Progress Through Preservation (PTP) actively encourages and promotes the preservation,
maintenance, restoration, and adaptive reuse of buildings, sites and neighborhoods that are
of historic or architectural importance in Akron and Summit County.
maintenance, restoration, and adaptive reuse of buildings, sites and neighborhoods that are
of historic or architectural importance in Akron and Summit County.
Mission Statement
| Progress Through Preservation |
| Preservation House |
| Preservation House |
| Preservation House |
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| About Us |
History
Progress Through Preservation (PTP) was organized formally
in July 1984 in direct response to the ongoing urban renewal
policies continuing to change the faces of cities across the
country, as well as in Akron. Its mission remains to serve Akron
and Summit County by actively encouraging and promoting the
preservation, maintenance, restoration, and adaptive reuse of
buildings, sites, and neighborhoods that are of historic or
architectural importance.
Founding members included Michael Adams, Libby Bryant,
Harriet Calcagno, Judy Grana, Don Harvey, John Mazzola, Susan
McKiernan, Anita and David Meeker, Helen Moss, David
Patterson, Mary Porterfield, Debbie Prinz, Tim Prinz, Elizabeth
Sandwick, Judith Shoaff, Rex E. Sager, Richard Slanczka,
Ramona and F. Eugene Smith, Barbara Snyder, Elsie Snyder,
and Diane Wolfson.
In 1986 a “Stamp Out the Wrecking Ball” symbol designed by F.
Eugene Smith was incorporated in the PTP logo as members
protested the demolition of the 1906 Parkview Apartments listed
in the Akron Historic Landmark Survey.
Since that time PTP, an all-volunteer organization that now
includes approximately 300 members, has moved on to initiate
or support a variety of historic preservation efforts in Akron and
Summit County. In the process, PTP has worked in cooperation
with the City of Akron, Akron Public Schools (APS), the University
of Akron, Keep Akron Beautiful, the Akron Area Arts Alliance as
well as local, state, and regional community and historic
preservation organizations including Cascade Locks Park
Association, Summit County Historical Society, the Cuyahoga
Valley National Park, Cleveland Restoration Society and its
Preservation Resource Center of Northeastern Ohio, Heritage
Ohio, the Ohio Historical Society, and the National Trust for
Historic Preservation (NTHP) through its Midwest Office in
Chicago.
Projects have included sponsoring town meetings,
preservation workshops, tours of historic homes and public
buildings, and a Glendale Memorial Concert Series designed to
raise funds for restoring the Civil War Memorial Chapel in Akron’
s Glendale Cemetery. PTP has actively supported restoration of
the Mustill Store and House at Lock 15 of the Ohio & Erie Canal,
passage of the 1997 Akron Historical Preservation Ordinance,
and restoration of the historic Akron Civic Theatre on its original
site and, in 1998, commissioned an inventory of Canal-era
structures in the City of Akron.
In 2001, at the invitation of the NTHP, PTP successfully
participated in the Community Organization Effectiveness
Program, a 12-month process through which local historic
preservation organizations evaluate their organizational
structures and strategic planning processes following internal
and external assessments conducted by the National Trust.
More recently PTP has supported the reprinting of an 1880
guidebook on train excursions in the Cuyahoga Valley now being
used by the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad; the design and
publication of an award-winning brochure on historic Glendale
Cemetery; and, in collaboration with local residents, the
University of Akron, and the City of Akron, gravesite
documentation and preservation efforts at historic Middlebury
Cemetery in East Akron.
In January 2006 PTP released the findings of architectural
feasibility studies it had commissioned on the renovation versus
replacement of Firestone Park and King elementary schools,
both scheduled for demolition under the current APS Facilities
Master Plan.
in July 1984 in direct response to the ongoing urban renewal
policies continuing to change the faces of cities across the
country, as well as in Akron. Its mission remains to serve Akron
and Summit County by actively encouraging and promoting the
preservation, maintenance, restoration, and adaptive reuse of
buildings, sites, and neighborhoods that are of historic or
architectural importance.
Founding members included Michael Adams, Libby Bryant,
Harriet Calcagno, Judy Grana, Don Harvey, John Mazzola, Susan
McKiernan, Anita and David Meeker, Helen Moss, David
Patterson, Mary Porterfield, Debbie Prinz, Tim Prinz, Elizabeth
Sandwick, Judith Shoaff, Rex E. Sager, Richard Slanczka,
Ramona and F. Eugene Smith, Barbara Snyder, Elsie Snyder,
and Diane Wolfson.
In 1986 a “Stamp Out the Wrecking Ball” symbol designed by F.
Eugene Smith was incorporated in the PTP logo as members
protested the demolition of the 1906 Parkview Apartments listed
in the Akron Historic Landmark Survey.
Since that time PTP, an all-volunteer organization that now
includes approximately 300 members, has moved on to initiate
or support a variety of historic preservation efforts in Akron and
Summit County. In the process, PTP has worked in cooperation
with the City of Akron, Akron Public Schools (APS), the University
of Akron, Keep Akron Beautiful, the Akron Area Arts Alliance as
well as local, state, and regional community and historic
preservation organizations including Cascade Locks Park
Association, Summit County Historical Society, the Cuyahoga
Valley National Park, Cleveland Restoration Society and its
Preservation Resource Center of Northeastern Ohio, Heritage
Ohio, the Ohio Historical Society, and the National Trust for
Historic Preservation (NTHP) through its Midwest Office in
Chicago.
Projects have included sponsoring town meetings,
preservation workshops, tours of historic homes and public
buildings, and a Glendale Memorial Concert Series designed to
raise funds for restoring the Civil War Memorial Chapel in Akron’
s Glendale Cemetery. PTP has actively supported restoration of
the Mustill Store and House at Lock 15 of the Ohio & Erie Canal,
passage of the 1997 Akron Historical Preservation Ordinance,
and restoration of the historic Akron Civic Theatre on its original
site and, in 1998, commissioned an inventory of Canal-era
structures in the City of Akron.
In 2001, at the invitation of the NTHP, PTP successfully
participated in the Community Organization Effectiveness
Program, a 12-month process through which local historic
preservation organizations evaluate their organizational
structures and strategic planning processes following internal
and external assessments conducted by the National Trust.
More recently PTP has supported the reprinting of an 1880
guidebook on train excursions in the Cuyahoga Valley now being
used by the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad; the design and
publication of an award-winning brochure on historic Glendale
Cemetery; and, in collaboration with local residents, the
University of Akron, and the City of Akron, gravesite
documentation and preservation efforts at historic Middlebury
Cemetery in East Akron.
In January 2006 PTP released the findings of architectural
feasibility studies it had commissioned on the renovation versus
replacement of Firestone Park and King elementary schools,
both scheduled for demolition under the current APS Facilities
Master Plan.
The First Annual House
Tour featured the
Simon Perkins Mansion
and restored homes in
the Highland Square
area of West Akron. In
the same year a
walking tour along
North Portage Path
concluded with Irene
Seiberling Harrison
reminiscing in the old
“chicken house” of her
family’s Stan Hywet
estate.
Tour featured the
Simon Perkins Mansion
and restored homes in
the Highland Square
area of West Akron. In
the same year a
walking tour along
North Portage Path
concluded with Irene
Seiberling Harrison
reminiscing in the old
“chicken house” of her
family’s Stan Hywet
estate.
PTP plans to place an
historical marker at the
Glendale Steps, a Works
Progress Administration
project completed during
the 1930’s and linking
Walnut Street to a park
the City of Akron had
planned to create at the
base of the steps but
which was never built.
historical marker at the
Glendale Steps, a Works
Progress Administration
project completed during
the 1930’s and linking
Walnut Street to a park
the City of Akron had
planned to create at the
base of the steps but
which was never built.
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