At the turn of the 19th century, the Fir Hill area in Akron was filled with Victorian mansions as ultrawealthy folks like John Buchtel and Ferdinand Schumacher settled to form the “gold coast” of the city.
Only a select few of those mansions remain standing today, thanks in part to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.
Progress Through Preservation (PTP) of Greater Akron celebrated the act’s 50th anniversary Sunday with a free tour to six of those remaining mansions and other industrial buildings around the Fir Hill and East Market Street area, all of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The tour began at First Congregational Church, where members of PTP gave a rundown of the properties available for touring to 80 participants.
“We’re no longer the Rubber Company City,” Councilman Rich Swirsky, whose Ward 1 covers most of the buildings on the tour, said in an opening remark. “We’re a city in transition. We’re working to create a new identity, and as we do that, I think it’s very, very important that we remain connected to our past.”
Trolleys then took people to different destinations, where they were free to explore places like the Ace Rubber Co. on the Ohio and Erie Canal, which still produces rubber products to this day, and get lost in a maze of rooms that make up larger homes, like the Robinson Mansion.
Other properties available for touring were St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the East Market Church of Christ and the Werner Building.
Then, attendees were invited to the Hower House Museum for a closing reception and open tour of the building.
For participants, many of whom have lived in Akron most of their lives, the tour sparked memories of growing up in the city.
“You used to smell this coming and going to school,” said Rita Klein as she stepped into the Ace Rubber Co. factory, where the smell of rubber dominates the building.
“It smells good,” added her sister, Stephanie Dowler.
The two were born and raised in Akron, and they’ve tried to stay engaged with historic properties even as the city’s changed.
“The history of civilization is right outside your own door,” Klein said.
“You don’t appreciate it till it’s gone,” added Dowler.
Since the act was passed, 89,000 properties across the country have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 106 of which are in Summit County.
The act was intended to preserve historical and archaeological sites in the country, offering tax credits to people who purchase them and intend to rehab them for public use. While the act protects against federal money being spent to demolish a property on the historical register, it doesn’t protect from individual owners using their money to do so.
Dana Noel, the president of PTP of Greater Akron, said all the buildings on the tour have uncertain futures, as they’re all distressed to some point. Noel said the National Historic Preservation Act provides the tools to rehabilitate the properties, so tours like this could ideally attract buyers interested in putting in work to preserve the sites.
“We’re hoping to build awareness for buildings like these that are so important to history,” Noel said.
Theresa Cottom can be reached at 330-996-3216 or tcottom@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @Theresa_Cottom .