Progress Through Preservation of Greater Akron

08/20/2026

A special reminder for this weekend. 💙

Join our friends at Cascade Locks Park Association as they honor the remarkable legacy of Virginia “Ginny” Wojno-Forney and her instrumental role in preserving and restoring the Mustill Store and Cascade Locks.

We hope to see you there as we remember Ginny where so much of her vision and dedication lives on.

08/17/2026

A piece of Barberton history is looking for its next chapter. 🏡

The historic 1865 property connected to White House Chicken is now on the market. Here’s hoping its history and character are part of whatever comes next.

The Barberton White House Chicken property – as well as a historic home next door and other parcels – have been listed for sale for $899,900. See link below ⬇️

📸 Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal

08/14/2026

SKYWAY MAY BE CLOSING. ITS HISTORY DOESN’T HAVE TO DISAPPEAR.

For 74 years, the Skyway Drive-In on West Market Street has been part of our community and a beloved piece of Northeast Ohio roadside Americana.

Now, with Skyway closed and the property slated for redevelopment as a Dutch Bros Coffee, there is still an opportunity to preserve pieces of this local landmark.

A community petition is asking the City of Fairlawn and the developer to:

• Save Skyway’s iconic roadside sign and find it a permanent home where it can be preserved and enjoyed by the public.

• Salvage and reuse original brick from the building, either in the new development or for local historic preservation.

Preservation isn’t always about saving an entire building. Sometimes it means making sure pieces of a place and its story live on.

If Skyway is part of your story, or you believe our community’s history deserves consideration as we build what comes next, please sign the petition.

👉 SIGN THE PETITION: https://c.org/7mPhV5M2Kr

Save the Skyway Drive-In Sign & Bricks for Akron/Cincinnati Museums!

08/14/2026

🌺 This is Grace O’Neil, pictured at the home built for her more than a century ago.

Standing beside the reflecting pool, Grace is surrounded by details of the O’Neil House as the family knew it - the striped awnings, formal gardens, stone terraces, and two little cherubs flanking the garden steps.

Her husband, William O’Neil, founder of the General Tire & Rubber Company and son of M. O’Neil, founder of Akron’s O’Neil’s Department Store, began building the Tudor Revival home in 1922. Designed by Cleveland architects Meade & Hamilton and completed in 1923, it would remain William and Grace O’Neil’s home for nearly five decades.

This Sunday, we get to step inside that history.

PTP members will gather at the O’Neil House for our Annual Membership Picnic, followed by a private tour led by owner Gayle Johnson, who will share more about the home, its architecture, history, and preservation.

🏡 Sunday, August 16 • 1:30 PM
📍 O’Neil House Bed & Breakfast
1290 W. Exchange Street, Akron

RSVP by August 14 at the “Tickets” link in our Facebook event.

PTP Annual Membership Picnic: An Afternoon at the Historic O’Neil House

Come for the picnic, stay for the history - and experience the O’Neil House more than a century after William and Grace first called it home.

Not yet a PTP member? Our special mid-year membership is just $25 individual / $40 household - half the regular annual price - and includes all remaining members-only events in 2026. Join now and make the O’Neil House picnic your first!



Photo credit: Akron Beacon Journal (ABJ)

08/08/2026

🏡 An Afternoon at the Historic O’Neil House

Join us Sunday, August 16 at 1:30 p.m. for PTP’s Annual Membership Picnic at the beautiful O’Neil House Bed & Breakfast!

Built in 1922–1923 by William O’Neil, founder of the General Tire & Rubber Company, as a gift for his wife, Grace, this Tudor Revival home has been part of Akron’s story for more than a century. Today, lovingly preserved by owner Gayle Johnson, it continues its story as Akron’s first bed and breakfast.

We’ll enjoy our picnic together indoors, followed by a private tour led by Gayle for a closer look at the home’s history, architecture, and preservation.

🍽️ PTP provides the main entrée, beverages, table settings & flatware. See the flyer for what to bring based on your last name.

RSVP by August 13 — tap “Tickets” link in Facebook event or scan QR code on post.

08/01/2026

“Guests are invited to take part in two tours, explained Administrative Judge Alison McCarty. The first focuses on art in the courthouse, while the second showcases the century-old architecture that lines the walls and ceilings.”

The free event runs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6, at 209 South High St. in downtown Akron. Parking is available at the Summit County Parking Deck at 200 South High St.

07/28/2026

A preservation movement is built by people who care enough to act. Virginia “Ginny” Wojno-Forney was one of those people. ❤️

A past president and longtime board member of Progress Through Preservation, Ginny dedicated her life to protecting the places and stories that define Akron. Her vision and leadership helped launch the effort to save the Mustill Store and preserve the historic Cascade Locks, creating a legacy that continues to inspire preservationists across our region.

We invite our members and friends to join the Cascade Locks Park Association as they celebrate Ginny’s remarkable life and lasting impact at Wojno & Cheese on Sunday, August 23.

Please see the attached flyer for event details, RSVP information, and ways to honor Ginny’s legacy through the Virginia Wojno-Forney Legacy Fund.

Thank you, Ginny, for reminding us that preservation isn’t just about buildings - it’s about the people whose passion ensures those places endure for generations to come.

07/28/2026

This is why we believe in adaptive reuse. Every successful preservation project starts with someone asking, "What could this become?"

If this is possible in Cleveland imagine what Firestone Plant 1 in Akron could be. 🏭➡️🏘️

Thanks to Propped Productions for sharing this inspiring example.

07/24/2026

📖 THE NEXT CHAPTER STARTS HERE.

The former Akron Public Schools Headquarters Building (historically Bowen School) presents a rare opportunity to breathe new life into a well-preserved historic property with exceptional character - one of Downtown Akron’s architectural treasures.

The City of Akron is seeking qualified developers to purchase and redevelop the property located at:

📍 70 N. Broadway Street
Akron, Ohio 44308

The City has indicated a preference for proposals that prioritize the adaptive reuse of the existing historic structure, and the proposal deadline has been extended to August 14.

Last year, Progress Through Preservation raised concerns about the building’s future and advocated for exploring redevelopment opportunities and removing the building from the City’s demolition list. We’re encouraged to see this landmark now being offered as an adaptive reuse opportunity and look forward to seeing the creative ideas that emerge.

With its impressive architectural details, substantial square footage, and highly visible downtown location, the building offers tremendous potential for housing, hospitality, office, mixed-use, educational, or other innovative redevelopment concepts.

📅 RFP Deadline: August 14

📲 Scan the QR code in the slideshow to view the RFP and submission details

👉🏻Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4vvZSKn

✏️ If interested, please email [email protected]

Know a developer, investor, architect, hotel operator, or redevelopment team looking for their next project? Share this opportunity.