Heritage Home Association honors preservation, history heroes
DOVER (WJER) (May 5, 2022) – The village of Dennison and its mayor are getting some recognition from the local organization dedicated to preserving historic homes and buildings.
The Heritage Home Association has selected the village as one of its 2022 Hero of Preservation Award recipients for the restoration of the former community room on the top floor of its Grant Street headquarters that’s now known as the “Railroad Room.” Awards Committee Chairwoman Liz Hipp says the village did a fantastic job of restoring the space and honoring its history.
“Apparently, the railroad battalion met in that room for decades so they were able to have a mural installed in that room to honor the people who were in that battalion.”
Mayor Greg DiDonato will accept the award on the village’s behalf during a banquet this evening where he will also receive a Hero of History Award for his contribution to the project and similar efforts throughout the community.
“Such as being instrumental in getting the Depot up and running. He also has restored three houses on Grant Street… He also was involved in the restoration of a start that used to hang on the outside of village hall, I think it was in the 50s and 60s.”
The association is also presenting a Hero of Preservation Award to the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum for restoring a 1920s train and turning it into a bed & breakfast. A second Hero of History Award is going to Don and Susie Whittingham of New Philadelphia for their contributions to the restoration of the city’s welcome sign and the public artwork around town.