From the Ashtabula Star Beacon September 17, 1982
Harbor Architecture: Walk Slated October 2
Plans are discussed for the October 2 Architectural Walk, sponsored by the AAUW and the Ashtabula Area Museum and Historical Society by (standing from left) July Pallutch, restoration committee co-chairman; Ruth Payne, museum trustee; Dorothy Bishop, refreshment committee co=chairman (seated from left) and Kathryn Owen, owner of the 1840 Greek Revival home that will be featured on the walk and Junita Erickson, AAUW president, holding the Architectural Walk brochures cover.
An “Architectural Walk” that will benefit both the Ashtabula Area Museum and Historical Society and the Ashtabula Branch of the American Association of University Women is being planned from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 2 in Ashtabula Harbor’s historic residential area.
Proceeds will benefit the restoration of Hubbard House by the Museum Society and AAUW local project funding. Tickets are available through members of both groups.
The walk will start at Hubbard House, 1603 Walnut Blvd., where ticket holders will be given a brochure map pointing out architectural features and significant historical facts on each of the nine stopping points. Persons talking the walk may proceed at their own pace; each of the stops will be numbered to correspond with numbers on the brochure map. Hosts and hostesses will be on hand at each stop to provide additional information.
Starting from the Hubbard House, the walk will proceed east to the house where its original owner, an Ohio legislator, was instrumental in having the State of Ohio flag designed by the distinguished architect John Eisenmann. Eisenmann was designer of Cleveland’s famous downtown Arcade as well as numerous buildings at Case Teach.
The walk will continue to Point Park where on the lake side of Walnut Boulevard, is the former U.S. Coast Guard House currently being restored as a Marine Museum. Marine Museum committee members, including Jaycees whose headquarters will be located there as part of the restoration, will be on hand to explain what is being planned for the site. Several pieces of marine artifacts will be on display.
Across the street participants may study the exterior of a Queen Anne Revival home lived in for many years by the captain of the Ashtabula car ferry. Continuing on down the south side of Walnut is the original home of a likeable Irishman who superintended the unloading of the first cargo of iron ore to reach port.
The walk includes a typical colonial shop and well known Kaleva Hall that originally was an Episcopal Church. Harbor High School students will show off the interior of the building as well as commenting on the architectural style. The women of Kaleva will have a display of Finnish artifacts.
Next on the tour route will be two notable homes; a Greek Revival frarm house that dates back to 1840, and immediately to the east a fine example of Neo-Classic Revival architecture built in 1901.
The walk will end at the Hubbard House where refreshments will be served.
Following the walk, participants are urged to continue with a driving tour west of Ohio Avenue on Walnut Boulevard where their brochure will indicate the addresses of many tasteful and well-designed homes of the late builder-contractor Oscar Brunstead, More than a dozen of the homes he built between 1926 and 1931 are located on Walnut Boulevard.
“We are pleased to join with the Museum group in this joint fund-raising project,” Juanita Erickson, AAUW president said. “As an organization devoted to education, we are well aware of the enrichment program the two museums can provide or students, adults and visitors coming to our city.”
Expressing gratitude to AAUW for their help, Ruth Payne and Josephine Petros, museum project chairmen, agreed that although this first walk is centered in the areas of Ashtabula’s two museums, it is hoped in future years “architecturally interesting tours will be planned for various areas in the county as well as the city.
AAUW committee members include Janis Hall and Jean Sims, coordinators; Marjorie Berkey, Dorothy Bishop, Elaine Cocanoower, Mary Jude English, Sandra R. Humphrey and Cheri Reece.
Museum committee members include Margaret Devney, Virginia Hamm, Judy Pallutch, Mary Scardino, Martha Schlecht, Rosemary Smrdel, Charlotte Wiggins, Payne and Petros.
