By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Any idea which Bowling Green home Clark Gable resided in when visiting the city? Or got a guess which parlor hosted the first meeting of the Wood County Women’s Suffrage Movement in 1910?
In celebration of May being National Historic Preservation Month, signs stating “History Lives Here” are now dotting the front yards of more than 30 historic homes and businesses, whose owners want to share a bit of history with the community.
“I hope people get out and do the self-guided tours,” Bowling Green Planning Director Heather Sayler said during a recent Historic Preservation Commission meeting. “It will be exciting once the signs go up.”
The signs have QR codes, which give visitors some history of the structures. Some tell the architectural style, like Italiantate, Queen Anne, Folk Victorian, Craftsman, Cape Cod or Gothic.
Many were built with money from the oil boom, and were the homes of Civil War veterans, politicians, physicians, and the man who built an opera house in the downtown area.
Some are very grand, with carriage houses and expansive front porches. Others are more modest, and once housed businesses like a general store inside.
The Bowling Green Historic Preservation Commission has worked with the building owners to create the self-guided walking tour. The public can access the map, and each building’s history and photo, at https://buff.ly/3GYlB7n.
People can start the self-guided tour from any point on the map, but beginning and ending in downtown Bowling Green is recommended. Following is a list of the addresses on the tour:
- Downtown Bowling Green.
- 159 N. Main St.
- 307 N. Church St.
- One Courthouse Square, Wood County Courthouse.
- 520 Conneaut Ave., Needle Hall in City Park.
- 228 E. Court St.
- 328 E. Court St.
- 115 E. Oak St.
- 200 N. Summit St.
- 319 N. Prospect St.
- 201 Ridge St.
- 126 S. Church St.
- 207 N. Grove St.
- 175 W. Wooster St., Police Station.
- 216 W. Wooster St.
- 226 W. Wooster St.
- 307 W. Wooster St.
- 315 W. Wooster St.
- 328 W. Wooster St.
- 333 W. Wooster St.
- 502 W. Wooster St.
- 608 W. Wooster St.
- 622 W. Wooster St.
- 630 W. Wooster St.
- 331 Pearl St.
- 337 Buttonwood Ave.
- 124 N. Maple St.
- 131 N. Maple St.
- 217 N. Maple St.
- 909 Parker St.
- 504 S. Main St.
- 13660 County Home Road, Wood County Museum.
National Historic Preservation Month celebrates the nation’s heritage through historic places – focusing on protecting the sites and structures that represent meaningful history in the community.
Bowling Green Historic Preservation Commission celebrates local historic buildings each month, not just for National Preservation Month. Anyone wanting to nominate a building, may submit it at https://bit.ly/3vKjrSb.
The Bowling Green HPC was established in 2019 to help preserve, promote, and educate the community about local history and historic buildings in Bowling Green. To learn more about the HPC, visit www.bgohio.org/HPC
Community partners are also celebrating National Historic Preservation Month with events. Wood County District Public Library will invite people who love historic architecture to participate in an Architecture Detectives event. During May, participants may pick up a sheet of image clues at the library and identify where all the images can be found around town. Participants may turn in the sheet by May 31 for a chance to win a Wood County Bicentennial quilt.
This event is for all ages and is open to both individuals and families. For more information, call 419-352-5050 or email woodref@wcdpl.org.
The Wood County Museum, located at 13660 County Home Road, is holding demonstration days on May 5 and 6, focusing on “Early Ohio on the Portage,” co-sponsored with Maumee Valley Heritage Corridor. Then on May 31, a meet & greet will be held for Historic Barns of Ohio and Round Barns of America author Robert Kroeger. For more information, call 419-352-0967 or check out the website at woodcountyhistory.org.
