Historical society to recognize 7 Valley revitalization projects
Recipients include Stambaugh Auditorium and Youngstown City Council chambers.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The restoration of Youngstown City Council chambers and the Stambaugh Auditorium's ceiling are among projects being honored at the Mahoning Valley Historical Society's first historic preservation awards.
The society will honor seven projects at its 130th annual meeting at 5:30 p.m. June 21 at the Arms Family Museum of Local History on Wick Avenue.
"Part of our mission is to celebrate and highlight local history and the work done with historic preservation," said H. William Lawson, MVHS's director. "We want to acknowledge the positive efforts being made to preserve historical sites in the Mahoning Valley."
The society's Historic Preservation Committee sought nominations earlier this year for projects in three categories -- community revitalization, commercial revitalization and MVHS trustees awards of achievement. The final award is for individual, professional, corporate, nonprofit and local government achievement in advocating for preservation.
The awards honor those in the Mahoning Valley who take an active role in preserving historic buildings, sites and districts, Lawson said.
Eligible projects had to be at least 50 years old; had to have involved preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, renovation or adaptive reuse of a historic building or area; and had to demonstrate high quality of planning and/or design.
Winning projects
The winners in the community revitalization category are:
UThe restoration of Youngstown City Council chambers.
UThe restoration of the Jane Wooley residence at 1226 Florencedale Ave. in Youngstown.
UThe Stambaugh Auditorium ceiling restoration project in Youngstown.
The winners in the commercial revitalization category are:
UThe Powers Auditorium facade/Alder Building renovation project in Youngstown.
UThe McCrory Building restoration project in Youngstown.
MVHS trustees awards of achievement winners are:
UThe Forest Glen Estates improvement project in Boardman.
USouthern Park Stables in Boardman.
The historical society, founded in 1875, collects and preserves Mahoning Valley materials of the past. It operates the Arms Family Museum of Local History and research facilities at its archival library, and holds numerous outreach historical programs.