The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Society to honor Carnegie Center
Historical society restored library
Lorain’s former Carnegie Library will receive regional recognition from northeast Ohio experts in historic buildings and renovation.
The library has become the Lorain Historical Society’s Carnegie Center, the museum, offices and archives of the group devoted to the history of the International City.
The Cleveland Restoration Society and American Institute of Architects Cleveland have selected the building to receive a Preservation of a Community Landmark Award for 2017. It is one of 15 projects, located from Lorain to Akron, to get the honors.
“We do these awards, basically, to recognize the hard work and the project partners and the group effort it takes to preserve a building and renovate a historic building,” said Stephanie Allen, marketing and events specialist for the Cleveland Restoration Society.
Each year, the Cleveland Restoration Society accepts nominees and its members judge which projects should
“So, people worked really hard to get contributions for people to make this a reality.”
— Barb Piscopo, Society executive director
receive the accolades, Allen said.
The members do site visits and examine factors such as the beauty, use of preservation best practices, creativity or how a community comes together to save a structure, she said.
From 1899 to 1915, there were 104 libraries built in Ohio communities using grants from the Carnegie Foundation.
There are a limited number of Carnegie Libraries left in Ohio, Allen said.
The award comes about five years after rumors swirled among local history buffs that the city administration would target the Carnegie Library for demolition.
Instead, the city worked with the Historical Society to transfer ownership of the building.
The Historical Society received a $500,000 state grant to help pay for renovations.
However, the organization also launched a $3 million capital campaign to pay for much of the needed remodeling and to create an endowment, said Barb Piscopo, Society executive director.
About 150 donors pledged money that allowed the Historical Society flexibility to pay for the project.
“So, people worked really hard to get contributions for people to make this a reality,” Piscopo said.
The building has new and original pieces inside. Among the various architectural elements, Piscopo said her favorite is the columns on the second floor.
“There’s something about the beauty of that wood that is mesmerizing, I think,” she said.
Clark & Post Architects Inc. designed the remodeled interior and will represent the Historical Society at the award ceremony.
Coincidentally, the award will be presented at the Ohio Theatre in Cleveland on May 25, which is the same night as the Lorain Historical Society’s annual meeting.
Several Lorain County buildings and projects have received honors from the Cleveland Restoration Society and American Institute of Architects:
• 2015, Monteith Hall, Elyria
• 2013, Lorain County History Center, Elyria; and Apollo Theater, Oberlin
• 2011, Asia House, Oberlin College; and LorMet Federal Credit Union in Oberlin
• 2006, the Lorain Palace Civic Center, also called the Lorain Palace Theater
• 2004, Elyria City Hall and Turner Block Building
• 2003, Oberlin Heritage Center/O.H.I.O.
• 2001, Elyria Post Office