Wick Park Historic District facts for kids
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Wick Park Historic District
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Youngstown, Ohio |
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| Built | 1889 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian, Bungalow/Craftsman |
| NRHP reference No. | 90000601 (original) 01001041 (increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 5, 1990 |
| Boundary increase | September 24, 2001 |
Wick Park Historic District is a special old neighborhood in Youngstown, Ohio. It is located on the north side of the city. The beautiful Wick Park is right in the middle of this area. Many years ago, in the early 1900s, this neighborhood was home to some of the richest families in Youngstown. The district is generally found between 5th Avenue, Park Avenue, Elm Street, and Broadway.
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History of Wick Park Area
During the time when factories and businesses were growing fast, many wealthy leaders and professionals in Youngstown wanted to live away from the busy downtown. They moved to the quiet, tree-filled areas near the city's northern edge. These neighborhoods felt like small towns, far from the loud steel mills and shops.
Wick Avenue, which runs through the district, was a very important street. People sometimes compare it to famous streets like Euclid Avenue in Cleveland or Fifth Avenue in New York City. This is because it was where the most important and well-known families in the community lived.
Many of the large, fancy houses from that time are still standing today. However, most of them are no longer used as homes. Youngstown State University, which is located just south of Wick Park, has bought some of these old mansions. They have fixed them up to use as offices for the university. One of these grand houses near the campus is now the Arms Family Museum of Local History. It teaches about the history of the area.
Important Places Nearby
Fifth Avenue Homes
Fifth Avenue runs along the western part of the Wick Park Historic District. This street is also lined with impressive homes. These houses were built by some of the most important people in the area. The best-preserved of these homes are found further up the street, close to Gypsy Lane, in the North Heights neighborhood.
On the western edge of Wick Park, right on Fifth Avenue, you can see a grand building called Stambaugh Auditorium. It has a classic, old-style design. This auditorium is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a very important historical site.
Pollock Estate Mansion
South of the Wick Park Historic District, there is another very important landmark. This is the former Pollock estate, which is located along Wick Avenue. In the 1980s, this large mansion was fixed up and made bigger. It became a fancy hotel called the Wick-Pollock Inn.
After the hotel closed in the late 1990s, the university let the building sit empty for a while. But in 2010, the leaders of Youngstown State University decided to restore the home. They planned to make it the official house for the university president. Students at YSU have also been working hard to restore the beautiful sunken garden behind the mansion.
Another house in the district, the George J. Renner Jr. House, is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places by itself.
Making Wick Park Better
Wick Park is a very important part of the district. The Youngstown Department of Parks and Recreation takes care of it. Recently, many local groups have been working together to make the park even better. These groups include the City of Youngstown, Youngstown CityScape, Youngstown State University, the Wick Park Neighborhood Association, and Treez Please. They are all helping to improve and care for this historic park.
