MVHS hands out 2014 preservation awards

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Historic Preservation Committee of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society Board of Directors has announced the winners of its 2014 Historic Preservation Awards, honoring those in Mahoning and Trumbull counties who take an active role in preserving historic buildings, sites and districts.

The winners will be honored at the Mahoning Valley Historical Society’s 139th annual meeting from 5:30 to 8 p.m. June 17 at the Tyler Mahoning Valley History Center, 325 W. Federal St. For information about the awards and the historical society, call 330-743-2589 or visit www.mahoninghistory.org

Categories and winners are:

Commercial Revitalization Award — Erie Terminal

The Erie Terminal Building was built in 1923 as a passenger depot and office building for the Erie Terminal Railroad/Erie-Lackawanna Railway. The 55,000-square-foot building has been transformed into a mixed-use project that revitalizes a significant landmark in Youngstown.

Work on the ground floor removed newer partitions in the original passenger waiting room to restore its original open proportion; and surviving plaster walls and ceilings, originally-exposed brick wall detailing, terrazzo floors, wood trim, plaster cornices and original schoolhouse-style light fixtures were retained.

The upper floors were converted into a series of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, flanking the original corridor location using sustainable design practices and employing energy-efficient features. Property owner is NYO Property Group, and the project designer is City Architecture.

Community Revitalization Awards C.S. Lewis Institute at Trinity United Methodist Church

In 2013, the newly formed Northeast Ohio C.S. Lewis Institute Fellows Program became the Trinity United Methodist Church’s newest tenant. The alley entrance on the east side was rehabilitated to become the Fellows’ main entrance.

A much-needed glass canopy was added above the entrance to make minimal impact on the historic character of the building’s exterior and adjacent windows. Inside, three community rooms surrounding the ground floor courtyard were renovated to meet the students’ educational needs by installing new carpet tiles, furniture, technology upgrades, and a fresh coat of paint.

The remaining fourth floor walls were re-configured to meet the needs of the tenant. The renovations funded by the Northeast Ohio C.S. Lewis Institute have already brought new life to an underused portion of this historic Youngstown landmark leading more people downtown.

This investment has helped secure the future of the Trinity United Methodist Church. Property owner is the Northeast Ohio C.S. Lewis Institute, a tenant of Trinity United Methodist Church and project designer is Balog Steines Hendricks & Manchester Architects.

Coffelt Hall

Originally constructed as an American Legion Post, the building is rich with historic fabric and detail. The program called for the building to house the permanent home of the School of Graduate Studies and Research as well as renovating the building in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Structures.

As the main level required an expansion of the building to satisfy the program, a “porch” was added to accommodate the increased need for space. The remainder of the renovations involved restoration and replication of historic elements such as plaster moldings, glazed tile flooring and walls, hardwood flooring, and decorative millwork.

All new interior additions were executed in a contemporary motif in keeping with the standards involving the “easily discernible and recognizable” precepts. Property owner is Youngstown State University and project designer is Faniro Architects Inc.

MVHS Directors’ Award of Achievement: Austin Log Cabin and Austintown Historical Society

When demolition on a vacant home on South Raccoon road in Austintown started it was discovered that under the artificial brick and wood siding was a log cabin.

A deed search revealed that Calvin and Martha Austin — Calvin was a land agent for the Connecticut Land Co. — sold the property to John Packard for $500. The deed does not indicate that any buildings were on the land; however, evidence shows that the cabin was built before 1824.

The cabin was named the Austin Log Cabin to honor Calvin Austin. From 1973 to 1976, volunteers raised $50,000 to preserve the log cabin and prepare it for public use. Work to the cabin included a gas furnace, electrical wiring, a bathroom and plumbing, and a new wood shake shingle roof. Window frames were installed with glass from a 100-year-old home and a brick fireplace was added with brick from a 100 year old school house. The Austintown Historical Society maintains the cabin and provides educational tours to local schools and the general public. Property owner is Austintown Township and project designer is Austintown Historical Society.

Mark C. Peyko

Peyko has an undergraduate degree from YSU, as well as a master’s degree in historic preservation planning from Eastern Michigan University.

His thesis topic was centered on the historic downtown Youngstown buildings and their ongoing contribution to the city and its people. In 1992, Peyko founded Metro Monthly, a regional newspaper featuring wide-ranging historical articles and photographs, with a plethora of pictures about historic downtown Youngstown and its daily influx of office, retail and governmental workers and visitors.

He was a charter member of the Wick Park Neighborhood, and was one of the first people to buy a home in the district. He is also president of the North Side Citizens’ Coalition and has personally found homebuyers for five houses.