Heritage Home Association celebrates 50th anniversary

The Tuscarawas County Heritage Home Association celebrated their 50th anniversary recently at their Heroes of Preservation and History awards ceremony at Geib Funeral Center in Dover. The ceremony is held in May for Preservation Month.

The festivities included the presentation of 50-year medallions to the original 18 homes plaqued in 1976. The homes are located in Bolivar, Dover, New Philadelphia, Strasburg and Zoar.

The Heritage Home Association grew directly out of a 1976 Bicentennial effort to recognize historic buildings. It has evolved to support a number of preservation related projects. Their latest includes preserving the collection of New Philadelphia related items from former Mayor Mike Taylor.

Tuscarawas Bargain Hunter writer, Jon Baker of Dover, was awarded the Hero of History award.

“What does it take to be a hero? Well, you have to be action oriented. You have to have courage, take risks, be selfless. You have to have moral integrity, determination. You have to be prepared and help others,” Tom Strickling, president of the TCHHA, said.

The TCHHA believes this very accurately describes Baker, who has been in the newspaper business for 41 years. A graduate of Claymont High School and Kent State University, Baker is also a member of the Tuscarawas County Genealogical Society, a trustee for the Tuscarawas County Historical Society, and an elder at First Christian Church in Dover.

Baker has written four books on local history and wrote a history column for The Times-Reporter.

“It really means a lot that I'm being recognized for doing something that I love,” Baker said. “I've always been interested in history, and actually, the first story I ever wrote about history was for the Uhrichsville Evening Chronicle.”

He wrote an article on the history of Cambridge and later, a colleague, Stephanie Harris, suggested he write a regular history column. The column was so popular that the T-R editor, Dick Farrell, asked him to continue it even when Baker left to write for the Youngstown Vindicator. Baker is appreciative to the people and organizations who have helped him with research over the years.

The Hero of Preservation award went to Steve and Paula Sulzner for the restoration of a former hall/ church on Commercial Avenue in New Philadelphia. The building is now known as Sunday Studio.

Jaylie Saxton, the Sulzner’s granddaughter, accepted the award on their behalf. Saxton was impressed with the area where Sunday Studio is located, which is rich in canal history. The space now hosts numerous parties and social events.

“When we thought about it, we were kind of trying to think through every chapter of the building's life, it's always been about gathering people together,” Saxton said.

Saxton works as a hairdresser and has her studio in the basement of the building.

“We’re even hosting a few weddings this summer,” Saxton said. “Which is really special, because people message me on Facebook showing that their grandparents got married here. So, it plays homage to that, it’s special, and that's where the name Sunday Studio came to be.”

Two Jeff Miller Memorial Tradesman awards were given out. One to Zoey Campbell, who attends Buckeye Career Center from Conotton Valley. She is active in Project Lead the Way and will attend West Virginia University to study aerospace engineering.

The second recipient, Jacob Williams, attends BCC from Indian Valley Schools. He plans a career as a utility line worker.

The TCHHA has plaqued 101 homes in their 50-year history including the new recipients.

“We celebrate our newest heroes, people who are our heroes because they love old homes, they love the old buildings and their histories, and they appreciate them enough to maintain them for future generations to enjoy,” Strickling said.

Home owners receiving plaques were Richard and Kathy Geib, the owners of the former Arthur Limbaugh Home in New Philadelphia, Sharon and Morteza Mirhaidari, who own the former Samuel Reeves Home in Dover, Dirk and Kris Nims, the owners of the former Alexander Home in New Philadelphia, and Barb Deramo, the owner of the former Charles Schoch home in New Philadelphia.

Jesse Rothacher, director of the Tuscarawas County Parks Department, accepted a historic marker for the Brandywine Schoolhouse/Grange, which was recently remodeled and now serves as the office for TuscParks.

Tammi Shrum, site director for Historic Zoar Village and Fort Laurens, and David Hayes, a member of the Zoar Community Association board of directors, accepted an historic marker for the Joseph Bimeler House in Zoar. The home is the oldest home still standing in Tuscarawas County.

The TCHHA sponsors their annual fundraiser Christmas Tour of Homes each year on the second Sunday of December. For information visit www.tuschha.org.