The Unionville Tavern Preservation Society
is proud to announce ownership of The Old Tavern!
|
Unionville, Ohio - August 6, 2014
Today, The Unionville Tavern Preservation Society is very pleased to announce the successful acquisition of the Unionville Tavern, through direct negotiations with the previous owner. The Unionville Tavern is now owned by The Unionville Tavern Preservation Society. Brian Horgan, spokesman for the Preservation Society said “It’s a new beginning for the Unionville Tavern. For the past 3 years we’ve worked to raise awareness and bring attention to saving this iconic and historic treasure. Today begins a new chapter in the history of the Old Tavern. We can now get to the work of restoring and preserving the historic structure. It’s a great day for our community and a great day for Northeastern Ohio. We now proceed into the challenging phase of stabilizing this 18th century building.” |
Since learning the property was going to sheriff’s sale, the local grass-roots organization has worked nationally to garner donations in an intensified “30 Days To Save the Tavern” campaign. In addition, The Unionville Tavern Preservation Society received the support of a major donor who has asked to remain anonymous at this time.
The additional support enabled the Society to deal directly with Rickard and Lake County officials to secure the property. Horgan added, “Our work is really just beginning and we are humbled and grateful for everyone’s support in making this possible. This has been a collective effort. In the coming weeks, the Society’s plans include working with engineering and building experts to assess the Tavern’s structural deficiencies and to institute necessary stabilization efforts before this coming winter. Definitive stabilization will require major architectural and building expertise requiring additional fund-raising efforts as part of the overall plan to preserve the building. The structure has been neglected for a very long period of time.”
Once stabilization has been achieved, the organization will move forward with the restoration and preservation phases of the project. A major capital campaign is in the process of being developed for these purposes. The Society’s goals are to create an educational, community, and events center that will be a self-sustaining non-profit venture.
The Unionville Tavern, built in 1798, is possibly the oldest Tavern in Ohio and one of the oldest buildings in Ohio’s Western Reserve. The Tavern has served as a place of lodging on the pioneer trail, a frontier post office, a station on the Underground Railroad, and a community center where friends and families have gathered for over 150 years. It is listed on the National Register for Historic Places. For the last 3 last years the Tavern has been identified as one of Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Sites by Preservation Ohio, the largest preservation organization in the state.
This year, The Unionville Tavern Preservation Society adopted a policy to pursue acquisition of the Tavern property if feasible. The Society is extremely fortunate to have had this unique opportunity and is very grateful to the Madison Historical Society, the Madison Community Improvement Corporation, Preservation Ohio, and The Friends of Freedom Society for their support. In addition, we are thankful to all the donors who contributed financially to this campaign. We look forward to working with an array of local, regional, state, and national partners to realize this dream.
The Society’s motto is a quote from Dr. Margaret Mead -- "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
For ALL Media Inquiries:
Contact Brian Horgan - [email protected]
www.savethetavern.org
Unionville Tavern Preservation Society Board of Directors:
Erin Cicero – President/Chairman
Marc Peterson - Vice President/Vice Chairman
Brian Horgan – Secretary/Board Member
Kim Sedmak – Board Member
Sara Tackett – Board Member
MEET THE BOARD
The additional support enabled the Society to deal directly with Rickard and Lake County officials to secure the property. Horgan added, “Our work is really just beginning and we are humbled and grateful for everyone’s support in making this possible. This has been a collective effort. In the coming weeks, the Society’s plans include working with engineering and building experts to assess the Tavern’s structural deficiencies and to institute necessary stabilization efforts before this coming winter. Definitive stabilization will require major architectural and building expertise requiring additional fund-raising efforts as part of the overall plan to preserve the building. The structure has been neglected for a very long period of time.”
Once stabilization has been achieved, the organization will move forward with the restoration and preservation phases of the project. A major capital campaign is in the process of being developed for these purposes. The Society’s goals are to create an educational, community, and events center that will be a self-sustaining non-profit venture.
The Unionville Tavern, built in 1798, is possibly the oldest Tavern in Ohio and one of the oldest buildings in Ohio’s Western Reserve. The Tavern has served as a place of lodging on the pioneer trail, a frontier post office, a station on the Underground Railroad, and a community center where friends and families have gathered for over 150 years. It is listed on the National Register for Historic Places. For the last 3 last years the Tavern has been identified as one of Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Sites by Preservation Ohio, the largest preservation organization in the state.
This year, The Unionville Tavern Preservation Society adopted a policy to pursue acquisition of the Tavern property if feasible. The Society is extremely fortunate to have had this unique opportunity and is very grateful to the Madison Historical Society, the Madison Community Improvement Corporation, Preservation Ohio, and The Friends of Freedom Society for their support. In addition, we are thankful to all the donors who contributed financially to this campaign. We look forward to working with an array of local, regional, state, and national partners to realize this dream.
The Society’s motto is a quote from Dr. Margaret Mead -- "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
For ALL Media Inquiries:
Contact Brian Horgan - [email protected]
www.savethetavern.org
Unionville Tavern Preservation Society Board of Directors:
Erin Cicero – President/Chairman
Marc Peterson - Vice President/Vice Chairman
Brian Horgan – Secretary/Board Member
Kim Sedmak – Board Member
Sara Tackett – Board Member
MEET THE BOARD
