Name/Title
NewspaperEntry/Object ID
2016.2.89Description
House built in 1876 undergoes restoration
The village design review board formally recognized the project last week.
by Tom Bagsarin
Vindicator Staff Writer
Front picture: Make-Over: The Victorian-style home at 4 Riverside Drive was built in 1876 and sits on a rise in Poland. A person looking out a third-floor window can see as far as Southern Park Mall in Boardman. The home was built by Rovert L. Walker, a good friend of William McKinley, who lived in Polan at the time.
"It was one of the grand houses of Poland at the time it was built. I don't think there's anything comparable in Poland." - Tom Schroth, architect
Poland -- Imagine the parlor at 4 Riverside Drive in the late 19th century and one might envision Robert L. Walker and William McKinley. debating politics.
After decades of use as a residence, boarding house, restaurant and even a beauty parlor, the three-story home built by Walker in 1876 on a central rise in the village is getting a makeover.
"It was one of the grand houses of Poland at the time it was built," said architect Tom Schroth, whose job involves research to be sure the home is returned properly to its original form.
"I don't think there's anything comparable in Poland."
Authenticity: Schroth must be sure materials and decorations used for the remodeling resembles the house's Victorian past. "Victorian times depended on decoration," he said.
The Kipton Kumler family of Poland owns the home and will move in when work is completed. The Kumlers didn't want to publicize their role but wanted to give credit to Schroth and contractor Jim Dunlap.
Dunlap said it's nice to work for the Kumlers, who are dedicated to restoring the home to its original splendor. "They really wanted to see it brought back to shape," he said. "A hundred years takes its toll on anything."
Work started in August and should be finished in a few months, said Dunlap. All of the home's original pine doors have been restored, as well as the marble fireplace mantles and much of the molding in the 6,000-square-foot home.
There are some new twists. With no chestnut available, pine is used for the floors except for the kitchen, which is butternut. Electric work, two furnaces and plumbing are new.
The community also has become involved. Some residents contributed photographs of what carriage houses looked like back then, so the new one being built can look authentic.
Design award: The project recieved ;ast week the first Poland Village Design Reveiw Board Award of Excellence. Board Chairman Charles Rumberg said the awards will be presented every year to a business or resident doing a nice job of restoring property. "We'd like to do it yearly and hopefully it will motivate people," he said.
A bit of history: Perhaps none of the home's history is as captivating as the events of the 1890s, as described by W. Stephen Meloy of Poland, who researched the topic.
Origianlly from Niles, McKinley lived in Poland from 9 to 24, or from 1852 to 1867. He then moved to Canton but kept close ties to Poland, especially with boyhood friend Walker, who also was founder and president of Farmer's Deposit and Savings Bank just behind the home.
Their realtionship was strained in 1893 when McKinley, already touted as a future president, was seeking hos second term as Ohio governor. A tin plate company with which Walker was associated declared bankruptcy...
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... McKinley had endorsed notes of the company and returned to Poland to confer with Walker about the crisis and possible scandal.
McKinley then announced on the front porch that he thought he endorsed notes for no more than $20,000, when, in fact, the amount was $130,000. McKinley gave trustees handling the repayment his assets valued at $20,000 and those of his wife, valued at $70,000.
The governor was portrayed as a man whose kindness had been betrayed, and 5,000 contributors donated more then $130,000 to repay the notes. McKinley's reputation was saved and he announced his campaign for president a couple of years later from the front parlor of Walker's home.
Also, muckraker journalist Ida Tarbell lived in the Walker home while teaching at the Poland Seminary. Still etched in a second floor bedroom window is "Ida Mae Tarbell 8/22 1881."
Dunlap said there's no reason the home shouldn't last another 100 years. "It's in fine shape now," he said.
Back picture: Jim Petrollini of Petrollini Floor Sanding works on detailing a spot in the first-floor hallway. The home received the Poland Village Design Review Board's first Award of Excellence.Collection
BlaneyAcquisition
Accession
2016.2.0Source or Donor
Eileen B. BlaneyAcquisition Method
Gift