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

Why are homeowers dropping their asking prices on Center Street homes for sale?

Every home for sale on Center Street has been on the market for over a year. Higher priced homes are just not moving. Foreclosers have driven down prices as well which can be used as comparables. What other reasons can you share?

Homes For Sale on Center Street: Asking Prices Drop

The Charles Freer House
847 Center Street

Vernacular with Colonial Revival Influenced Architecture

FOR SALE
Property Listed By
Coldwell Banker Ward
Agency Phone: 419-651-9701
$198,900 - Originally listed several years ago above $215,000


The home of Tim and Carol Schaefer at 847 Center St. was on
the Historic Ashland Home and Garden Tour for the first time July 4,
2009. If you were to say that it was the home to two generations of the
Freer family or the Moores or the Milligans, you would have been right.
Each of these families had lived here for 20 years or more and loved it
just as much as the Schaefers do.
When the Schaefers moved here from Tuscon nearly four years ago, they found just what they wanted in this house.
Built in 1903 by Charles W. Freer, the house reflected the solid workmanship and fine finishing touches of the woodwork, as well as the wrap-around porch that were typical of the period.
Upon entering the large entry hall, one is attracted to the stairway railing with its intricately carved spindles. The wall paper in the parlor to the right is believed to be the original with the house.
Next to it is the living room. Here, and throughout the house, are found the elaborate window treatments in keeping with the late Victorian period of the house.
Two outstanding features of the dining room are the chandelier and the mirror. The multiple glass shades on the chandelier are reminiscent of the gaslight period. The tall mirror which rises from a base with a marble top to the ceiling is said to be a wedding gift to the Freer couple who built the home in 1903.
A cozy breakfast nook overlooks a well landscaped back yard. When Charles W. Freer built the house and his brother, George, built the one just north of it a year earlier, they also erected large carriage houses out back. Behind these was the rest of the acreage they bought, which later was sold and became Freer Court.
Returning to the upstairs of the Schaefer home, we find opposite the top of the stairs is the master bedroom which together with all other bedrooms lead off the wide hallway. In addition to the guest room, another is reserved for visits from Tucson from their granddaughter. The couple have two adult children.
One of the upstairs rooms is reported to have been the room where the men retired to have their cigars after dinner.
An interesting event took place in this home, as reported in the wedding account in the Ashland Press of June 8, 1905. "The social event of the season was the marriage of Minnie Freer to Roscoe Woodyard of Muncie, Ind. The wedding was held at the home of her uncle, George R. Freer (831 Center St.). The house was a veritable beauty bower with its decorations of white flowers, palms, ferns and foliage. A canopy connected the home with that of another uncle, Charles W. Freer (847 Center St.) where the wedding breakfast was served. The broad veranda was converted into an outdoor parlor with a rug on the floor and flowers on the tables. The dining room was occupied by young friends. Extending from the chandelier to each of the five tables were ropes of smilax. A string orchestra stationed in the reception hall discoursed sweet music during the serving."
Minnie was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Freer, another brother whose home was one that was razed years later when the Trinity Lutheran Church was built.
There had been a slight fire in this home and because of a lingering odor, the other two brothers stepped in to open their homes. Because she wanted to please each of them, she arranged to use both houses.

Click here for more information about the Center Street Historic District in Ashland, Ohio