Community Corner

Avon Lake Community Groups Help With Historic Folger Home Renovations

More volunteers needed to assist with renovations of 100-year-old plus building in Veterans Memorial Park.

Community groups have been volunteering to help with the restoration of the historic Folger Home in . If all goes according to plan, renovations will be complete by April 30, Pam Hoffmann, president of Avon Lake Landmark Preservation Society, said.  

“The volunteer labor is our effort to reduce our money out of pocket,” Hoffmann said. “We are contacting some local businesses for donations and I have a small grant I am working on, The rest from treasury which comes from fundraisers, memberships in the society, and other donations. It is a real struggle in current economy but we were losing memberships because people were critical of lack of progress.”

That all changed this year, as several groups have volunteered time to help build a staircase to expand the use of the building to the second floor, provide an ADA compliant bathroom, rebuild the west porch which was removed due to significant deterioration and insulate and restore interior walls in the building's four west rooms. 

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The insulation is required to stop the prevailing winds off the lake in order to heat the home, built more than 100 years ago, for comfortable community use. The house has served as a private home, community center, mayor's office and a courthouse over the years. Renovations on the home have been ongoing since 2002, the year of the home's 100th birthday.

“The volunteers are tearing out existing walls, ceilings, etc. in preparation for the contractor's work,” Hoffman said. A contractor has not yet been selected.

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So far, members from , and the Avon Lake Kiwanis Club have spent a day each providing physical labor.

Zach Arnold, president of the Avon Lake Kiwanis Club, led a group of volunteers on Feb. 5.

"Avon Lake Kiwanis Club is always looking for ways to help preserve the landmarks of Avon Lake.  The Folger Home renovation was a great opportunity for Kiwanis and we were glad to be part of the project." 

Volunteers receive complimentary food from the Women’s Group of Avon Lake Lake.

If you have a group that would like to volunteer, contact Hoffmann by email at phoffmann65@hotmail.com.


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