News stories concerning historic properties come into the Preservation Ohio on a frequent basis. Most often, they deal with potential loss of historic resources through purposeful action – the bulldozing of neighborhoods or downtown corners by chain drug stores, the continual subsidized demolition of Ohio’s historic school buildings, etc.. On occasion, however, we hear of tragic losses occasioned by natural disasters – in many cases, through fire, such as occurred in the last couple of years in places like Chillicothe and Lancaster.

Early this month, fire ravaged a historic church building in Cincinnati. On February 1, fire hit the Old St. George Church in the Corryville section of Cincinnati, a massive neighborhood landmark designed by noted architect Samuel Hannaford that sat 1,200 people. Saved from the clutches of yet another chain drug store project some years ago (can you believe it?), the building was awaiting hopeful restoration.

As the fire progressed, onlookers were horrified as the landmark twin steeples of Old. St. Georges fell to the ground. Nevertheless, due to the efforts of local firefighters, the sanctuary amazingly escaped with little to no damage – only a small amount of standing water, and no smoke damage. It was probably as close as it comes to a preservation miracle.

For the next three days, you can view pictures of Old St. George Church and the fire in our Feature Box in the left column; click here for coverage by the Cincinnati Enquirer. Above is a photo of the church taken after the fire, as provided by the Cincinnati Preservation Association.

Photo: Old St. George Church, Cincinnati - Provided by Cincinnati Preservation Association