History of Summit County

05/21/2026

SAVE FIRESTONE PLANT 1

A call for responsible redevelopment in Akron.

If I were to listen to anyone regarding Firestone’s future redevelopment, it would be Tony Troppe, one of the key figures behind the revitalization of several historic buildings in downtown Akron.

Firestone Plant 1 and its historic clock tower are being pushed toward demolition before preservation-based alternatives have been fully explored. Community members and professionals have raised concerns that adaptive reuse, phased remediation, and mixed-use redevelopment are being overlooked in favor of demolition as the default option.

This site carries deep cultural and historical significance. The clock tower remains a powerful symbol of Akron’s industrial legacy, and many believe it can be stabilized, remediated, and thoughtfully reused rather than erased.

We are asking for:
• A pause on demolition
• Transparent, independent feasibility studies
• Exploration of phased preservation and remediation
• Meaningful community input before decisions are finalized

Preservation isn’t about saving pieces. It’s about sustaining place and honoring Akron’s full story.

05/21/2026

This is such a victory for Akron's built history! Now that demolition has been halted; this beautiful Queen Anne Victorian has a chance to once again be an asset to the community! I'm glad to have helped with this and thankful for everyone else who put in their time and passion! Let's keep pushing to fight for our history!!

🎉🙌Today, we celebrate a monumental victory for community power, as the demolition of 284 Crosby St. (former Theiss Mansion) has been successfully stopped! This triumph is a shining example of what can be achieved when dedicated individuals and groups come together to shape the future of Akron. We're excited to see the outstanding ownership matters resolved under the expert guidance of Attorney Max Thomas, and we're confident that a brighter future is on the horizon for our community and this historic home.
📷: Naturaclaimed

05/21/2026

I’m here to cover all of Akron’s history and bring it into the 21st century.

148 E Miller Ave is one of those old industrial properties in Akron that most people probably drive past without thinking twice about, but it actually has some pretty interesting history behind it. On a winter walk I stumbled across this building and a few others on the street, but I’m going to focus on the Carmichael Construction building.

The building dates back to around 1930 during Akron’s industrial boom and was home to Carmichael Construction Co, a local contractor that helped build parts of the city during its growth years. They weren’t just doing small jobs either. Carmichael was reportedly the contractor for the old M O’Neil department store downtown, which was once one of Akron’s biggest retail landmarks.

The property still has a lot of its original industrial character. Old office spaces, vaults, warehouse areas, fenced yards. You can still see what kind of work was happening there decades ago.

What I like about places like this is that they represent a side of Akron history people don’t talk about as much. Everyone knows the big rubber companies, but there were also hundreds of smaller local businesses and contractors that physically built the city around them.

A lot of these kinds of buildings have disappeared over the years, so it’s always interesting seeing ones like this still standing and still being used in some form today.

Inside photo credits to..
https://www.crexi.com/properties/613833/ohio-148-e-miller-ave

05/21/2026

What endangered Akron historic building can you peep over the bridge?

Things always look up.

05/21/2026

I love Summit Lake Park 🥺✌️🫡
Sometimes when I walk around.. I look into the water and I imagine seeing the remnants of the roller coaster and the ferris wheel.

05/20/2026

05/20/2026