The C.W. Landis Home is one of the last remaining mansions on Claremont that is still a residence and not a business. The home was built over one hundred years ago by C.W. Landis, an Ashland grocer for more than 60 years. At one point Claremont was lined with homes as beautiful as Center Street.Looking closely at the Landis Home you can see that the roof is in desperate need of repair. The porch has also been neglected. The current owner gained control of the property in 1988 and also owns #6 on my list of the top 10 endangered historic properties in Ashland County. He has had two other properties torn down by the City of Ashland, demolition by neglect. 522 Cottage was a huge Victorian Mansion, as was 340 West Walnut Street. Both were in terrible shape, but were not kept up. According to the Ashland County Auditor's website the 2634 square foot century home at 340 West Walnut Street had a value of $50,440. The land itself is now valued at $14,990. The city and county have lost out, lost out on two pieces of irreplaceable historic architecture, as well as the tax revenue. It did not have to come to demolition. Action should have been taken years ago to prevent this!
We can see a pattern here! We know what WILL happen if action is not taken SOON. That is why the first T.W. Miller House is #5 on my list of the top 10 endangered historic properties in Ashland County.
Don't worry, the last four endangered historic properties in Ashland County do not all have the same owner.
Unfortunately, we live in a city that doesn't care about it's history or historic structures. The people here don't care either, take this owner who's doomed many properties here in Ashland. I'm glad that at least someone is documenting this and keeping the hope alive. Ashland could have been one of the premier historic destinations with the wealth of buildings and homes that once graced what was once a beautiful city...now? Awful place. The churches, slumlords and the university keep tearing down this town...and the city just keeps letting them, and all the new buildings that are being built in this town are those horrific pole barn structures and strip malls, that can't even attract tenants. Sorry Ashland...you've lost it and probably won't get it back!
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