Future of Silar Farms is in the cards

 By JEFF RUSS

T-G Staff Writer

The Ashland County Historic Preservation Alliance is preparing to sell a second deck of historic Ashland County playing cards in hopes of continuing to develop the Siler Farm property.

Scott Brown, president of the alliance, said sales of the first deck --released in February and sold for $12-- contributed to renovations to the property.

“The first deck was very successful, and we’re excited to offer this second deck,” Brown said.

The Siler property sits on city-owned land located at Jamison Creek Nature Preserve off Davis Road and Hillcrest Drive. The property is leased to the alliance, and its name comes from a family that previously owned the land. He said at least four families owned the property and it dates back to the 1820s.

Sales of the first deck allowed the alliance to renovate a farm house on the property and get sewer and water lines installed and hooked up. The goal with the revenue from the second deck is to raise funds to pay for a heating system and further renovations.

Brown said the long-term goal is to have the old cemetery put back together and use the house and barn for meetings and school field trips.

“We still have a long way to go, but we are making progress,” Brown said. “We’d like to also thank the city for being helpful during this process.”

The first deck of cards focused on historic places in the county, but Brown said the alliance wants to expand the second deck to include famous people, events and homes throughout the county. Historic buildings also can be included.

“We think it’s a great opportunity for businesses or individuals or families to commemorate a family member or a favorite memory of Ashland County,” he said. Brown said the alliance would like to have the deck ready for sale in November.

He said a limited number of packaged sets of both the first and second editions will be for sale when the second set comes out. He said the alliance would like to release a third deck next year that focuses on historic farms throughout the county.

The alliance is still looking for card sponsors until Sept. 15, Brown said. Number cards are $60 each; jacks, kings, queens, jokers and wild cards are $150 and aces are $175. Similar to the first deck, the card will have a picture of the person, place or event with history written underneath.

Anyone who would like to sponsor a card may contact Brown at 419-289-3310 or sbrown@spreng-smith.com; or Margie Krieg, ACHPA board member, at 419-281-2849.

n Jeff Russ can be reached at 419-281-0581, ext. 237, or jruss@times-gazette.com.