| Meeting Notice |
PTP meetings take place on the last Monday of most months usually beginning at 7:00 p.m.
and are preceded by an optional social dinner at a restaruant close to the meeting site. They
typically take place at historic sites and include a presentation by a guest speaker. Most
meetings are open to the public.
and are preceded by an optional social dinner at a restaruant close to the meeting site. They
typically take place at historic sites and include a presentation by a guest speaker. Most
meetings are open to the public.
| Progress Through Preservation |
| Preservation House |
| Preservation House |
| Preservation House |
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Key to the Arts - Akrona Galleries
Our March 29, members-only meeting will be at the Tudor-styled house at 1765 W. Market
St., near Acme No. 1. The elegant building has been a fixture on West Market Street since
1916, when Dr. Floyd Ayers built the home for his family and his medical practice. When
Dr. Ayers died in 1958, his estate left everything in the home plus $50,000 to the Akron-
Summit County Public Library.
St., near Acme No. 1. The elegant building has been a fixture on West Market Street since
1916, when Dr. Floyd Ayers built the home for his family and his medical practice. When
Dr. Ayers died in 1958, his estate left everything in the home plus $50,000 to the Akron-
Summit County Public Library.
For more than 40 years, Ayres Branch served much of West Akron. The library more than
doubled the branch’s floor space with an addition in 1965. The house remained a library
until 2003, when the new, Northwest Branch opened on Shatto Avenue as part of the
library’s systemwide rebuilding program.
In stepped Darlene VerSluys, who bought the former Ayers home and remodeled it into
Akrona Galleries and custom framing shop. One thing she did not change, or rather
reclaimed, was the name of the building. According to the art gallery’s web site, Dr. Ayers
named his home Akrona when he built it to further identify it. This was during an age when
large elegant homes often had names as much as addresses. In 1916, Akron’s city limits
did not extend beyond North Portage Path. The Ayers country home ``Akrona’’ would have
been as easy to find as was Stan Hywet, built only a year before, by F.A. and Gertrude
Seiberling.
Akrona Galleries offers a range of artwork, from the affordable to investment-quality, by
nationally known artists such as Tom Arvid and Peter Max. While the first floor has been
remodeled into a modern art gallery, the upstairs retains its original woodwork and
fireplaces. The front of the gallery is resplendent with flowers and a Great Dane by local
sculptor P.R. Miller.
Progress Through Preservation is pleased to welcome new members at the event. Visit
us at www.preservationakron.org or call 330-374-3787 to join or for more information.
The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Those wishing to meet for dinner should gather at Arnie’
s, 1685 Market St., at 5:30 p.m. Call Evie Kidder, 330-864-2060 for questions. VerSluys is
offering PTP members a 20 percent discount on all framing done within 30 days after the
tour.
doubled the branch’s floor space with an addition in 1965. The house remained a library
until 2003, when the new, Northwest Branch opened on Shatto Avenue as part of the
library’s systemwide rebuilding program.
In stepped Darlene VerSluys, who bought the former Ayers home and remodeled it into
Akrona Galleries and custom framing shop. One thing she did not change, or rather
reclaimed, was the name of the building. According to the art gallery’s web site, Dr. Ayers
named his home Akrona when he built it to further identify it. This was during an age when
large elegant homes often had names as much as addresses. In 1916, Akron’s city limits
did not extend beyond North Portage Path. The Ayers country home ``Akrona’’ would have
been as easy to find as was Stan Hywet, built only a year before, by F.A. and Gertrude
Seiberling.
Akrona Galleries offers a range of artwork, from the affordable to investment-quality, by
nationally known artists such as Tom Arvid and Peter Max. While the first floor has been
remodeled into a modern art gallery, the upstairs retains its original woodwork and
fireplaces. The front of the gallery is resplendent with flowers and a Great Dane by local
sculptor P.R. Miller.
Progress Through Preservation is pleased to welcome new members at the event. Visit
us at www.preservationakron.org or call 330-374-3787 to join or for more information.
The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Those wishing to meet for dinner should gather at Arnie’
s, 1685 Market St., at 5:30 p.m. Call Evie Kidder, 330-864-2060 for questions. VerSluys is
offering PTP members a 20 percent discount on all framing done within 30 days after the
tour.