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.
| 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.
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.
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.
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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