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What's Current in Preservation at CPS . . .
Download the latest edition of our newsletter,
The Preservationist, by clicking here.
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On The Road Again . . . & Again

Upcoming Canton Preservation Society’s 2008 Bus Tours

Start each tour with a continental breakfast served at the historic Hartung House.

7:00a.m. - 8:00a.m.

Mansfield Reformatory Hollywood tour, Brant’s Bistro,
Carrousel Historic District, Kingwood Center

Saturday August 23rd - Members $60.00, Non-Members $65.00

Segments of Shawshank Redemption, AirForce One, and Tango & Cash were filmed at the reformatory.  A buffet lunch at Brant’s Bistro is included.  After lunch ride the carrousel in the beautifully restored Historic Carrousel District, (ticket included), shop in the unique stores, or walk through the beautifully restored Victorian-age buildings featuring ornate iron fencing, and secluded courtyards.  A guided tour of the eight gardens and the greenhouses at Kingwood Center will finish tour.

Spread Eagle Tavern and area, Hanoverton, Ohio

Saturday November 1st - Members $65.00, Non-Members $70.00

Visit the historic Spread Eagle Tavern and the many National Register homes on historic Plymouth Street. Hanoverton was a key stop on the short-lived Sandy & Beaver Canal.

Christmas-Daffins’s, Tara, Buhl, Kraynak’s, Grove City

Saturday December 6th - Members $65.00, Non-Members $70.00

First we will stop at Daffin’s the World’s Largest Candy Store featuring a 400 lb. Chocolate Turtle, and tour the Buhl Mansion.  Next we will enjoy lunch and a tour of Tara decorated for Christmas, counterpart of its fictional Tara from “Gone With the Wind” both included in the price.  Our fourth stop will be Kraynak’s, which has a magical Santa’s Christmasland and a 35,000 sq.ft. store which includes gifts, toys, trains, collectables, and Christmas decorations.  Our final stop will be Grove City outlet mall, where everyone will receive a free shopping bag loaded with coupons and goodies.

Call today, limited seating available. 

Call for Reservations 330-452-9341

The Canton Preservation Society


2009 PRESERVATION AWARD

Canton Preservation Society is currently accepting nominations for Residential and Commercial properties for their 2009 Preservation Award.

Completed nomination forms must be received by March 28, 2009.
Download the nomination form HERE:
2008 Preservation Award Nomination Form - DOC - 45k

2008 PRESERVATION AWARD WINNERS

The 2008 Annual Preservation Award winners were Audrey Yoho for her beautiful 1912 Georgian Colonial and Rosemary Rubin for the Victorian Professional Building.

2009 PRESERVATION SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIP:

The Canton Preservation Society's third annual scholarship will provide financial assistance to a Stark County student or graduate preparing for a career related to historic preservation.  Eligible applicants include students in technical undergraduate or graduate study intending to enroll, or already enrolled, in a program in Historic Preservation or a related field which can include, but need be not limited to, Building Preservation, History, Architecture, American Studies, Urban Planning, or Museum Studies. 

The program of study must be at a U.S. university, college, or institution.  The student’s eligibility will be based partly on financial need and partly on the application materials, academic performance, community service and promise shown for future achievement, based on the judgment of a review panel.  The award is for a maximum of $1000.00 toward school tuition and paid directly to the school. 

Applications are available by calling the Canton Preservation Society at 330-452-9341, and must be postmarked no later than April 1, 2009.  The selection will be made and awarded at the CPS Annual Dinner in May 2009..

Download the Scholarship Form HERE:
2008 Preservation Scholarship Application - DOC - 937k

2008 PRESERVATION SCHOLARSHIP WINNER

The 2008 $1,000 Scholarship winner was Melissa Archer.

Our Mission

The mission of the Canton Preservation Society is to promote historic preservation in Canton. CPS supports and advocates preservation and restoration of historically sigificant buildings, sites and objects.

CPS and the Hartung House

In the late 1800s, L.B. and Minnie Hartung attended the World's Fair in Chicago and were introduced to a Neo-Classic style of home. They brought the idea back to Canton and soon built their new family home. After serving as the home of the Hartungs and their children, in the 1950s it became the new home of the Philomatheon Society. Once the house no longer met their needs it was scheduled for demolition.

Canton Preservation Society's mission is to encourage the preservation and restoration of structures and neighborhoods. They lived out this mission in 2001 by arranging to have the Hartung Home moved from its original location on Tuscarawas Street West to its new location at 131 Wertz Ave NW. Not only did the organization rescue the house from the wrecking ball, they adopted it as their own.

Today there is new life at the Hartung House. Several rooms upstairs have been refurbished and now serve as administrative offices and a research library. The basement is new and includes a conference room, work rooms, and storage areas. The first floor is being brought back to its original grandeur. In addition to a gift shop, the parlor and living rooms will entertain guests the same as they did in the very beginning. Eventually the grounds will include additional parking, gardens and a pavilion to host outdoor events.

For complete information, download the CPS Campaign for Restoration brochure by clicking here: CPS-brochure.pdf (651k)

Why Preservation?

What is gained by preserving the old rather than moving on to something new? In contemplating the restoration of an old building or saving a historic site, questions such as these may come to mind. There are many different reasons for undertaking a project of historic preservation, with benefits accruing to both individuals and the community as a whole.

Preserving historic places and structures can be of great value to the community. It is a way of creating an environment that the public can enjoy and take pride in. Preservation makes the community more attractive and adds character and individuality. This can attract business and tourism from other areas, and provide a common ground or interest which can be shared by everyone.

Historic preservation can also do much to improve the quality of life in a community. The core areas of modern cities are often left to decay while the population moves to outlying areas. Restoring old buildings can reduce the problems of urban growth, including the deterioration of inner cities and the accompanying crime.

The homes and businesses of the inner town are often some of the most charming and unique structures in the city. Restoration can be more economically practical than constructing new buildings. Owners of historically significant structures may also be eligible for tax incentives or grants.

Finally, historic preservation preserves our cultural and historical past. Preserving and maintaining aspects of our past, whether it is home, a barn, a church or a tree allows us to maintain a sense of continuity and relationship with the past. It lets us view the changes that have taken place against a backdrop of what has gone before. This helps us to appreciate where we are in time, to understand how we got here, and perhaps to decide where we should be going.

© 2007 - Canton Preservation Society