Trending
WEATHERSFIELD -- The historic Moss Ancestral House, which showcases the history of Mineral Ridge and Weathersfield Township, is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
Marci Buchanan, president of the Mineral Ridge Historical Society, said she received word this week that the application to be on the registry was reviewed and approved by the National Park Service for placement on the national register.
The two-and-a-half story Pennsylvania Bank-style house built in the 1830s is located at 1499 Burnett St. and is one of the oldest houses in the area.
Last fall the Ohio History Connection's State Historic Preservation Office in Columbus approved the request and forwarded it to the national level.
Buchanan said she received an email last week from National Park Service announcing the news.
''We are very excited,'' she said.
Sue Tietz of the Southington Community Trust said she knows what being listed on the national register means -- since the historic Chalker Building at the center of Southington is on the list.
''It is an honorary designation and shows the public of the true significance of a building or place being on the list,'' Tietz said.
Tietz said also it will benefit the Mineral Ridge Historical Society. ''If they are seeking any grants from the park service this will help put them ahead in getting the grants,'' she said.
In addition to Buchanan, the application process to get the house on the register involved Mary Lou Godleski, curator of the Moss House; Chris Klingemier, a local historian; and Tietz, who has assisted in getting local historic buildings on the register.
Tietz said National Register of Historic Places criteria is based on age, integrity and significance of the property or building.
Buchanan said buildings and locations that get on the register receive national recognition and also provide places for preservation and archaeological study.
"More people nationwide will see the Moss House on the national registry," she said. She has heard from local people in the field of archaeology who are interested in studying at the house.
Godleski, also owner of the Moss Home and a Moss family ancestor, said: "There are many positives by getting this designation."
The society was successful in past years with getting historical markers for Salt Springs placed at Kerr Cemetery and one for the black band ore, which was mined in the area, erected at the township park off state Route 46.
Godleski said she searched for the house that her great-great-grandfather lived in when he immigrated to the United States from Luxembourg in 1855. What she found was a home in disrepair and condemned by Weathersfield Township.
Work began on restoring the house by removing all recent additions. All the windows were replaced with wooden frame duplicates that were built in 1840s style by Amish artisans. Due to three fires, the roof was replaced, and ceiling boards were taken from another period home in Kinsman that had the same tongue-and-groove joints. The entire exterior was cleaned, and interior woodwork and fireplaces were uncovered and restored.
Architectural restoration classes at Youngstown State University have used the property as part of their course work.