The Architectural Heritage Awards program, created by the Summit County Historical Society (SCHS) in 1984 and sponsored by that organization through 1988, was revived in 1993 by Progress Through Preservation (PTP) as a joint project in partnership with SCHS.  Over the years, 53 projects including single-family residences, commercial buildings, churches, a clock tower, a stone wall, and an apple orchard have received this prestigious award.

Purpose:  The purpose of the award is to “recognize publicly the preservation, restoration, or adaptive reuse efforts of Summit County residents to preserve the rich heritage of their architecture, landscapes, sites, or built forms.”  Structural or site projects nominated for the award must be located within Summit County, be at least 50 years old, and must have been completed within the last five years.

Committee members and judges:  Members of the PTP Architectural Heritage Awards Ad Hoc Committee created to organize and present the program include representatives of the board of directors, the advisory board, and PTP members along with some representation from SCHS.  A panel of professional historians, preservationists, architects, and landscape architects serves as judges, reviewing all nominations and visiting the sites of finalists.  Award selections are determined by evaluating faithfulness to the original design intent, proportions, and material used in preserving the historic architectural integrity of the site.  For nominated buildings, both the exterior and interior are considered.

Awards:  Project award winners are announced during a special reception in their honor.  In past years, PTP and SCHS also have sponsored a public tour of the winning sites.  Ticket sales underwrite the cost of the program.  Architectural Heritage Award winners have included the following preservation, restoration, or adaptive reuse projects:

2001

• Frederick Mustill Store and House (Akron)
• 1910 Roswell Briggs Hopkins Farmhouse (Bath)
• 1893 Diehm Family Farmhouse (Norton)
• Foust-Beese Farm (Green)
• Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens (Akron)

1999

• Treva Restaurant in the Stanley’s Pavilion Building, c. 1916 (Akron)
• 1843 Nathan P. Seymour House (Hudson)
• Boston Township Hall (Peninsula)
• 1848 Twinsburg Congregational United Church of Christ (Twinsburg)
• Joseph King House, c. 1845 (Greensburg Township)

1997

• M. D. Garage (Boston Mills)
• 1830 Hine House (Tallmadge)
• St. Bernard Catholic Church (Akron)
• 1837 Fenn House (Tallmadge)
• The Block on Main Street (Akron)
• 1925 B. F. Goodrich Building 41 (Akron)
• United Presbyterian Row (Northfield)

1995

• C. W. Seiberling House (Akron)
• Harvey S. Firestone Estate Wall (Akron)
• First Congregational Church (Akron)
• F. W. Albrecht Bakery (Akron)
• Canal Place (Akron)
• George S. Wheeler House (Akron)

1993

• Lyman Darrow House (Hudson)
• 36 South Maple Street (Akron)
• Merriman Farmhouse (Akron)
• 4816 Ridgewood Road (Copley)

1988

• Byron R. Barder House (Akron)
• St. Bernard Catholic Church (Akron)
• Martell House (Akron)
• Summit County Courthouse (Akron)

1987

• Canal Square (Akron YMCA)
• John McAlonan House (Akron)
• 5164 Sullivan Road (Hudson)
• Trinity Lutheran Church (Akron)

1986

• Balch Street Athletic Club (Akron)
• Brookepoint Farm (Cuyahoga Falls)
• CitiCenter (Akron YWCA)
• Twin Oaks Estate (Akron)
• Yoder Brothers (Barberton)

1985

• Akron Art Museum (Akron)
• AC&Y Building (Akron)
• Civic Theatre (Akron)
• Danforth House (Hudson)
• J. Adam Fichter House (Akron)
• Goodyear Clock Tower (Akron)
• Morley Cottage (Hudson)
• Westmont Apartments (Akron)

1984

• Carnegie Library (Akron)
• Jacob Gayer House (Akron)
• Hower House (The University of Akron, Akron)
• Hudson Town Hall (Hudson)
• Chloe Wright House (Hudson)