Heritage Ohio

Happy Juneteenth to all!

Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of equity in our communities. Today, we honor the legacy of Black leaders and entrepreneurs whose contributions have strengthened local economies and Main Streets, and commit ourselves to creating a vibrant future with shared prosperity for all

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Mills Building is one of downtown Caldwell's most recognizable landmarks and one of the most architecturally distinctive buildings in the historic district. Built in 1895 during a period of commercial growth and optimism, its striking Queen Anne design, decorative brickwork, prominent corner entrance, and signature tower have made it a defining feature of the community for more than a century.

Today, the Mills Building stands at a crossroads. While the ground floor remains home to a successful local business, much of the three-story structure is underutilized and in need of significant rehabilitation. Yet its greatest value lies not only in its history, but in its potential. The building's size, location, and character make it an ideal candidate for upper-floor housing, offices, retail, hospitality, creative space, or a mixed-use redevelopment that could bring new life to downtown Caldwell.

As an Opportunity 250 building, the Mills Building matters because it has the power to shape the future of the entire community. Located at a highly visible corner in the heart of downtown, its restoration would strengthen the historic district, support economic development, encourage additional private investment, and create new opportunities for residents and businesses alike. More than an old building, the Mills Building is a symbol of Caldwell's past achievements and a catalyst for its future success.

Do you know a historic building in your community that is ready for its next chapter? We would love to hear its story. Consider nominating it in the Opportunity 250 category of Heritage Ohio's 250 Buildings, 250 Stories initiative and help showcase the buildings that are ready for investment, revitalization, and a bright future. We can't wait to learn more about the places that matter in your community. www.heritageohio.org/250-buildings-250-stories

The Deford in downtown Ottawa is a shining example of how historic buildings can find new life through thoughtful reinvestment. Once an underutilized structure that many people passed by without entering, the building has been transformed into a boutique hotel that now welcomes visitors directly into the heart of the community. Supported through the JobsOhio Vibrant Communities Program and broader downtown revitalization efforts, the project preserved the building's character while giving it a purpose that serves Ottawa today.

Now, guests can stay steps away from local shops, restaurants, events, and gathering places, experiencing downtown Ottawa not as visitors passing through, but as participants in the community itself. The Deford has become a gateway to the Main Street district, generating new activity for local businesses and creating a welcoming place for wedding guests, returning family members, tourists, and travelers.

As a Celebrated 250 building, The Deford demonstrates the power of adaptive reuse and the importance of finding the right purpose for historic places. Its transformation has not only preserved a historic building but has strengthened downtown Ottawa by creating new opportunities for connection, economic activity, and community pride. What was once a building people simply noticed is now a place people experience and remember.

Do you have a building in your community that has a special place in your community's story? We would love to hear it. www.heritageohio.org/250-buildings-250-stories/

The Little Red Schoolhouse is more than Oberlin's oldest surviving building. It is a powerful symbol of the community's longstanding commitment to education, equality, and opportunity. Built in 1836 or 1837 as Oberlin's first public school, this one room schoolhouse welcomed boys and girls of all ages and, remarkably for its time, educated Black and white students together despite Ohio's discriminatory Black Laws.

Among its students was Sarah Margru Kinson, one of the survivors of the Amistad and one of the first Black students to attend school in Oberlin. Her story, and the stories of countless other children who learned within these walls, reflect the values that helped define Oberlin as a community willing to challenge injustice and expand opportunity.

Saved from decay through a community preservation effort in the 1950s, the Little Red Schoolhouse remains a beloved local landmark and a centerpiece of the Oberlin Heritage Center. Today, generations of students continue to experience history firsthand by spending a day learning as pioneer children once did. As a Legacy 250 building, the Little Red Schoolhouse stands as a reminder that even the simplest buildings can carry extraordinary stories and shape the identity of a community for nearly two centuries.

One room schoolhouses are truly an amazing community landmark. Do you have one in your community? Would you like to share its story with us? www.heritageohio.org/250-buildings-250-stories

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Twin City Opera House has been at the heart of downtown McConnelsville since 1892. For more than a century, this landmark has brought people together for theatrical productions, live music, films, community celebrations, meetings, and public events. As one of the most recognizable buildings in Morgan County, the Opera House has long served as both a cultural gathering place and a symbol of civic pride for southeastern Ohio.

Like many historic buildings in Appalachian communities, the Opera House faced decades of economic challenges and deferred maintenance. Yet local residents never gave up on it. Their commitment has led to an ongoing $3 million rehabilitation that is preserving the building's historic character while ensuring it can continue serving future generations. Today, the Twin City Opera House remains a vibrant destination for arts, education, tourism, and community life, drawing visitors to downtown McConnelsville and supporting local businesses along the way.

As a Legacy 250 building, the Twin City Opera House represents the resilience, determination, and pride of a community that understands the value of its historic places. More than a building, it is a living reminder that preserving the past can help strengthen the future of Ohio's small towns.

Do you have a historic theatre or opera house in your community? We would love t hear your building's story. www.heritageohio.org/250-buildings-250-stories/

Just a few days left to register for the Young Ohio Preservationists Cleveland Takeover taking place June 26-28th.

They have a whole weekend of events for you to experience in Cleveland. Find out all of the events happening through the event link.

Registration ends this Friday, June 19th.

Young Ohio Preservationists Cleveland Takeover Join the Young Ohio Preservationists in Cleveland from June 26th to June 28th!

Is there a building in your community that has a story? Maybe it was recently rehabilitated, or something important happened in those four walls? In honor of America's 250's birthday we want to share your building's story. Visit www.heritageohio.org to share your building's story.

Nestled among the oak trees of Belmont County, Epworth Park is a rare surviving example of Ohio's camp meeting and Chautauqua heritage. Founded in 1870 as a Methodist campground, the park became a gathering place for faith, learning, recreation, and community. At its height, thousands of visitors arrived by train and horse drawn wagon to attend camp meetings, lectures, concerts, and educational programs. What was once home to 90 cottages, lodges, a hotel, an auditorium, and a lake remains today a remarkable collection of 60 Victorian cottages that continue to tell the story of this unique place.

Recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Epworth Park stands as a Legacy 250 site because it represents far more than a collection of historic buildings. It embodies a tradition of community, lifelong learning, arts, and spiritual renewal that has endured for more than 150 years. Thanks to the dedication of cottage owners and preservation advocates, the "Garden of Oaks" continues to thrive, ensuring that future generations can experience one of Ohio's most distinctive and cherished historic communities.

Does your community have a building (or collection of buildings) that has an amazing story? Tell us about it at www.heritageohio.org/250-buildings-250-stories

Built around 1874, 16 East Main Street in downtown Ashland is a testament to perseverance, reinvestment, and the power of historic downtowns. The building survived decades when businesses left downtown for shopping centers and strip malls, a time when many feared the district's best days were behind it. At one point, the structure itself was in danger, deteriorating to the point that the city stepped in to save it from collapse.

Today, thanks to a significant rehabilitation effort, 16 East Main Street has been transformed into a thriving retail space that preserves many of its original historic features while serving modern needs. The building is now home to a business that relocated from a strip center back to downtown, reflecting a broader shift as people once again recognize the value of historic commercial districts.

As a Celebrated 250 building, 16 East Main Street represents more than the successful restoration of a single structure. It tells the story of downtown Ashland's revival and demonstrates how preserving historic buildings can attract investment, support local businesses, and strengthen community identity. Once a symbol of uncertainty, this building now stands as a symbol of confidence in downtown's future.

Is your downtown the home of building that has weathered the changing tides of your community? Tell us about it at www.heritageohio.org/250-buildings-250-stories/

Once one of the nation's earliest indoor shopping centers, the Dayton Arcade stood largely vacant for nearly 30 years before an ambitious rehabilitation brought this iconic landmark back to life. Today, the more than 500,000 square foot complex is once again filled with people, activity, and opportunity, serving as a powerful example of what historic preservation and committed leadership can achieve.

The restored Arcade now houses the Arcade Innovation Hub, where entrepreneurs, startups, students, and business leaders collaborate and create. It provides apartments, including housing designed for artists and creative professionals, helping bring new residents to downtown Dayton. The complex is also home to retail shops, restaurants, local businesses, community gathering spaces, and a Hilton Garden Inn hotel that welcomes visitors from across the region and beyond. Beneath the iconic glass-domed Rotunda, events, celebrations, meetings, and public programs bring people together in one of Dayton's most recognizable spaces.

As a Celebrated 250 building, the Dayton Arcade demonstrates the transformative power of reinvestment. Its rehabilitation has reactivated an entire city block, created opportunities for housing, business development, innovation, tourism, and civic engagement, and helped restore confidence in downtown Dayton. Once a symbol of decline, the Arcade is now a symbol of resilience, renewal, and the bright future of Ohio's historic downtowns.

Do you have a building in your downtown that should be Celebrated? Tell us about it www.heritageohio.org/250-buildings-250-stories/ Images in this post were used with permission from Kevin Myers & Dayton Ohio Photos