Columbus Landmarks Foundation is proud to be host to a Community Surveyor, Andrew Neutzling, from the statewide Ohio History Service Corps program. The Ohio History Service Corps engages AmeriCorps members to educate Ohioans on why history is relevant and how it can be used as an effective economic development tool. Andrew inventoried over 150 historic properties this past year in Columbus with a focus on the city’s Mid-Century Modern (1940-1970) styles, trends and stories, concentrating in United Way priority neighborhoods. We are very pleased to announce that Andrew will join us for a second year to continue architectural survey work.
Currently, Mid-Century Modern buildings are not yet widely considered to be historic and often find themselves at risk of demolition or alteration. The 2000 demolition of The Kahiki Restaurant highlights this issue. Survey findings further underscored the at-risk nature of Mid-Century Modern properties in Columbus. In fact, at least three structures included in the survey were already in line for demolition, including the Mid City Motel (940-950 E Broad St.), Columbus Fire Station 2-3 (150 E Fulton St.) and Sunshine Terrace Apartments (272 Gift St.). Several more properties suffered uncertain fates due to abandonment or under-utilization. Though the outlook was grim for some of our city’s modern landmarks, the survey identified many relatively safe resources and stories representing the City’s mid 20th century history.
Interstate Highways, suburbanization, and urban renewal programs dramatically changed the face of Columbus during the mid 20th century. The survey covered everything from 1950s suburban ranch homes in Northland to modern office towers and urban renewal projects in downtown. Previously overlooked people and places were rediscovered. Thanks to the Civil Rights Movement, previously untapped talents began to shine in Columbus. The survey identified several structures designed by Leon A. Ransom, who was Columbus’s first African American architect to design major civic projects like libraries, hospitals, and fire stations. Preservationists may recall the now-demolished cylindrical Christopher Inn hotel in downtown Columbus. Mr. Ransom was involved in designing that iconic building. Though the Inn was lost, we were happy to discover another cylindrical Ransom-designed tower that is still in good condition: the tower at OSU Hospital East (formerly St. Anthony Hospital).
