Ashland's First Car Show in Historic Downtown

If you were not in downtown Ashland yesterday, you missed a great event. For the first time since I have lived in Ashland, I saw so many people coming to downtown, walking around, and yes, even going in to our shops and businesses.
The car show that brought so many to Ashland yesterday had over 250 registered participants. Starting at 8 in the morning, activities didn't wind down until about 4 PM. It is this type of activities that Ashland needs to bring the downtown back. Parades are great and part of a community feel, but every parade in downtown that I have seen, people leave within minutes of the parade ending. If the business owners and residents want to help the local economy, we have to keep people in the downtown and using the shops located there. According to Heritage Ohio and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, non chain stores keep more dollars in the community than the big box stores.
Way to go Ashland on a successful even. I'm looking forward to the next big bash!

2011 Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Sites

This important annual list has been issued since 1993 by Ohio’s original statewide preservation organization.

This year’s list includes the following properties:

•Gunning House – Reynoldsburg, Franklin County
•Sheet & Tube Company Homes – Campbell, Mahoning County
•Rose Cottage – Marion, Marion County
•Greenhills Historic District – Greenhills, Hamilton County
•James Norris Gamble House – Westwood/Cincinnati, Hamilton County
•South High School – Springfield, Clark County
•Memorial Hall – Ironton, Lawrence County
•Columbia Building and Stanley Block – Cleveland, Cuyahoga County
•“Keystone” – Pomeroy, Meigs County
•Joyce Tower – Columbus, Franklin County
•Seneca County Courthouse and Seneca County Museum – Tiffin, Seneca County
•Warner & Swasey Observatory – East Cleveland, Cuyahoga County
•Carlisle Building – Chillicothe, Ross County

Go to http://preserveohio.com/ohios-most-endangered/2011-ohios-most-endangered-historic-sites/ for more information.

What local buildings should be on the 2011 list for Ashland/Ashland County?

Farmers and Savings Bank Buys Gilberts

"The old Gilbert Furniture Co. building was purchased Tuesday by the bank that holds the note. Farmers & Savings Bank bid $39,000 for the historical structure at 105 W. Main."
With taxes paid, the bank can now progress in selling or developing the property. Being a local bank could be a good thing for historic downtown. The locally owned business tend to preserve buildings more than larger out of town companies. What will happen remains to be seen.

This Place Matters

"This Place Matters. In just three small words, this simple phrase embodies the entire scope of our work at the National Trust for Historic Preservation. We're in the business of helping people protect, enhance, and enjoy the places that matter to them - in every state and every neighborhood. By letting people share what places matter (instead of telling them), our This Place Matters campaign has already galvanized thousands of individuals and organizations across the country to start conversations about preserving those places, and the stories they tell, for future generations.

Whether participating in one of our annual contests or uploading an individual photo – everyone’s involvement in This Place Matters has enabled us to move toward a future full of more meaningful, sustainable communities that have the power to inspire people to protect our history. We want to make sure that all of our communities are inspiring people all across the nation.

Check out the various things YOU can do on this page to become part of the campaign - and the movement - to promote awareness of our unique and irreplaceable historic sites and landmarks."

http://www.preservationnation.org/take-action/this-place-matters/

Ashland needs to do what Buffalo, New York has done with the This Place Matters campaign.

The Historic Ashland Home and Garden Tour - 2011

The Historic Ashland Home and Garden Tour
Sponsored by the Center Street Historic District in Ashland, Ohio
October 23, 2011 1-5PM

Buildings on the tour will be posted on the website sometime in September. www.CenterStreetHistoricDistrict.org