Learning From the Past - The First Ashland County Courthouse

The A.N. Myers Home demolition by the Ashland County Historical Society divided many in the city of Ashland, but this isn't the first time that demolition has divided the community. The original Ashland County Court House was built in 1853 at a total cost of $20,000. This courthouse was the location of the famous Horn and Gibbons trial which led to the last public hanging in the State of Ohio. Back in 1928 controversy started over the need for more room to carry out the business of Ashland County's government. A committee of three people (a judge, a newspaper publisher and on resident of Ashland) decided that after an inspector for the State of Ohio cited the need for extensive repairs to the 1853 structure, it was time to create a plan to tear down the old courthouse and build a new courthouse. Ashland County voters passed a levy to pay for a new building by 1,201 votes. Interestingly, all three county commissioners who approved the new building lost in their following elections. The conflict is reported in the Ashland Times-Gazette in 1928. Even with the objection of many, and voting commissioners out of office, it was too late. The original Ashland County Court House was torn down. Ed McNabb stated that the old courthouse was "the greatest relic in the county." Many old courthouses today have annexes because they are now too small to function. Ashland County has an annex today. Too bad it is too late. We need to learn from the past mistakes of tearing down historic buildings in Ashland.

What Could Have Been Done With The A.N. Myers House - con't

Some think the A.N. Myers Home needed to be torn down and that the Ashland County Historical Society was doing the right thing. There was a fire in the home back in mid 1900's. Some say that is the reason the house had to come down, but they have not seen other homes and building on the National Register of Historic Places that have been restored, even after fire. One such building I had the opportunity to see was in Marietta, Ohio. Amazing, and all the work was done with 20% tax credits
Some say the A.N. Myers Home lost it's historic value. The former director of the Ashland County Historical Society wrote to the Ohio Historic Preservation Office and the National Register of Historic Places to have the A.N. Myers Home removed from the Register and declare that the building was non-contributing to the Center Street Historic District. The Ohio Historic Preservation Office and the National Register of Historic Places replied (do have a copy of they reply letter) that they would not remove the home from the National Register because it should more original details at the time of the letter than when the A.N. Myers Home was placed on the National Register.
Some say that A.N. Myers himself was not significant enough to preserve his home. I say, Isn't it important to preserve all. My home was build by your average railroad agent. Is the railroad agent any less important? From factory owner to factory work, we need to preserve all parts of our history.
Some say that the A.N. Myers Home would cost too much to restore or rehab....well, I think I have already proven my case in past blogs!

What Could Have Been Done With The A.N. Myers Home - Money

In past blogs about a preservation plan for the A.N. Myers Home, razed by the Ashland County Historical Society, I wrote of the minimum of $26,000 per year that the Society acquired from rent. By renting for five years the Society could pay for the exterior restoration just through rental income. Thinking about the rehab of the interior main floor and basement, with minimal updates to apartments on the upper floors, we know that the Society would then loose the income from the main floor, which I estimated at $800 in a previous blog (I would venture to guess they got more for the main floor doctor's office). That would bring down the income per year to $16,400.
The former director of the Ashland County Historical Society said time and again that it would cost $1,000,000 to rehab the A.N. Myers Home. While I argue that number I will use her number to show a preservation plan. I'm told that the Noonan House, the offices of the Ashland County Historical Society cost over $800,000 to build. I know the the A.N. Myers House could have been cheaper for the Society and didn't have to be torn down.
$1,000,000 hmmm. minus 20% tax credit
$800,000 (The same price as the Noonan House, without the history)
$800,000 minus the approximate $260,000 in rent the Ashland County Historical Society collected for the ten years
$540,000
And now there are the potential grants:
Save America's Treasures - matching grants $125,000-$700,000
Ashland County Community Foundation - Support is provided for: Building/Renovation, Project Grants, Matching Grants
Johanna Favrot Fund for Historic Preservation - $2,500 to $5,000
Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund for Historic Interiors - $2,500 to $5,000
National Trust Loan Fund - Low Interest Loans
Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation Preservation Fund - $$ vary
Preserve America - $20,000 -$250,000 50/50 match
Jeffris Heartland Fund - $5,000 -$50,000
National Endowment for the Humanities Challenge Grant - $30,000 to $1,000,000 25/75 match
The Crock Center in Ashland raised look funds to help build their complex. The United Way raises 3/4 of a million dollars every year here in Ashland. I have to think that the community would have found a way to assist in the restoration and rehabilitation of the A.N. Myers Home it not been destroyed.

What Could Have Been Done With The A.N. Myers Home - Interior Rehab

In order to get the 20% Federal Historic Tax Credit and/or the 25% State Historic Tax Credit, a property must be income generating. The A.N. Myers Home qualified by bringing in at least $26,000 a year. In order to use the tax credit, still be an income generating property, and bring the home's interior back to its Victorian roots, I would have left almost the entire second floor and attic space as rental apartments and focused on the main floor. The original floor plan could have been laid out with changes to accommodate the needs of the Ashland County Historical Society. Custom woodwork would have mimicked the style of the home. The main staircase would have been rebuilt. I would make sure that the apartments in the upper floors would not have access the main floor and basement. The apartments on the upper floors would only get the rehab needed for short term, with a goal that in ten years the apartments would be taken out and restoration would continue on the upper floors. This would allow time for the exterior, main floor and basement costs to be paid off. Tomorrow, let’s talk more about money.

What Could Have Been Done With The A.N. Myers Home - Restoration Had Started

Just two years before the demolition of the A.N. Myers Home, the Ashland County Historical Society paid for a new roof, had the chimneys tuck pointed, and even had the corbels around the roof restored. Several were rotted out and the Society had Amish woodworkers make the few that had to be replaced. So some restoration work had already been started. It was a great beginning. By putting on the new roof you prevent any water damage.

What Could Have Been Done With The A.N. Myers Home - Restoring the Exterior

Century Restorations, a local company that restored and rehabilitated old homes and buildings, gave an estimate to restore and rehabilitate the exterior of the A.N. Myers Home. The cost was $125,000. With rental income of around $26,000 a year, it would have taken the Ashland County Historical Society five short years to pay for the exterior restoration/rehabilitation of the A.N. Myers Home. This does not take into account any tax deductions.
Granted, it doesn't take into consideration the interior, but my preservation plan would not end with the exterior.

What Could Have Been Done With The A.N.Myers Home - Income Generating Property

The Ashland County Historical Society owned the A.N. Myers Home for 10 years before deciding to tear it down. It was purchased when Scott Brown was president of the Society and wanted to preserve the home from the potential of razing the house for a Elk's Lodge parking lot. During those ten years, the Ashland County Historicial Society rented out at least four appartments as well as office space for a doctor. This tells me several things. First, the space couldn't have been such a hazard as described, otherwise a doctor would not have practiced in the building. Second, it provided income to the Ashland County Historical Society. I don't have the numbers but averaging even $400 a month for four appartments and $600 a month for a doctor's office, that would have been $26,000 in rental income a year or $264,000 over ten years. As I have mentioned in previous blog postings, tax credits of %20 are available for income generating buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. The tax credits are like bonds and can be sold. So, nonprofit organizations can take advantage of the tax credits as well! One catch to the tax credits is that the property can not be sold for I believe five years and it must remain the income generating property. Apply this knowledge to the A.N. Myers Home.