Massillon actually has some nice residential up that main street to the left.  And a beautiful church as well nearby that historic district.

Although I grew up in Perry township just to the east, I consider Massillon my home.

 

Thanks for posting!

 

I hope to do my own Massillon photo thread this summer.  I'll try to get some of the residential (historic 4th St. NE) and St Mary's, too.

 

That EIFS hotel is where the municipal parking lot used to be.  And, long before that, there used to be an opera house.  It's a shame about the strip mall and McDonald's across the street.  Downtown used to continue up to and past the river.  But, in the late 80's/early 90's, this strip mall was seen as the best option for redevelopment. :(

 

This stretch of the old Lincoln Hwy is no longer Rte. 30.  It's just 172.

I've noticed that a lot of older hotels have been slathered with EIFS.

I've noticed that a lot of older hotels have been slathered with EIFS.

Well fortunately, (or not) this hotel is not an old building covered in EIFS.  It was built in the late 90's.

 

There was supposed to be a new sports arena/convention center built just outside of downtown.  I think the hotel was built in anticipation of this.  But, that didn't happen--the developer went broke, and the city was left with the hotel.

I believe there's an excellent donut shop east of downtown Massilon along 172

Cool place.

Sad news:

http://www.cantonrep.com/communities/massillon/x1548675417/Fire-inspector-searches-for-cause-of-Easter-blaze

 

I'm glad to hear that no one was seriously hurt, but I wonder if the Conrad building is salvagable.

 

Here are some pictures I was able to get.  I couldn't get very close, because they closed the road.

 

Edit again.  I knew I should have looked here first.  Here is a link to the Massillon Independent article with more pictures.

http://www.indeonline.com/homepage/x1548674754/Firefighters-keeping-an-eye-open-for-hot-spots-following-downtown-blaze

 

It looks like the building is beyond repair, but the facade may be salvagable. (the article says it is stable, and they aren't worried about it falling into the street.)

Quite sad.

 

Engineer says Conrad facade can be saved

 

http://www.indeonline.com/local_news/x1263221996/Engineer-says-Conrad-facade-can-be-saved

 

By MATTHEW RINK

The Independent

Posted Apr 16, 2009 @ 09:31 PM

Last update Apr 17, 2009 @ 10:16 AM

 

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MASSILLON, OH — The facade of the Conrad building is stable, not in danger of collapsing and could be saved, according to a report by an Akron-based structural engineer.

“The building’s main facade, excluding broken windows, marquee lighting, and miscellaneous debris, are stable and are not in danger of collapse,” engineer John N. Kabak of GPD Group wrote in a two-page report to the city. “There is enough remaining building that is stable to maintain the structural integrity of the store front.”

 

This is good news.  Since the owners of the building also lived in the building, it would seem that they understand the importance of saving the facade.  Let's hope their insurance company can be convinced.

Nice to see pictures of where I hardly go. When I do go down there its never by main streets. Always take the back way.

nice set.  Love the mural on the 3rd to last picture. 

nice set. Love the mural on the 3rd to last picture.

Yes, a very intriguing mural indeed.