After listening to the pleas of interested citizens among the 200 gathered for the meeting, and considering a letter from the Ohio Historical Society, on Monday Marion City Council unanimously rejected a proposed re-zoning of land near the tomb of President and Mrs. Warren G. Harding.

The plan to construct a nursing home facility had been in the Marion planning and zoning pipeline for the last several weeks.  According to this story in the Marion Star, the Society’s letter was key, as it suggested that the developer’s plans would have the potential to permanently alter the Harding Memorial site.

According to Scott Crider of Preservation Ohio, the speakers included Pete DeWolfe, great-grandson of First Lady Florence Kling Harding.  Scott also referenced the OHS letter, saying that “…you could sense and feel the mood change when Erin Bartlett read George Kane's letter regarding the Ohio Historical Society's position.”  Scott further notes that other concerns of Council included the placement of a proposed curb cut.

This defeat at rezoning does not solve the dilemma posed by development-oriented zoning near the Memorial, the setting of which was included on the 2005 and 2007 Lists of Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Sites.  The area remains under R-1A residential zoning.

As it happens, the vote coincided with announcement of the beginning of a multi-month “facelift” of the Memorial itself, including repairs to marble and the restoration of interpretive plaques.  Click here to access a website with several additional photographs of the Harding Memorial.

Congratulations to Marion City Council, and here’s hoping that the citizens of Marion, the property owner and the Ohio Historical Society can work together to create long-term protection for this important piece of Ohio and US history.

Photo: Harding Memorial and, to the rear, part of the proposed re-zoning acreage - Preservation Ohio File Photo