Howland Historical Society reviews options for house

ODOT project forces group to seek new location for museum

HOWLAND -- Plans by the Ohio Department of Transportation to reconfigure the intersection of state Routes 82 and 46 into a diverging diamond pattern are forcing the Howland Historical Society to move its museum to a new location after less than two years.

The "yellow house" on state Route 46 across from Lowe's, which was built in the 1830s, is in the way of ODOT's plans.

Warner Taiclet, vice president of the historical society, said the house needs to be out of the way by 2022 for the project to begin in spring 2023.

"The diverging diamond will be 2 feet from the house's front door, so it can't stay there. It is designated as a historical building, and we don't want it torn down," he said.

Cindee Mines, a member of the society board, said because it is a private organization, ODOT would not be able to place an access road on the current lot even if the house was moved back on the property, as the road would need to be a public street maintained by the township.

In 2019 and 2020, the historical society was able to receive $20,000 each year from the Cafaro Foundation for costs for the house, including utilities, rent and other expenses. The house is owned by Altobelli Real Estate.

The historical society formerly used the township administration building for its meetings and to display its artifacts.

Taiclet said if the society owned the house, it would be more likely to get grants and after not being able to host open houses for a year, members do not have the corporate sponsors like they had in the previous year.

"We have not gotten visitors who give donations due to COVID-19," he said.

Mines said the board has been looking at available properties within a mile north or south of the present site to see if relocating the house would be possible. She said many of the eight-member board like a site behind Giant Eagle near Howland Middle School.

"We are looking at the site by Giant Eagle, which would be ideal since the school is nearby and students could come to the house and learn about the local history. It would be a wonderful location," Mines said.

ODOT has offered to help move the museum to a location within a 1-mile radius south of the current site at no cost, as well as laying the foundation at the new site and moving the utility lines. However, ODOT will not provide transportation north of the site because of the state Route 82 overpass.

Mines said ODOT officials told them because of the bridge's clearance, the roof would need to be taken off the two-story house, requiring two trips.

"It would take several hours to move it one mile and mostly would have to be done on a Sunday when there is less traffic," Mines said.

The Sunday move and two trips increases the cost.

Mines said the board has looked at some sites south of the house near Home Depot, but it cannot afford to buy a lot.

"We don't have the money to buy the house or any property on Route 46," Taiclet said, noting properties south of the house are expensive.

Mines said the board has reached out to the Trumbull MetroParks board as well but was informed that unless ODOT owns the house, the metroparks is not getting involved.

Mines said the society can't afford to purchase the house and because it is not a public organization, it is a challenge to get grants.

The society will be able to stay at the site for the rest of this year, but ODOT is moving forward on the diverging diamond project, Mines said.

Taiclet said society members have been in contact with the Ohio Historical Society in Columbus seeking help.

"The house is from the 1830s, so no one wants to see it torn down," Taiclet said.

Taiclet said the society began renting the house in late 2018 and opened it as a museum in 2019. The last open house was held in April 2020.

The society holds monthly open houses 1 to 4 p.m. on the third Sunday of each month and also holds board meetings and special occasion events at the museum.