The Observation Deck

We need your help to save the Mathew Hall House.

Efforts to find a solution were dormant for months until your emails last week spurred the parties involved to find that solution. Now we are closer than ever to moving the house to a new location.

The location is on private, Hall descendant-owned land just east of Edwards Park (near Ethel) on what is now a small garden used by the descendant’s tenants. The proposal between the family and the City would involve leasing a small portion of Edwards Park to the family for use as a garden. The family is committed to funding the entire cost of restoring the house, and will use it as a privately owned, residential property.

The Lakewood Historical Society is partnering with the City of Lakewood and the new owners to save the Hall House. To that end, we need to raise $30,000 to move the house. And we need to raise it fast. By next Friday, we need to demonstrate significant progress. We will need the total amount by November 1.

The relocated house will have a deed restriction requiring the new owner to rehabilitate, retain and maintain the historic and architecturally significant exterior. Some potential donors may be hesitant to financially contribute to move the Hall House because it will remain in private ownership. However, this is an opportunity to show the City and our elected officials that we are serious about retaining and preserving the architectural character of our community.

Think about all the buildings lost to unsympathetic new construction and parking lots over the years. The cumulative effect is staggering! This is an opportunity for those who care about Lakewood’s historic and architecturally significant buildings to take a stand. For those who think that demolition has taken precedence over preservation one too many times in Lakewood, help save the Hall House.

Please pledge money to help move the Hall House. Your pledge will show that history and architecture do matter to the citizens of Lakewood, and that preservation can be achieved.

For more information, contact Mazie M. Adams at 216 221-7343 or lakewoodhistory@bge.net or Rhonda Loje at 216 228-2868 or rloje@sbcglobal.net

Hi - just some questions that I know others may also have -

How much of Edwards Park is the city leasing to the Hall descendants for the garden? 50 square feet? an acre?

How much are they leasing it for and for how long?

What are name(s) of individuals or entities who will own the Hall House after it is moved? Are these individual(s) or entities contributing any of their own money to move the house? If so, how much?

How much money by the new owners is expected to be spent restoring the Hall House after it is moved?

Thanks

Doug

Doug,

The Lakewood Historical Society is acting as a facilitator in this transaction. The City, Chick Holtkamp and Mr. Coutris have been meeting to work out all the questions that you have raised.

The only intention we have is to try to save this house because of it's unique history in the city of Lakewood. We have, for some time, been trying to get all the parties together to talk and see if they can come to some agreement to save the house. Within the past weeks there has been significant movement.

Since the parties are still in negotiation, and close to agreement, the Lakewood Historical Society has taken on the challenge to raise the money to move the house to another location to save it.

Since the time frame involved is a very tight one we are asking for pledges to save the house. No actual money can be taken until all parties have signed a contract and it has passed Council, but all parties need to know that the residents want to preserve this house as part of our history.

We can not do this alone. We do not have the all the funds to tackle this alone. I wish we did. But we can facilitate and do our best to help preserve our historic buildings. And this is one of them.

All the agreements on where, how big, how much will be invested will have to be answered by the parties involved. Our only intent is to show community support to save the house itself and insure it future integrity.

We have to try and we need your support!

Rhonda Loje
President
Lakewood Historical Society