PIQUA — Historic buildings in Piqua’s West End are being surveyed through August 2016.

Buildings 50 years or older that still retain the majority of their original materials will be documented and researched in an effort to create a comprehensive architectural survey of the area. The survey boundaries are: Park Avenue to the north; Water Street to the south; the hydraulic canal to the west; and College Street to the east.

The survey process includes photographing the properties, describing the buildings in architectural terms, researching the dates of construction and history of the buildings, and identifying additions and changes made to the structures over time. Many hours will be spent at the auditor’s office in the Troy Safety Building, researching deeds and tax information to determine ownership and dates of construction. At the project’s end, information collected will be added to the Ohio History Connection’s I-form database, available for use by researchers and historians. Hard copies of each house’s report will be kept at the Piqua Library in the Local History Department.

Based at the Piqua Public Library, researcher Dana Cress has a Master of Arts in history. After graduation from college, Cress volunteered with the Ohio History Service Corps in the Historic Preservation division. ServeOhio – Ohio’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism – administers the AmeriCorps grant that funds this project.

According to Cress, “You may see me walking around the neighborhood with my clipboard. I will be taking photos, documenting a building’s exterior, and making notes of the surrounding area.” All of the surveying is done outside the buildings.

Cress states that she is excited to explore the historic resources of Piqua’s West End, and hopes to share this information with local citizens and government officials upon survey completion.

For information or to contribute historic images or photos of a property in this area, call 937-773-6753, Ext. 231.