Historical society to recognize 3 sites

staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — Three local historic sites will be recognized next week by the Mahoning Valley Historical Society’s historic preservation committee.

The community revitalization award will go to the 1949-vintage Fallen Firefighters Memorial Bridge, formerly known as the Spring Common bridge, which was refurbished last year. The goal of the restoration was to enhance the bridge while preserving its original design, materials and appearance.

The commercial revitalization award will go to the 1899-vintage John R. Davis Building at 217 W. Federal St. The structure contains street-level retail space, the second- floor offices of Faniro Architects, who rehabilitated the building, and a loft-style residence on the upper floor.

The MVHS directors’ award of achievement will go to a series of eight row houses on Emerald Street in Smoky Hollow that were acquired by the Bolan family between 1999 and 2008. Built between 1900 and 1912, presumably by the steel mills as worker homes, four of the homes are occupied by family members, while the other four are in various stages of rehabilitation.

The winners will be honored at the society’s 134th annual meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor (the Steel Museum), 151 W. Wood St.