Historic farmhouse again on endangered-buildings list

Elam Drake Farm has been named as one of the most-endangered buildings in Columbus by the Columbus Landmarks Foundation for the fourth year in a row.

The historically and architecturally significant farmhouse may soon be demolished by its owner, the Columbus Regional Airport Authority.

Built in the 1850s and located at 2738 Ole Country Lane, the farm was a retirement home for mason and brickmaker Elam Drake.

Drake moved to Columbus in 1831 and built many of the early buildings in Columbus. The house exemplifies a type of rural agricultural architecture that doesn’t exist much anymore, said Ed Lentz, the foundation’s executive director.

The building is part of John Glenn Columbus International Airport’s future plans to build a terminal on the land, said Angie Tabor, spokeswoman for airport authority.

The foundation, which released the list on Thursday, said the building is deteriorating and unused. Tabor said it’s not safe to be inside.

The airport is working with the state historical preservation office to document the property in a report for the community before its demolished, Tabor said. Though the new terminal will not be built until the late 2020s or early 2030s, the building will likely be demolished later this year or early next year, she said. Construction of a rental car facility is expected to begin next year, she said.

In addition to the Elam Drake building, four other buildings on this list this year were on last year’s. The other The 2017 Preservation

five are new additions.

Taken off the list this year were the Pavey Block and Poindexter Village, both of which are out of immediate danger of demolition because the potential developers are in discussion with various groups concerning preservation, Lentz said.

Columbus Railway Power & Light was taken off the endangered list, and moved to the watch list, an additional list of buildings the foundation will watch, but that aren’t in imminent danger, said Becky West, the foundation’s associate director.

The power and light building is secure, with no further signs

of deterioration, West said. The owner does intend to redevelop it.

The original Port Columbus Terminal, owned by the airport, was moved to the watch list after an advocacy group raised money to replace the roof and remove mold from the building. The building is in good condition, Tabor said, and the airport is looking for a tenant.

The list is intended to bring attention to the importance of preservation of historical places, Lentz said.

“We’ve had great success with it in the last few years,” he said of the list.