MVHS announces 2013 Historic Preservation Award winners

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Historic Preservation Committee of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society’s Board of Trustees announced the winners of the 2013 Historic Preservation Awards.

The presentation will take place during the organization’s annual meeting 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Tyler Mahoning Valley History Center, 325 W. Federal St.

The awards honor those in Mahoning and Trumbull counties who take an active role in preserving historic buildings, sites and districts.

Winners of the 2013 Community Revitalization Award are:

Henry Barnhisel House: The Greek Revival, three-bay, two-story, double- pile Henry Barnhisel House was purchased by the Girard Bicentennial and Historical Society in 1975 after the house was altered into apartments in its first 100 years.

Preservation of the home included new mechanical systems, removal of post-1840 interior walls, doorways, and windows, chimney repair and a new handicap bathroom. The completed first floor opened in 2003; the upstairs in 2007. Reconstruction of the original 1820s rear wings began in 2007 and was completed in 2009.

Brookfield Township Cemetery: The land for the cemetery was set aside in 1806 by Judge Samuel Hinckley, the original purchaser of Brookfield’s land from the Connecticut Land Co. Brookfield Township Historical Society began restorations of the cemetery’s oldest section in 2009. Volunteers have continued their work each year, and they have restored records by reading and photographing each grave marker. Five markers for Revolutionary War veterans have been placed. Through the process, the markers of 11 Revolutionary War veterans have been found.

Pollock Mansion: The house was designed by Charles H. Owsley, a prominent Youngstown architect, and built in 1893. The residence was given to Porter Pollock and Mary Wick in 1897 as a wedding gift from the bride’s father, Paul Wick. The mansion was expanded in 1930, and the family occupied the house until 1950 when they donated the estate to Youngstown College. Youngstown State University has used the property for various academic and administrative functions since, and in 1987, a private developer converted the house to an 81-room hotel and added a major addition. Objectives for an adaptive re-use project, started in 2010, included removing all additions and alterations of the 1987 hotel to return the mansion to its 1930s state.

Exterior restoration of the site included correction of structural defects, conservation of art glass, repairs to wood siding, replacement of natural slate roof, and rebuilding of chimney forms with original brick.

The original kitchen and scullery were returned to service in the home’s interior.

North Bloomfield Town Hall: The town hall was built on the town green in 1893 and originally included a sloped floor and fixed theater seats. Some time in the 1940s, the town hall’s fixed seating was removed and the floor leveled. The North Bloomfield Historical Society was formed in 1999 with a top priority of saving the building. After a capital bequest, an handicapped-accessible restroom was installed and adapted to match the building’s current character. The building now sees regular use for square dances, presentations, dances and meetings.

The MVHS Board of Directors’ Award of Achievement was presented to:

Idora Historic Homes: In 2012 through 2013, the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. completed three rehabilitations of formerly vacant historic homes at 820 Canfield Road, 867 Lanterman Ave., and 765 Lake Drive. Each home possessed distinct architectural character representing popular styles of the early 20th century.

The preservation plans ensured the historic and architectural significance of each home was preserved.

The scope of work included installation of energy-efficient replacement windows that matched the design of the original wood and glass-leaded windows, preservation of masonry, preservation and painting of wooded- shake siding, salvation of original brass hardware, restoration of oak pocket doors and wood-floor refinishing.

Dominic Marchionda nominated the project, and the houses are owned by YNDC.