A view not seen for many years

Mt. Pleasant from the North School site

North school is down and the lot now looks as if nothing was ever there. The one benefit I can see is the now, albeit temporary, clear view of Mt. Pleasant. Many spots on this end of town have great backyard vistas of the Standing Stone and now this spot does too.

The first North School on this Broad Street lot was built in the mid 1800s and there have been several successive schools on the land ever since. However, in the past, the new schools' construction preceded the old schools' demolition, so the clear and unobstructed view did not exist. While fenced off, you can still come take a look for yourself today. Just remember, a new school is going up here, so this view won't be available forever.

Lancaster Post Office

Chestnut Street entrance to the Post Office

Have you ever noticed something about a house, business or property that once noticed, cannot be unseen? An imperfection or minor repair that just seems to go unnoticed and unfinished forever? For me it is the Lancaster post office building on the corner of Chestnut and Broad Streets. A glorious building with great architectural features, it now seems to sit on a base of weeds, dirt and trash. Specifically, the Chestnut Street entrance seems very neglected and shows evidence of decay. The ramp itself is starting to show cracks in the mortar and, more easily correctable, the area under it is devoid of ground covering part from cigarette butts. I cannot tell you how many time I have been tempted to sneak over there at night and dump a load of pea gravel or mulch.

Ramp close-up

I think this actually gets to a broader point about how we perceive, or fail to perceive, things with which we frequently and constantly interact. I am as guilty as every other human being. While this stands out to me every time I walk or bike by the Post Office, I am sure it is not noticed by whomever runs this branch. Much like I can overlook things around my house or yard. However, I am also fairly confident that were it corrected, the difference in appearance and improvement would be noticeable. 

Deposit cigarettes here, or there

While I understand that home or property improvements take both time and money and the postal service is going through some pretty high profile financial difficulties, I am also convinced that if we could somehow get all of Lancaster's property owners, residential and commercial, to take a small measure of pride in the appearance of their buildings, it would make a tremendous difference in the appearance and resultant perception of out town.

Lancaster Festival announces second Saturday's lead

The Lancaster Festival is just around the corner and the first main act has already been announced. Michael Bolton will be performing on the first Saturday concert at Ohio University Lancaster. If, like me, you think of elevator music from the 1980s when you think of Michael Bolton, take a look at this recent video that portrays him in a entirely new light. (Warning; not for children and definitely NSFW!) I have to admit, this made me smile; I like a famous person who has range and can laugh at themselves.

The second Saturday will feature a younger performer, Crystal Bowersox, a recent finalist on American Idol. Originally from Elliston, Ohio in the northwest part of the state, Crystal sings a widely varying array of music; from country to rock to indie to gospel. Sounds like my iPod on shuffle; I look forward to hearing her performance.

For more information about all the events that occur during the Lancaster Festival, check out their website here.

A brief respite for the Mithoff Hotel

Mayor David Smith pulled the city's application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the demolition of the Mithoff Hotel from the the Historic Lancaster Commission last night, instead announcing that he will pursue approval of city council to submit the application. While this gives some delay for those seeking other, more economically beneficial, uses for the building, it does not appear that it changes the ultimate end result sought by the the city.  

Lancaster has a long and illustrious history, both in its early stages and more recently and it would be a shame to see such a visible part of that history lost. Moreover, there is no shortage of empty lots downtown and a restored, mixed use commercial building would bring a lot to the city's coffers on terms of property tax, income tax, and sales tax. Lets hope when the tremendous economic advantages of a Mithoff restoration are put before the city administration and city council that they will be wiong to get creative and find a way to do the right thing and save the Mithoff. 

Monarch Gallery at The Lodge in Lancaster

Monarch Gallery sign

The Monarch Gallery moved from its location on Wheeling Street into the newly renovated Lodge in Lancaster some time ago, but if you didn't catch that in the news or hadn't stopped in the Lodge recently, you might not know. Not anymore. Sunday afternoon a new Monarch Gallery sign was hung directly below the Lodge's sign. While I don' specifically remember the sign that used to be at the gallery, this certainly looks like the same one.

I have been in the Lodge several times over the past few weeks and it has given me a chance to look at the various offerings from different artists hanging about. Lots of different styles and mediums as well as varying sizes and prices. Stop in and take a look; I think that there is most likely something to fit your space.

Another hidden architectural gem

I often speak of the benefits of walking. Not the typically touted health benefits, but the deeper level of connection you get moving through your town at a slower pace and with a different point of observation. Despite having grown up here and having lived here for several years upon moving back, I am constantly surprised at the new and unusual things I find while walking. This post is about just such a find.

Front of building

On the corner of Memorial Drive and Wheeling Street is a cute little house-like buildng that looks to be from the early to mid 1900s. With double chimneys, shuttered double hung windows and a smaller side room, it looks like it belongs on a wooded half acre lot in a 1920s addition. However, it is surrounded by warehouses and across the street from the old Alten foundry site and seems completely out of place. I can only assume it was some kind of shipping and receiving office for an adjacent building. The building currently houses a "We Buy Gold" shop (not sure exactly what those are called) and while not in bad shape, doesn't really stand out in anyway. Like many other buildings, over the years it has suffered some misguided renovations and has a replacement asphalt shingle roof.

Rear of building with blue tiles

The interesting thing about this roof is that it is on the front of the building only. Although not clearly visible from the road, if you walk around the back you can see that the building used to have bright blue, metal tiles for roofing material.These tiles are actually really cool. Not only do they provide a bright and contrasting color for the red brick of the rest of the buildings, but they seem to be really tick, adding an entire other layer of visually stimulating architectural detail that draws your eye up and makes the scale of the tiny building seem much bigger. Not cure why only half of the roof was torn off and replaced, no simple task in and of itself, but I am glad that it was done that way, preserving the blue roof for those of us on foot who are looking closely.

If anyone knows of the original use of this buildings, or even has a decent guess, please let me know in the comments.

Lodge Expansion

New bar area at the Lodge

The Lodge in Lancaster has done great things in the short time they have been open and are now one of the go to places for dinner, drinks or daytime meetings. Soon, they will have another draw; a dedicated bar area separate from the main dining in the ballroom. The old members' bar area of the Lodge is currently undergoing renovations and will soon be open for business. The scheduled opening date is the end of this month, but from speaking to some people at the lodge, that may get pushed. No surprise there; anyone who has ever undertaken a project of this scale knows how things come up during the work that you never even considered before the first tool was lifted.

Close up of the plaster crown molding

The layout is great; a long bar with plenty of seating coupled with space for both additional standing and sitting areas. And importantly, the renovations are preserving the unique, historical features of the Lodge. One of the most striking is the impressively massive crown molding not only this room, but throughout most of the Lodge. This multi-layer crown includes multiple cove, dentil and a modified egg and dart. It is made of plaster, which makes its preservation and restoration even more difficult than if it were wood. It is great to see the owners working to keep it and highlight it.

The Lodge has a standard liquor license, so when the bar area is open, it will allow them to operate a little later into the night without relying solely on the small bar in the dining area. Great to see an addition to the ever growing entertainment options in downtown Lancaster.