Winners announced for MVHS preservation awards – Youngstown Vindicator

Published: Sat, May 27, 2017 @ 12:00 a.m.

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Two churches are among the winners of the 2017 Historic Preservation Awards, which are given out annually by the Mahoning Valley Historical Society.

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

The winners will be honored at the MVHSs annual meeting June 20 at the Tyler Mahoning Valley History Center, 325 W. Federal St., downtown. The public is invited to attend. The cost is $32 ($28 for MVHS members). For information or to make reservations for the dinner, call 330-743-2589 or go to mahoninghistory.org.

The 2017 categories and winners are as follows:

Community Revitalization Award

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica, Youngstown

The construction of the church building began in 1908 and was completed in 1913. The project included repairs and refinishing of the original exterior wood, brick, limestone, granite and terra cotta to allow for the building to stand for another 100 years. The basilica has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979.

Lewis House, Poland Preservation Society

In 1996, the Poland branch of Home Savings and Loan wanted to demolish a small vacant house on College Street. A concerned group of citizens worked together to save the 1860s home, keeping it part of the historic fabric of the village.

The citizens group formed the Poland Preservation Society and undertook a renovation of the home which included a new roof, replacement of exterior siding with historically accurate hardy board, and removal of a modern east side porch returning its doorway to a window for the dining room.

Interior work included new plumbing, upgraded wiring, a new furnace, plaster repair and painting. Rental of the home paid off the construction project loan, and the preservation society continues its periodic maintenance.

The project was important because it illustrates how grass-roots concern and initiative can change an outcome, said Mark Peyko, one of the panel judges.

St. Patrick Church stained-glass windows, Youngstown

Beginning in 2008, St. Patrick Church, 1410 Oak Hill Ave., undertook an eight-year project to repair and restore the stained-glass windows of the church built in 1924.

The project included all the windows from the small 1-by-3-foot side windows to the large window over the front door which covers half of the facade.

The windows were removed and taken to Studio Arts & Glass in North Canton for repair and re-leading. While the windows were out, all the frames were repainted and any rotted wood replaced. After the restored windows were re-set, new protective coverings with vents were installed to equalize the temperature between the storm windows and the glass, enhancing and lengthening the life of the windows.

Commercial Revitalization Award

Peter Allen Inn, Kinsman

Built by Willis Smith, a significant architect in the Connecticut Western Reserve, the Peter Allen House was completed in 1821. The three-year restoration project included leveling the building, replacing the sill-beam and re-laying the exposed foundation stones above ground.

The original 12-over-12 pane windows were restored; all fireplaces were rebuilt to current code; the interior and exterior woodwork was stripped of paint and refinished; and the interior plaster was removed to allow for re-wiring, installation of a geothermal HVAC system, fire-suppression system, and foam insulation.

The sub roof was rebuilt and re-shingled using historically accurate slate-like material.

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Winners announced for MVHS preservation awards - Youngstown Vindicator