This story was first published on MyHometownOhio on August 31, 2006:
A sure sign of the impending arrival of Autumn occurs this weekend as the college football season begins. All across Ohio, from NAIA to Division I programs, the sights and sounds of marching bands and cheering fans will fill stadiums that have witnessed decades of tradition.
At the University of Cincinnati, the Bearcats play in venerableNippert Stadium, the fifth-oldest college football stadium in the country.Nippert was constructedbetween 1916 and 1924, and was named for the grandson of a founder of Proctor & Gamble, who died of injuries received during a game.
In Delaware, an $800,000 gift to Ohio Wesleyan University allowed for needed upgrades toSelby Field, home of the Battling Bishops since 1921. The gift, part of the “Remembering Mr. Rickey” campaign to fund athletics and recreation departments,funded the installationof a new artificial playing surface and leveraged other improvements.
And, of course, this Saturday marks another football season at the ‘Shoe – otherwise known asOhio Stadium, home of the Buckeyes. The “newest” stadium in this trio, Ohio Stadium was opened in 1922, and since that time has welcomed over 30 million rabid fans to watch one of college football’s most storied programs. Ohio Stadium was extensively renovated a few years ago, however an effort was made to keep a great deal of the original stadium intact. To re-kindle a bit of Buckeye fever, click the "play" arrow on the image below to watch the OSU Marching band perform “Script Ohio.” For our subscribers, click here to access the same video. As a point of interest, Preservation Ohio Executive Director Thomas Palmer is marching in this video, taken during his freshman year at OSU.
The first time that a post appeared on MyHometownOhio concerning the Seneca County Courthouse was on February 16, 2007. The post featured a video which had been placed on YouTube which lamented both the condition of the Tiffin landmark as well as its endangered status.
Over the two and a half years which followed, this blog chronicled the ongoing saga of the building - including the work of the Tiffin Historic Trust, the incredible efforts of the Courthouse and Downtown Redevelopment Group, and Preservation Ohio’s own involvement. We have joined our friends in Tiffin in rallies, speeches and presentations, have spoken to the Commissioners, have provided testimony in design review hearings, filed an amicus curiae brief in ongoing legal action, and joined with others to sponsor the Ohio Courthouse Summit in late 2007.
Yesterday, the Seneca County Commissioners voted 3-0 to support the renovation of the Seneca County Courthouse - the first building to be selected to lead the annual list of Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Sites. This honor was made in recognition of its importance to the local community and county, the quality of its architecture, and because we knew that the eyes of many across the state were tuned toward Tiffin as they looked at their own facilities.
Preservation Ohio applauds the three Seneca County Commissioners, members of the Courthouse and Downtown Redevelopment Group including their point person Franklin Conaway, members of the Tiffin Historic Trust, and everyone else who has played a role in this effort. Franklin is a co-founder and former Board President of Preservation Ohio, and we're thrilled to recognize him for his role in this project.
The work continues, as funds must be raised for the courthouse tower and other improvements. MyHometownOhio will continue to follow this story - and we will be there on the day in the hopefully not-too-distant future when we can cover the opening of the newly renovated Seneca County Courthouse.
For Toledo Blade coverage of this story, including video of the actual vote, click here.
Photo: Seneca County Courthouse, Tiffin - circa 1884
Preservation Ohio received word yesterday concerning two pending demolitions in Greenhills.
The Greenhills Village Council has apparently voted to demolish two additional buildings in the historic district -- both multi-unit frame houses on Dewitt Court. Ironically, the buildings in question were occupied until a month ago; according to neighbors, some of the tenants didn't want to leave. There are no plans for re-use of the vacant land.
For more information on these demolitions, and how they have the potential to impact pending National Historic Landmark status for this unique pre-war experiment in planned development, visit the "Endangered Places" page of the Cincinnati Preservation Association website by clicking here (scroll to the bottom of the page).
The Village of Greenhills has been included on the List of Ohio's Most Endangered Historic Sites since 2008 - click here for the most recent listing.
Photo: Buildings scheduled for demolition, Greenhills - Courtesy of the Cincinnati Preservation Association
In the aftermath of the July 20 presentation of the Seneca County Courthouse and Downtown Redevelopment Group, there has been a great deal of activity in Tiffin as Commissioners consider the renovation proposal, and the public hears and reacts to the plan. Not surprisingly, the matter, which has been extensively covered in media over the last three years, has continued to generate substantial coverage. Here is a sampling of recent articles and letters to the editor on the subject:
"Cost Effectiveness is determining factor" - Letter to the Editor by Seneca County Commissioner Ben Nutter - "... As a Seneca County commissioner, my position in relation to the courthouse has been exactly the same from the moment I took office, and that is; I will support the course of action that is most fiscally responsible in providing space to the judiciary of Seneca County..."
Advertister-Tribune editorial – “Majority just want the issue to be over” - "Arguments and legal wrangling over the 1884 courthouse have resulted in a false dichotomy. The county, it may seem, is split into two camps: Those who favor renovating the "grand old lady" and those who favor removing "big ugly"..."
“Figues, opinions change” – Advertiser-Tribune - "...The long journey of decision-making in the commissioner board room has inspired the passions of county residents on two distinct sides of a divided county..."
“Seneca County Courthouse report is full of details to make the case” – Toledo Blade - "The head of a group aiming to save and restore the abandoned Seneca County Courthouse turned in his final report Monday, a thick photo-and-drawing-filled document stuffed with the kinds of details supporters hope will win over hesitant county residents..."
“Seneca County diverts $687,000 in courthouse funds” – Toledo Blade - "More than $687,000 set aside to tear down and replace Seneca County's 1884 courthouse was diverted to the county's general fund yesterday to cover expenses in the sheriff's office and department of job and family services...."
“Seneca County’s renovation foes rethink positions” – Toledo Blade - "...Based on the best information we had available two years ago, it was cheaper to remove and replace," Mr. Nutter said. "But based on the information we have today, it may very well be less expensive to renovate and provide more space and still be able to keep a building and our sense of cultural identity..."
Photo: Seneca County Courthouse - Preservation Ohio File Photo
Yesterday we were on two historic Ohio college campuses - Kenyon College in Gambier, and Denison University in Granville. On an extraordinarily beautiful day, we took a handful of photos in each location, and would like to share the same with you. For our subscribers, click here to access the photo slideshow.
As this Summer moves on, and the “back to school” sales begin to hit Ohio stores – it seems a good time to look ahead for the next couple of months of preservation-related events in Ohio from August 5 to the end of the September.
Various Saturdays and Sundays through October – 2009 Walking Tours – Columbus – Columbus Landmarks Foundation continues their outstanding look at commercial and residential neighborhoods
August 5 – Walking Tour of the South Fountain Historic District – Springfield – Presented by the Springfield Preservation Alliance, this tour will showcase one of the city’s most affluent late 19th century neighborhoods.
August 6 to August 8 – Lincoln Highway BUYWAY – Statewide – As many as 750 individual yard and garage sales across the original Lincoln Highway in West Virginia, Ohio and Indiana.
August 8 – Walking Tour of Snyder Park – Springfield – Presented by the Springfield Preservation Alliance, this event will discuss the history of Springfield’s premier place for “recreation and reform.”
September 5 – Tour of Peterloon Estate -- Cincinnati/Indian Hill – Rare tour of an outstanding early 20th century Georgian Revival mansion, including John Singer Sergeant and Charles Dana Gibson artwork – presented by the Cincinnati Preservation Association.
September 9 – Show Me the Money – Portsmouth – Quarterly Ohio Main Street Program session, this one focusing on funding sources for civic and building improvements.
September 15 - “Financial Incentives for Historic Properties” -- Columbus -- Co-sponsored by Preservation Ohio and the Columbus Landmarks Foundation. Continuing education credits applied, pending or approved for architects, real estate agents and attorneys.
Yesterday evening Preservation Ohio Executive Director Thomas Palmer joined Heritage Ohio Executive Director Joyce Barrett on a trip to the beautiful southwest Ohio county seat town of Hillsboro. There, they met with members of the Highland Community Preservation Group (HCPG) to discuss the group’s plans concerning the landmark Bell’s Opera House building.
As profiled in this 2007 Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Site listing, the building was a gift to the community from local industrialist Charles S. Bell. It opened in 1895, and served the community for decades. Unlike many comparable facilities, the opera house was never remodeled - and when the last curtain closed on performances, it was largely sealed and forgotten.
In March, 2004, Preservation Ohio was present at the inaugural meeting of the HCPG where the vision of turning Bell’s into a community arts facility was first introduced. The group is continuing at full speed with their long-range planning, having chosen a company to complete a master planning process and also developing acquisition options. At last night’s meeting, a full range of renovation funding opportunities for any Ohio property were reviewed, with special attention given to those, both local and non-local, potentially available for performing arts facilities. The group has obviously put substantial time and effort on preparing themselves for a successful project.
Unfortunately, the trip also brought news of another property in downtown Hillsboro deserving of preservation and needing immediate attention - the Parker House hotel on West Main Street. The city has deemed the building unsafe and is seeking demolition. The owner has countered with his belief that the building is structurally sound. Coverage of the situation in the local press can be accessed here.
Click here to read more about efforts to preserve the Bell’s Opera House, and for a further link to the HCPG.
Once and a while, Preservation Ohio learns of and reports on a national preservation issue which truly transcends state lines -- one which, while occurring in another state, nevertheless has an Ohio impact.
Such a situation has been occurring over the last several months in Orange County, Virginia. There, Wal-Mart Corporation has announced their intention to construct a 138,000 square-foot Supercenter immediately adjacent to the Wilderness and Chancelorsville Battlefields. And, with the ancillary development that typically accompanies such a store, the grounds of the battle itself are seriously threatened with loss.
According to Wikipedia, The Battle of the Wilderness took place from May 5 through May 7, 1864, and involved some 162,000 soldiers. While estimates vary as to the number of casualties, most place losses in the range of 15,000 to 18,000 for the Union troops, with approximately 10,000 losses for the Confederacy. It was a bloody battle that represented the first between Generals Grant and Lee during the former’s Virginia Overland Campaign. Ohio was certainly there at this battle, as it was in almost all of the war, including the valiant 8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, a unit raised from the cities and fields of Seneca County.
The fight to save the battlefield’s historic integrity has been ongoing, with an initial planning decision going in favor of the Wal-Mart developers. Without question, the primary resource for this situation has been provided by the Civil War Preservation Trust, the country’s leading non-profit advocate for preserving the land of the Civil War. On their “Save the Wilderness Battlefield” page visitors can get up-to-the-minute details on the struggle. The goal has been to encourage the company to choose an alternative location for their store more removed from the battlefield, not to stop it from building in the area.
Preservation Ohio strongly recommends becoming informed about this issue, and doing what you can to make a difference.
Photo: Painting, Battle of The Wilderness - Public Domain
In the aftermath of the July 20 presentation of the Seneca County Courthouse and Downtown Redevelopment Group, there has been a great deal of activity in Tiffin as Commissioners consider the renovation proposal, and the public hears and reacts to the plan. Not surprisingly, the matter, which has been extensively covered in media over the last three years, has continued to generate substantial coverage. Here is a sampling of recent articles and letters to the editor on the subject:
As this Summer moves on, and the “back to school” sales begin to hit Ohio stores – it seems a good time to look ahead for the next couple of months of preservation-related events in Ohio from August 5 to the end of the September.
Yesterday evening Preservation Ohio Executive Director Thomas Palmer joined Heritage Ohio Executive Director Joyce Barrett on a trip to the beautiful southwest Ohio county seat town of Hillsboro. There, they met with members of the Highland Community Preservation Group (HCPG) to discuss the group’s plans concerning the landmark Bell’s Opera House building.
Once and a while, Preservation Ohio learns of and reports on a national preservation issue which truly transcends state lines -- one which, while occurring in another state, nevertheless has an Ohio impact.