Chardon Landmark Receives Ohio Historical Marker
The old Chardon Post Office has become the 1,441st location in Ohio to be decorated with a historical marker designating the 74-year-old yellow…
The old Chardon Post Office has become the 1,441st location in Ohio to be decorated with a historical marker designating the 74-year-old yellow brick structure a “Remarkable Ohio” site.
The building closed its stamp selling windows for the last time in 1986, but owner Shawn Neece said occasionally someone forgets the building sat vacant for almost 20 years and has been home to NMS Certified Public Accountants since 2006.
“About once a year, usually about Christmas time, someone still comes in and tries to mail their Christmas cards,” Neece said with a laugh. “But that’s what you get with an historic building.”
Neece, standing on the steps of the Depression-era building, told a crowd of about 50 he and his business partner, George Malec, bought the property with the idea of preserving it.
“This building was a Federal Public Works project, which shows that even when a country’s broke, they can still do great things,” Neece said, adding such projects went a long way to uplift spirits in small towns across America during a difficult time.
Neece described the restoration work that was needed and said a mural that had originally been in the post office was restored by local company Residence Artists and is now prominently displayed in Chardon City Hall.
“What is more green than taking an old building and putting it back together for a new use that will be there for further generations? Chardon is one of the oldest towns in Ohio, with some great old buildings that still have use and importance,” he said.
Andy Verhoff, local history coord-inator for the Ohio Historical Society, said he feels “a little like a midwife” in helping to arrange for the metal his-torical markers.
He said the OHS approves about 30 such markers each year.
“Someone submits an application, which we review,” Verhoff said. “The subject has to have historical signi-ficance. The second step, after it is approved, is to draft text for the marker. A local sponsor usually pays for the marker, but sometimes we can help arrange grant money to help pay for it.”
Neece’s staff served refreshments in the former postmaster’s office. The crowd included NMS employees, their families and local public officials.
“This greatly exceeded what I thought,” Neece said of the crowd. “Eight people on Facebook said they were coming.”
State Rep. John Patterson added, “It’s all about family roots,”?before presenting Neece with a proclamation from the Ohio House of Representatives.
“As a former history teacher, I know that it means a lot to preserve our heritage; it’s a thrill to be here and be a part of this August occasion,” Patterson said.
“Chardon is an historic place and this building is a part of that,” Chardon City Councilman John Mallen said.
Councilwoman Nancy McArthur added, “I think this is really excellent for Chardon. We love that NMS is here, bringing a lot of employment to the city and the company does a lot for the community. This is an historic day for Chardon.”
