MOVING OUT: Workers guide the old Stearns home on the roadway during its April 19 move to the Olmsted Historical Society’s museum campus in the Metroparks. (Photo by Larry Bennet)

Historic Stearns carriage house moves to new home
By Jeff Gallatin
North Olmsted
Published April 26, 2006

A classic piece of North Olmsted history has moved into a rapidly developing new neighborhood.

Members of the Olmsted Historic Society, state workers, city employees and workers from AA House Movers in Cleveland were able to move the old Stearns family carriage house from the Lorain Road area to the society’s museum campus in the Frostville Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks April 19 without problems.

“It went extremely well,” said Society Vice President Paul Schumann. “We were able to get it out of its old area and onto the road without major problems. Then it got through the traffic a little easier than the (old Barton Road) church was able to last year since the carriage house is a little smaller. So we were able to get it to the museum campus where we’ve got it waiting to go into its permanent site there.”

Society members last year moved the historic church from its old location at Barton and Lorain Roads to the museum campus on Cedar Point Road in the Metroparks. Society officials have initiated a series of building protests that have put a number of historic structures and items on the museum campus together.

Schumann said the carriage house and remaining work at the old Stearns house will keep Society members busy along with other projects still under way.

“We’re still working on the remainder of the church restoration project since we’ve got the bell tower together again,” Schumann said. “We’re going to be pretty busy taking timber and other materials out of the old Stearns house for the schoolhouse project.”

Society members had the carriage house moved as part of the site preparation so the city could begin construction of the new Fire Station 2 on the property. Society workers are taking timbers and materials from the old Stearns house to build a replica of an old school house on the museum campus with the materials.

“We’re glad that we can use materials from a home like the Stearns residence for a historical project that we’ve been wanting to do for some time,” Schumann said.

In addition, Metroparks Executive Director Vern Hartenberg has recommended that the Metroparks support the project with funds and materials. He also has recommended that it be restored and modern restroom facilities installed for use by the public. City officials plan to get the fire station construction work under way in the next few weeks.

North Olmsted Mayor Thomas O’Grady said the carriage house and timber removal are great examples of cooperation between several different agencies.

“It’s another example of regionalism working,” O’Grady said. “You have different governmental bodies working together with historical groups and businesses to get something done which will benefit the city, the parks and all the people who use them and enjoy the benefits provided by the historic society’s work.”

O’Grady said he enjoyed seeing the work in progress.

“It was something special seeing it moving down the road with a police escort and then going into the museum area,” O’Grady said.

City council members also are pleased.

“It’s great that we’re preserving historic portions of the community for people to see in the future,” said Michael Gareau Jr., chairman of council’s building, zoning and development committee. “This is something we need to do as preserving important parts of our community.”

Ward 2 Councilman Paul Barker, a former member of the city landmarks committee, said the moves are welcome.

“It’s a far cry from years ago when we had some historic structures lost to the community and there wasn’t much cooperation going on in this kind of project,” Barker said. “The society does great work and I’m glad to see it getting supported.”