The Bowling Green Historical Preservation Commission will be placing signs throughout downtown marking the historical significance of the area.
Commission members met Oct. 24 to discuss its plans for the signage.
The location for the signs will need to be finalized by Feb. 1 with installation in April.
“We’ve been talking about this for some time,” said commission member John Sampen.
They received a grant to recognize the history of the area, he said.
Sampen said there are 15 interpretive signs planned. Their topics and locations include:
General downtown history talking about the Black Swamp and the early history of the city, located near the Four Corners
Schools and Boom Town, both at Wooster Green
City hall, the library and the former post office, near the corner of Oak Street and North Main Street
A sign each for the northwest, northeast, southwest and southeast blocks of downtown highlighting the historical buildings in that block
Police building, on West Wooster Street
Churches, near the Washington and South Main streets intersection
“Hankey Block,” on South Main between Clough and East Wooster
Courthouse and courthouse square, to include the history and plaque
Women’s Club, on North Prospect Street
Armory and Ross Hotel, on South and North Prospect, respectively
“This is still a little bit fluid, but that’s the plan right now,” Sampen said.
He said he has made many treks to the library and university archives to get details for the signs.
Jan Knape, who is helping with research, said she was surprised to learn there used to be five theaters downtown, and she is doing additional research on the entertainment center of the city.
She suggested adding a QR code to the signs to conserve space and send readers to the website for more information.
Knape also suggested phase two, where the commission places plaques on historic buildings identifying businesses that were in that location.
Dick Martin is working on five signs, including for the Hankey-Taber Opera House on South Main next to the former Kauffman’s. The opera burned down in 1926.
He is also doing research on the Millikin Hotel, located on the southeast corner of South Main and East Wooster streets; the Ohio National Guard Amory, built in 1910 and demolished in 2013 on the southeast corner of East Wooster and South Prospect streets; the Ross Hotel, on the northeast corner of East Wooster and North Prospect, which was destroyed by fire in 1979; and two Methodist churches which also were located on that corner.
Martin said was looking for photos of the old Montgomery Ward store, which stood where Ben’s is now before it burned down.
Commission member Wil Roudebush suggested having a centrally located sign with a map outlining the location of the original schools and churches that are no longer there.
“I think we’re coming along,” said Sampen.
Also at the meeting, the commission:
• Introduced Heidi Reger as a new member.
• Learned a letter had been sent to the owner of 124 N. Prospect St. asking for the metal siding on the building be removed and the original wooden surface be restored. No response has been received.
Rose Drain said that the building dates to 1878, giving more reason to restore the original wood siding.
“There’s beauty underneath,” she said.
• Heard a report from Sampen that an interpretive sign and plaque for the courthouse and former jail, which will include its history, is in the works. A similar sign for South Main School is on hold as no response has been received from its owner.
“We’re hoping to be involved in helping save that building,” said commission member Geoff Howes.
• Heard a presentation, including PowerPoint slides, from Heather Sayler, city planning director, on the recent visit by the Building Doctors.
The Building Doctors examined homes on Buttonwood, North Prospect, Conneaut Avenue, West Wooster and more, where issues included flaking plaster, a wet basement, deteriorating masonry, old windows and drainage problems.
“I think we all enjoy looking at these beautiful homes because they’re not built like this anymore,” Sayler said.
Drain said it felt like a pat on the back when the Building Doctors commended her for taking care of her “painted lady.”
• Heard Sampen report the commission has been working to recognize North Maple Street as part of the historic district.
He said if there is negative feedback from the residents, they probably won’t go ahead with the idea.
“We’re trying to encourage preservation,” Roudebush said.
