Columbus’ "Historic" German Village designated as a
“Preserve America Community” by the
White House
First neighborhood in Ohio to achieve honor
(Columbus)
First Lady Laura Bush has notified Mayor Michael B.
Coleman that Columbus’ beautiful and
"Historic"
German Village is designated as a Preserve America
Community. While other towns and cities have
achieved the designation, German Village is the
first neighborhood to achieve this honor.
“Building neighborhood pride and improving the
quality of life are the cornerstones of Columbus’
mission, and we are proud to stand with the
residents of German Village in celebrating this
national recognition,” said Mayor Coleman. “We must
protect our historic buildings and cultural
heritage, and the homes of
"Historic"
German Village are among the best examples of
preservation in the nation.”
Area residents will host a celebratory breakfast
with Mayor Coleman on April 27th at the Olde Mohawk
Restaurant at 819 Mohawk Street. The event includes
a $10 buffet breakfast, doors open at 7:45 a.m.
Preserve America is a White House initiative that
encourages and supports community efforts to
preserve and enjoy our cultural and natural
heritage. The goals of the initiative include a
greater shared knowledge about the nation’s past,
strengthened regional identities and local pride,
increased local participation in preserving the
country’s cultural and natural heritage assets, and
support for the economic vitality of our
communities.
“The German Village community has achieved national
attention because our civic association, The German
Village Society, has successfully partnered with the
City of Columbus over the last fifty years. The
focus and tenacity of our membership is truly
remarkable” said German Village Society board
president Mary Cusick.
The German Village community has led the way in
historic preservation both locally and nationally,"
O'Shaughnessy said. "I was happy to have the
opportunity to write a letter in support of the
nomination and delighted that we've achieved this
prestigious designation."
The Preserve America Community designation is
granted to eligible neighborhoods that meet three
general criteria:
The neighborhood, in partnership with the city
government, has recently supported a historic or
cultural preservation project that promotes heritage
tourism or otherwise fosters economic vitality, and
involves a public-private partnership between
government entities and at least one civic
association, nonprofit, and/or business enterprise.
The neighborhood has recently adopted a resolution
or policy statement indicating its commitment to the
preservation of heritage assets within the
neighborhood.
The neighborhood meets at least five criteria
specified in three broad categories: discovering
heritage through historic places, protecting
historic resources, and promoting historic assets.
"Historic"
German Village met the criteria in each category
with impressive programs and projects that include
the Ralph and Dorothy Fischer Archives (a collection
that includes an archival file for each structure in
German Village); the German Village Visitors’
Center; Stewart Avenue School tutoring and
sponsorship; architectural scavenger hunts for Ohio
history and German language students; the German
Village Commission; the German Village Society
Historic Preservation Committee; German Village
Oktoberfest; the Society’s printed materials; their
award-winning Visitors’ Center Video; their
involvement as a charter member of the Council of
Historic Neighborhoods; and the annual Caretakers of
a Legacy Awards program.
German Village was Columbus’ first historic
district, with boundaries recognized by City Council
in 1963. The German Village Commission was the
city’s first architectural review board, established
in 1963. The entire 233 acres of
"Historic"
German Village were placed on the National Register
of Historic Places in 1974 by the National Park
Service.
