The recent National Main Streets Conference in Chicago generated much discussion concerning integration of technology into all aspects of preservation-based downtown revitalization -- from marketing investment opportunities to enticing visitors through interactive online experiences.

In this latter vein, one session focused on something offered by many communities seeking to market their history -- the downtown walking tour.  Unfortunately, many of these tours are still limited to brochures sitting and yellowing in the racks of local chambers of commerce or public libraries.  In some communities, however, walking tours are becoming a much more engaging experience.

According to this story in PreservationNation, the session included the following two suggestions, among others:

• Providing context to staid architectural terms by relating them to major historical themes -- the Italianate commercial buildings so prevalent in Ohio downtowns, for instance, can be tied to a discussion of how a passion for Italian-inspired architecture first arrived in Great Britain and then emerged in the United States as an alternative to Gothic Revival and Greek Revival.


• Including more than just buildings in the tour -- from water towers to taxi stands to murals (both former advertisements “ghost signs” and newly-painted scenes).

Several Ohio communities boast walking tours of their traditional business districts, but only a few have moved past the staid, brochure-only version which presents only versions of each featured building.  Those include:

• Several communities, including Columbus and Springfield, host regular in-person guided tours each Summer of their respective downtown areas.


• Downtown Delaware, where a walking tour takes visitors on a walking tour of sites associated with the life of Delaware native President Rutherford B. Hayes.


• Students involved in the Congressional Academy program recently unveiled their new audio tour of downtown Canton, entitled “Yesterday’s Canton.”  Like other audio tours, this can be placed into any mp3-capable device.


• The folks with the St. Clairsville Revitalization Task Force have taken interactive tours a step farther, with both downloadable audio and video tours of their downtown area (see here).


• Ohio is also the home of “City Prowl,” which offers award-winning tours of downtown Cleveland that, according to its website, allow visitors to learn about a “…city’s culture, community, history, architecture, people or any other thing that makes it unique.”

Photo: reallyboring/Creative Commons License

This past Tuesday, Preservation Ohio joined other statewide history, preservation, revitalization and archival organizations in hosting the annual Statehood Day.  Over 200 representatives from across the state came together at the Ohio Statehouse for a day full of activities designed to promote the idea that “History Works For Ohio.”

Preservation Ohio was represented by three staff members, a member of our Board of Trustees, and several individual members. Among our staff attending was Scott Crider, who was subsequently interviewed about his experiences by the Marion Star.  The story, which can be accessed here, contains a very good description of the day’s activities.

During the morning’s talks and the luncheon speech by OSU Football Coach Jim Tressel, we did a bit of “live blogging” from the Statehouse via Twitter, providing a running stream of highlights and quotes.

For a copy of this year’s Statehood Day Legislative Agenda, click here.  This document formed the basis of conversation for individual meetings with legislators and staff throughout the afternoon.

Photo: Preservation Ohio Executive Director Thomas Palmer speaking to the Statehood Day gathering on one of the legislative priorities - Preservation Ohio File Photo

MyHometownOhio will be taking a look over the coming weeks at some of the people involved in Ohio's statewide preservation movement.  Today our new Project Manager, Rachel Mendell, shares a conversation with Preservation Ohio's Director of Development, Marian Vance.

Marian Vance has been involved with the work of Preservation Ohio for many years.

“I admire the work of the organization,” she said, “which has done so much through the years – during a time it was all volunteer driven.” Marian admires the work and vision of past presidents.

“We look hard at every old building that comes down,” said Marian. She sited the example of the string of working class homes nestled in behind the Frank Lloyd Wright home in Springfield. These 1800s homes “really speak of how the neighborhood looked before the Frank Lloyd Wright home was built.” The homes are a snapshot of the era, and Preservation Ohio would like to see them saved.  

At the time Marian became involved, president Ann Antenen was instrumental in saving the Anthony Wayne Hotel in Hamilton, Ohio, now a senior citizens living facility. The hotel was donated to Preservation Ohio, which was able to find a developer to restore the historic building.

“I like the educational programming that Preservation Ohio has always been involved in,” said Marian. She mentioned two of her favorite programs the organization has put on: “Courthouse Revisited” and “Managing Change.” Many of these conferences have resulted in new preservation groups around Ohio that are still meeting today.

Recently, Preservation Ohio was able to salvage architectural details from homes that were scheduled to be demolished for the new hospital that is to be built downtown Springfield. The salvage is now being sold through the ReStore, which is run by Habitat for Humanity. The historic neighborhood, 144 buildings in all, was branded for demolition when Community Mercy Health Center decided to build.

Preservation Ohio was able to negotiate a contract with the city of Springfield and a group from Preservation Ohio was allowed to go into the historic homes and salvage pieces of historic value – pillars, windows, mantle pieces, doors, and trim.

“I also served on the City of Delaware’s Historic Landmarks Commission,” said Marian. “Dublin was really the first I had had a chance to work for the creative reuse of old buildings.”

Marian helped raise money to build the church in Ohio Village and served on the board of the Ohio Historical Society for nine years. She was also president for the historic preservation group Columbus Landmarks Foundation that served as an advocacy group to save the Masonic Temple on Third Street and three historic homes on Broad Street in Columbus.

“My husband and I restored an old home in Springfield three years ago,” said Marian, “at the same time that Preservation Ohio moved its offices there.”

Marian is excited about the New Year for Preservation Ohio. “I’d like to see the educational workshops put on across Ohio,” said Marian. “I’d like to get back to the educational focus that is the root of Preservation Ohio.”

“I’d like to see us raise enough money to help small communities with the revitalization of their downtown areas.”

“The board is really strong right now,” she said. “I think this will be an exciting year for Preservation Ohio.”

-- Rachel Mendell, Project Manager

Photo: Preservation Ohio's Marian Vance, right with Board Member Cyndie Gerken - taken at the ReStore in Springfield, January 2008

The planned changes here at MyHometownOhio are more than cosmetic.  As time progresses, we plan to bring a more relaxed and conversational approach to sharing news about the world of preservation, revitalization, heritage tourism and smart growth in Ohio.  In the two and a half years that we have been blogging, for instance, we have only infrequently mentioned any background information about the Preservation Ohio office -- who we are, what we do, and -- most importantly -- where we see Ohio preservation going.  From politics to pop culture, the Buckeye State is a unique beast, and we’re going to take the chance to share our take on what makes it tick.

We are launching, therefore, a regular feature called “Perspectives on Preservation.”  These segments will include everything from coverage of preservation events around Ohio to a “look behind the scenes” at our office, statewide events, and significant local issues.  We’ll make it easy for you to share your comments in response to our views, both on MyHometownOhio and also on The Ohio Preservation Network (coming soon at: www.ohiopreservationnetwork.com).

So -- go with us as we take an ongoing look at the people, places, news and views that make up the world of preservation in Ohio.

Photo: Tasumi1968/Creative Commons License