Historic Preservation Briefs : May-June-July 2006

The planned addition to Chillicothe's public library has been unveiled to mixed reviews. Published in the June 12th Chillicothe Gazette, a computer rendering shows the 1906 Carnegie building with a purely modern-styled 2008 addition on its south and rear. But only four days later, another article reported on disappointments and surprises from library board members and Friends of the Library members. Comments are being accepted.

The two-story design is rendered with a glass and stark white masonry exterior. Two slightly curved walls and an exposed truss add some flair to the otherwise spartan design.

This styling would be one of very few modern-styled buildings in the downtown. Citizens National Bank on West Main Street is International styled, and Carl's Town House at Second and Walnut could be considered International, too. Globe Furniture on East Main Street and the Municipal Building on South Paint are Art Deco styled. (All new construction in the downtown is modern in age but not Modern in styling.)

The timeline for the addition and remodeling includes putting the bond issue on the May 2007 ballot, and construction underway from February to October of 2008. The address for the library is P.O. Box 185, 140-146 South Paint Street. The email adddress is crpl@oplin.org.

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On a related note, I see in my newly arrived "Friends of the Library" newsletter that the 100th anniversary of the Carnegie Building will be celebrated Sunday, August 20th, at 3 p.m. The author of Carnegie Libraries of Ohio will present a slide show, followed by a "Victorian Tea." Registrations are required; call 702-4145 to RSVP.

Work continues on the whipping boy for the 'demolitionists' - the 1850s-1860s Emmett Canal Warehouse, at 107-109 East Main Street. This huge building is a favorite for people opposed to preservation to complain about. To paraphrase a quote I read some years ago,

'At the corner of Main and Mulberry we have a renovated grocery store, a charming greenspace, and a million-dollar office building. Why do we still have this dilapidated old building?'

Because some of us value the history that helps makes this town great. Because we aren't obsessed with parking lots. Because we aren't fixated on seeing squeaky clean - but soulless - new buildings.

Yes, it is handy to have a grocery store in the downtown (and at least the parking lot is to the side, instead of in front). Yes, the church park is cute - but who uses it? Yes, the former AEP building is a massive investment - that has stood empty for most of its life.

Though the canal warehouse has also stood empty - and for a longer period - at least it still stands, and with great potential. Would you rather see the same treatment as for the canal buildings behind it, on the corner of Mulberry and Second - a parking lot for a building that seems to be eternally for sale or lease? How about that huge vacant area across the street along Second? How is that an imaginative, creative, culturally relevant use of our unique patrimony?

Wise development and "progress" involves both old and new, private rights and government controls, leadership and cooperation, wisdom and respect. Those who call for the Emmett Canal Warehouse to be torn down as an example of what is best for Chillicothe lack some of the last two.

	Geoffrey Sea challenges the Piketon Atomic Plant public meeting speaker about archaeological preservation in and around the plant. He is holding up an enlargement of Squire & Davis' illustration of the earthworks.

The Piketon atomic reservation, better known for its Piketon Atomic Plant or Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, is undergoing major changes. Buildings are being demolished and the use of its grounds is changing. An update meeting on that was provided to the public June 27th.

Among their many responsibilities, the various federal government entities that manage the plant are required by federal law to protect archaeological sites under their jurisdiction. There happen to be several sites in and near the plant, but there appears to be no action to record or protect them.

Geoffrey Sea is a writer who has moved into a historic house next to the atomic reservation, and has championed preservation of nearby moundbuilder sites. He has also written an essay, "A Pigeon in Piketon," about the shooting of the last wild passenger pigeon in the area, which is adapted from a book in progress.

Mr. Sea has challenged the government agencies at the Piketon plant about their apparent lack of action on archaeological preservation, especially since Sea has helped to rediscover, and notified the agencies of, an earthwork located near the on-ramp loop at the plant's entrance. His map of the area is to the left.

The earthworks nearby, originally known as the Seal Township Works and now referred to as the Barnes Works, have been largely lost to gravel mining (to pave the roads in the atomic plant). But several other sites remain, and so does much potential for discovery. Archaeologist Dr. Jarrod Burks has been working in the area and has made some suprising discoveries and rediscoveries.

Along with owners of local historic properties, Mr. Sea has created the Sargents Historic Preservation Project (SHIPP) to highlight and preserve not only the remaining earthworks, but also the historic homes and places around them. You can contact Sea by email at SargentsPigeon@aol.com, by phone at 740 / 289-2473, or by mail at P.O. Box 161, Piketon OH 45661.

Two of the few remaining Camp Sherman memorial trees stand near the intersection of Pleasant Valley Road and State Route 104. There were three at this site until last year, when one fell down. One of the two is starting to fall; half of it was on the ground about June 20th.

This is ODOT property, and it appears that the state is quick to clean up even though the tree is far from any road - there was a crew removing the fallen trunk only a day or two after it fell!

Hundreds of these Silver Maple trees were planted by recuperating Camp Sherman soldiers in remembrance of soldiers who died in World War I.

My bad advice has been covered up at 62-64 North Paint Street, where in November I advised owner Joe Molnar to paint the building a shade of reddish-orange that was a little too bright. We were aiming at a brick red color, but instead got a Campbell's Soup red.

The building is now a pleasant greyish-tan that matches the more recent brick around the front pillars.

	Security fencing surrounds the doomed house in April...
	...and what remains of it July 10th.

The First Baptist Church finally started demolition of the Zimaroy Downs House at 53 West Fourth Street. The July 9th photo in the Chillicothe Gazette was the first I knew of it. Judging by the photo, work started on a Saturday.

Though, the destruction of this massive, magnificent house began when its maintenance was neglected years ago - this week's demolition was only the final act of a long show. Now Chillicothe has lost a landmark house and another part of its rich history, to be replaced with nothing but a parking lot for the time being. (The porch was supposed to be left in place as a token gesture, but not even that appears to be happening.)

This is not progress. Progress occurs when cultural gains are greater than cultural losses. If you look at something being built at the same time that this house was being demolished, you will see a vast difference in many factors. Does the new construction create jobs? Probably. Does it expand our economy? Probably. Will it be there in a century? I doubt it. Does it make Chillicothe a more special place, or does it dilute and obscure our heritage? You decide.