Business is booming in Avon Lake. Learn about some of the businesses that call our city home, and why they chose Avon Lake.
20 Charged with History
Find out about plans for the power plant property, and how its history is being preserved
Ed Langhenry, vice president of Watteredge, a 71-year-old manufacturer of highperformance conducting equipment.
by Ken Blaze
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Building Tomorrow, Together
Mayor Mark Spaetzel looks forward to the city’s next chapter — and beyond.
SMART INVESTMENTS AND STRONG COMMUNITY TIES are shaping the next chapter of Avon Lake’s growth.
Mayor Mark Spaetzel is an Avon Lake native who graduated from the city’s high school in 1982 and is now leading the community into a new era of innovation, teamwork and steady growth. Since taking office, the mayor has turned transitions into opportunities — and helped position the city for lasting success.
ONWARD, TEAM. “When I began my term, several leadership positions across the city were vacant or filled on an interim basis,” Spaetzel says. “Rather than view that as a challenge, I saw it as an opportunity.”
He assembled a slate of seasoned directors and staff with fresh ideas and deep expertise — professionals committed to service and collaboration. “Our team brings energy and professionalism,” he says. “Together, we’re moving the city forward.”
SPOTLIGHT & BACK STAGE. Avon Lake has grown steadily to more than 26,000 residents, supported by 200 city employees. Its strengths are constants: safe neighborhoods, excellent schools and community pride.
“Our work takes two forms,” Spaetzel explains. “There are visible projects people can see every day, and behindthe-scenes improvements that make city government more efficient. Both matter.”
Among the most visible: the new Avon Lake Play Space (ALPS), a fully inclusive, destination-style playground replacing the 25-year-old community favorite.
Roadway repairs have also been a top priority following a tough winter.
Looking ahead, Spaetzel points to the transformative redevelopment of the Avon Lake Power Plant site. “We’re turning 23 acres of lakefront into parkland
“Times of transition bring opportunities. By working together, we’re honoring Avon Lake’s proud history while creating new possibilities for the future.”
with a fishing pier, beach access and boat launch,” he says. “Once complete, we’ll have more than 40 acres of connected lakefront parkland — an extraordinary asset for residents now and for generations to come.”
LEADING THE WAY. Training programs and technology upgrades are modernizing workflows and communications, helping the city do more with existing resources. “We’re committed to professionalism, efficiency and service,” Spaetzel says. “Residents might not see those systems, but they feel the impact.”
THE AVON LAKE SPIRIT. What makes Avon Lake stand out? Its people. “From civic groups and churches to volunteers on boards and commissions, our residents give their time and talent in countless ways,” he says. “Their involvement is the fabric that strengthens our community and helps us accomplish so much more than government alone ever could.”
That sense of partnership defines Spaetzel’s approach to leadership. “Times of transition bring opportunities,” he says. “By working together, we’re honoring Avon Lake’s proud history while creating new possibilities for the future.”
— Kristen Hampshire
• Preventative Maintenance
• Tires and Alignment
• Brakes and Suspension
• Batteries and Electrical
• Fleet Maintenance
• DOT Inspections
• Generator Service
• Road Side Service
Leading the Way
Meet the new city leaders bringing experience, energy and
to Avon Lake.
BETH KROSSE Finance Director
With more than 30 years of finance experience and a CPA certification, Beth Krosse provides seasoned leadership as finance director for the City of Avon Lake. She joined the city in December 2024 after serving 17 years in Oberlin’s finance office and a decade in private education in Strongsville.
Her priority is ensuring city leaders have clear and accurate financial information to guide decisions. “My goal is to support the mayor, council and staff so that resources are used wisely and residents remain at the forefront,” she says.
Outside of work, Krosse enjoys time with her three grown children and five grandchildren, playing pickleball, traveling and staying active in her church. She also values her family’s long connection to Lake Erie, a place she has always considered a resource and a retreat.
CALEB ROBINSON Police Chief
Caleb Robinson became Avon Lake’s police chief in May 2025, after nearly two decades of service with the department. Hired in 2006, Robinson began his career as a patrolman before serving seven years as a detective and contributing as a crisis negotiator on the Eastern Lorain County Response Team.
Now leading a staff of 32 full-time officers, along with dispatchers, animal control officers and community services staff, Robinson emphasizes culture and collaboration. “We have a strong tradition here — professional when duty calls, but supportive of one another like family,” he says.
He points to programs such as the department’s longrunning Citizens Police Academy and new active threat training for local businesses as examples of connecting with the community. Nearly half of Avon Lake officers currently live or grew up in the city, adding to that connection.
“You see our officers coaching, volunteering and raising families here — it strengthens our service to residents,” he says.
LYNN KERNYA Human Resources Director
For Lynn Kernya, a career that began in training and development has come full circle in Avon Lake, where she now helps shape the growth and well-being of the city’s workforce. She joined as human resources director in June 2024 after 20 years in HR leadership roles spanning recruitment, compliance, employee relations and organizational development.
Along the way, Kernya also earned a law doctorate from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, adding a legal lens to her work in human resources.
Kernya holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Baldwin Wallace University and says she was drawn to the city by the chance to serve the public and by the strong, collaborative leadership at City Hall. Her vision is to ensure employees work in a safe, positive environment while equipping them with opportunities to learn new things and build leadership skills, as well as advance professionally.
Outside of work, she enjoys exploring Avon Lake’s restaurants and spending time with her family.
JON LISKOVEC Public Works Director
Jon Liskovec stepped into the role of public works director in March 2024, bringing more than two decades of experience in municipal operations. He leads a department he describes as the city’s “Swiss Army knife,” responsible for a wide range of essential services that keep Avon Lake running smoothly — from maintaining roads, storm sewers and bridges to caring for parks, athletic fields and public facilities.
Since arriving, Liskovec has managed major projects, including the ongoing rehabilitation of Walker Road, upcoming bridge repairs and the two-phase ALPS improvement, which blends contractor work with contributions from city crews. His team also leads seasonal efforts like concrete and roadway repairs, brush collection and composting leaves into mulch for residents.
He values the variety and pace of the work. “Every day brings new challenges, and that makes the job exciting,” he says.
Looking ahead, he’s focused on collaboration and fresh perspectives to keep the city’s infrastructure strong.
JUDGE ALLISON MANNING Municipal Court
Elected to the bench in November 2023, Judge Allison Manning began serving the Avon Lake Municipal Court in January 2024. Her jurisdiction covers Avon Lake, Avon and Sheffield Village, with the court based in Avon Lake.
Manning has 20 years of legal experience, including private practice in criminal defense and prosecution, 13 years as a magistrate at Elyria Municipal Court and six years as a mayor’s court magistrate in North Ridgeville. She says those overlapping roles prepared her well for the variety of cases she now hears, ranging from traffic offenses and civil cases to more serious matters such as domestic violence and OVI.
“What I enjoy most is connecting with people,” she says. “Even on difficult days, the court can be a place to link individuals with resources that reduce recidivism and help them move forward.”
Manning’s docket outside the court is full with three children and their activities. She also serves on the Lorain County Law Library Resources Board and volunteers at Avon Lake City Schools.
ROB RUA Communications and Technology Director
After 17 years building experience that truly “stacked up” at the Cuyahoga County Public Library, Rob Rua brought his combined expertise in communications and technology to Avon Lake in March 2025.
At the library system, he advanced from communications coordinator to marketing director, leading a systemwide rebrand, promoting a decade-long facilities master plan and managing openings for new branches.
Rua also expanded into technology, completing the data analytics program at Case Western Reserve University to strengthen the digital side of his work. That mix of marketing and tech — what the mayor calls a “unicorn skill set” — now helps the city enhance both communication with residents and the tools that support city services.
Rua says the most rewarding part of the role has been the collaborative spirit among Avon Lake’s leadership. “There’s a lot of enthusiasm for what we can accomplish together, and I’m excited to help build on that foundation,” he says. — Kristen Hampshire
Next-Level Play
A major upgrade at Bleser Park is making play more fun — and accessible — for everyone.
AVON LAKE’S 15 COMMUNITY PARKS serve thousands of people every year. Three of these parks are equipped with playgrounds — including the recently rebuilt Avon Lake Play Space (ALPS) at Bleser Park.
The new and improved ALPS includes playground equipment that is inclusive, for all to enjoy.
Bleser Park also features a wide range of amenities, including an outdoor pool, concession stand, youth baseball/softball fields, tennis and pickleball courts, sand volleyball courts, basket-
ball courts and pavilions, attracting an estimated 50,000 visitors annually.
“Phase 1 included installing Lakers Lookout, which sits atop the new, three-season sledding hill featuring gliders and a series of steps providing great views of Lake Erie,” says Erin Fach, recreation director for Avon Lake. “Phase 2 started this past spring, with the installation of most of the playground equipment, which features a variety of climbing structures, slides and swings designed to engage children of all ages. It also includes
a walking path that loops around the playground, offering a safe and accessible space for adults to walk, exercise or supervise while their children play.”
Fach notes the playground is designed to encourage active use by both kids and adults, making it a vibrant, multigenerational community hub. The goal is for Phase 2 to be completed by the end of 2025.
“We are already planning for future enhancements,” Fach adds.
— Patricia Faulhaber
for
Business
In Avon Lake, businesses find support, strategy and space to grow. // BY JILL SELL
he City of Avon Lake needs to keep several rolls of red ribbon in stock and its pair of scissors sharpened if it continues to welcome new businesses and celebrate company expansions as often as it has lately.
“People who live in Avon Lake support Avon Lake businesses. There is a tremendous amount of pride in this community for both big and small companies,” says Ted Esborn, community development director for the city of Avon Lake. “As a business, when you come to Avon Lake, you will feel that support. You will have the full resources of not only local government, but all our partners.”
Esborn lists that positive business environment as the main reason businesses come and stay in Avon Lake. But there are other important reasons, including an available workforce.
“It’s been shown many times in the past few years that this area, on the eastern edge of Lorain County, has a great, talented, flexible workforce. The three cities that make up this edge, Avon Lake, Avon and North Ridgeville, have a combined population of almost 100,000 people, and they are still growing,” says Esborn. “And that’s not to mention the nearby urban centers like Lorain and Elyria.”
Avon Lake is also only minutes away from I-90 and its connections. Cleveland
Hopkins International Airport is less than a half hour away. In addition, Esborn points to the community’s high median household income, quality schools and solid housing values as incentives for residents and companies wanting to do business in the city.
“Those factors are big deals, especially for larger employers looking out for their employees,” says Esborn.
Planning for the Future
To ensure that Avon Lake will continue to prosper, the city commissioned the consulting firm Kleinfelder Inc. to present the Avon Economic Recovery and Resiliency Plan. The comprehensive study, released in 2025, covers economic development strategies and ideas for attracting new businesses. It also touches on environmental and infrastructure matters, according to Esborn.
Plan recommendations include greater use of the city’s existing Community Improvement Corporation and creating a strong City of Avon Lake marketing brand, among others.
Watteredge Vice President Ed Langhenry alongside Chris Linderman, Team Lead in the Large Cable department.
With its current economic course enhanced and energized by the new plan, the community is looking forward to more ribbon cuttings. Since becoming mayor of Avon Lake in 2024, Mark Spaetzel has presided over more than 10 ribbon-cutting ceremonies in the community — and counting.
Job Growth Incentive Program
Avon Lake’s Job Growth Incentive Program provides an incentive to each business in the city of Avon Lake, regardless of size, in the amount of 35% of the additional income tax paid as compared to the previous year, according to city documents. (Home-based businesses do not qualify, and $50,000 per business is the maximum annual benefit.)
Avon Lake’s economic development leaders believe when a company pays more in income tax, it means additional employees have been hired, current employees are working more hours and are earning higher wages, or the company is new to Avon Lake. The business incentive program is considered “sharing the success.”
“Our two primary incentive programs are the Jobs Growth Incentive Program and the Community Reinvestment Area (CRA),” says Esborn, noting that the second provides funding and advisory services to citizens and businesses.
“Port Authority Construction Financing is also available.”
Here’s a look at just a few companies that have benefited from the Job Growth Incentive Program.
Integrated Network Concepts
When Integrated Network Concepts, a full-service IT company, moved to Pin Oak Parkway in 2024, it spent some time settling in and adjusting to its new location. So, it’s no wonder that the business, founded in 1991, wasn’t aware of everything the city of Avon Lake could offer — including the Job Growth Incentive Program.
“We had no idea about the program until they just showed up at the door with a check,” confesses Wesley Parrott, company owner.
“It was a nice surprise,” adds Leroy Ladyzhensky, also an owner.
But Avon Lake officials knew Integrated Network Concepts existed,
Integrated Network Concepts Co-Owners
Wesley Parrott and Leroy Ladyzhensky.
“We have gotten to know the people who manage the city of Avon Lake, and they seem to be ver y interested in what we are doing and are very supportive.”
according to Parrott. The previous city in which the company was located, “did nothing for us,” he says.
“We have gotten to know the people who manage the city of Avon Lake, and they seem to be very interested in what we are doing and are very supportive,” says Ladyzhensky.
Integrated Network Concepts offers design, implementation, training and maintenance of complex data solutions. That includes hardware and software, disaster recovery, cyber security, business integration and more. It serves the manufacturing, retail, health care, legal and city government sectors, among others.
“What we do can be complicated, and educating businesses can be a challenge, especially because a lot of business owners and upper management are not necessarily IT people,” explains Ladyzhensky. “It’s also a slower business because it’s not like we are taking a catalog order.
There are a lot of meetings, discussions, proposals and adjustments.”
But that personal attention, the respect shown by the company’s team for its clients and its ability to supply support 24/7 has earned Integrated Network Concepts loyal customers and continuing expansion, according to Christina Wade, the company’s vice president of sales.
Ninety-five percent of the company’s clients are located in Northeast Ohio. But those with branches or offices outside the region, including Europe and South America, are also supported.
Watteredge
Watteredge is a 71-year-old designer and manufacturer of highperformance conducting equipment. Today, the company (named after founder Henry Watterson), focuses on making custom cables, bus bars, bus tubes, laminated shunts, braided connectors and industrial switches.
“These are essential components in industries such as steel, shipbuild-
ing, energy, utilities and medical technology,” explains Jennifer McGovern, human resources manager. “Our customers must perform under extreme conditions, and we take pride in not only supplying parts, but also providing repair services and technical expertise to keep their operations running smoothly.”
NESCO Inc. has owned Watteredge, located on Miller Road, since 2020. Each year since then, the number of employees has increased, going from 70 to over 120. McGovern also anticipates increases in the workforce for the next two years. That success, of course, makes the company a perfect candidate to be recognized by Avon Lake’s Job Growth Incentive Program.
“For Watteredge, being in Avon Lake means we can thrive as a business while contributing to and benefiting from a strong, vibrant communit y.”
JENNIFER MCGOVERN, Watteredge Human Resources Manager
“The location of our Avon Lake facility allows us to recruit talented, skilled labor from Lorain, Cuyahoga and Erie Counties. This regional reach ensures we have the expertise we need to meet the demands of our customers while creating stable career opportunities close to home,” says McGovern. “For Watteredge, being in Avon Lake means we can thrive as a business while contributing to and benefiting from a strong, vibrant community.”
Watteredge collaborates with Lorain County Community College to host an internship program allowing students to gain real-world experience. In addition, the federal government has recognized Watteredge for the past several years because of its superior support of veterans’ causes.
All Pro Freight Systems
The Cleveland Premier Pickleball Club has 600 members and a 96% renewal rate. Not bad for a facility that just opened in September 2024. A game for players five to 95 years old, pickleball is the fastest-growing game in the United States, according to building owner Chris Haas.
Haas is the president and CEO of All Pro Freight Systems, a full-service transportation and logistics management company. He founded his then one-man operation out of his basement with a $500 loan from his mother. Currently, Haas owns 1 million square feet of space in several facilities, including his headquarters in Westlake and the warehouse area in Avon Lake.
A 200,000-square-foot addition has been added to Haas’ 126,000-square-foot building on Pin Oak Parkway to expand operations and to house 15 indoor pickleball courts, two indoor golf simulators and one padel court. (Padel is the fastest-growing racket sport in the world and is a combination of tennis and squash.) This latest entry into the sports world isn’t really that much of a stretch for Haas. Always looking for creative ways to fill his vast buildings, he has added soccer and basketball facilities to some of his properties in the past.
“I used to live in Avon Lake before we moved to Florida. Pickleball originated in Naples, Florida, in 1965, and I saw the growth and all the excitement there. I knew it hadn’t grown to that extent up north, and I started thinking about putting in pickleball courts and beating the rush,” says Haas, who joined forces with his partner, pickleball expert Justin Hellinger, and the director of operations, his daughter, Steph Haas.
“Avon Lake is a great city and a great city to work with,” says Haas, who holds tournaments and open play activities at the club. “They were expeditious no matter what (building) issues came up. They were with me hand-in-hand all the way. Working with the city was just unbelievable. They knew that once I get going, I am a fast-track guy.”
The Cleveland Premier Pickleball Club.
Northern HammerWorks
President and CEO Nick Yarham opened his residential remodeling business, Northern HammerWorks, in 2011. Yarham, who has lived all his life in Avon Lake, found an eager market, remodeling houses that were built in the community in the 1960s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and into the 2020s. Many residents outgrow their homes but want to stay in the city. Others think about buying another existing or newly constructed house but instead choose to stay where they are and remodel, according to Yarham.
The remodeler understands why people want to remain in the city.
“Avon Lake is a special city where people really do want to help other people,” says Yarham, noting about 70% of his customers live locally. “We want to help, too, and have done especially well because of it. I have customers who I have worked with since I started the company.
We’ll do the kitchen and come back and do the bathroom. It’s important for us to hire only people we trust, because most of our customers hand us the house keys in the morning and leave.”
As a Job Growth Incentive Program recipient, Yarham enjoys a little bit of friendly family competition. His brother, Brian, is owner of Eyring Movers in Avon Lake, and has also benefited from the program.
“Every year that we both get checks, we call each other to see who gets the bigger one,” says Yarham, who added multiple new buildings to his Miller Road property. “His business is growing like ours is.”
For the past decade, Yarham has also been highly involved with the city’s NorthCoast Christmas Light Up the Park, a popular festivity that is a fundraiser for the Avon Lake Historical Society. He also supports Avon Lake’s Beach Park Railway Museum.
“Avon Lake is a special city where people really do want to help other people. We want to help, too, and have done especially well because of it. I have customers who I have worked with since I started the company.”
NICK YARHAM, Northern HammerWorks president and CEO
In 2024-2025, the city added three new coffee shops: Emilie’s Coffee House, Elysium Café and Biggby Coffee
Have a pet who needs some TLC? Avon Lake Animal Clinic is one of the largest employers in Avon Lake and is still growing. More than 200 full- and part-time employees make up its three divisions, including veterinarian services, pet resort and daycare, and salon and boutique. Dogs and cats are expected, but the clinic also welcomes exotic pets. It even has a world-renowned skunk expert on staff.
Two Eleven Health, offering direct primary care, is one of the city’s newest businesses. The company is named after the owner’s son’s birth date.
Since 2022, almost 500,000 square feet (that’s about 8.7 football fields) of new development has been built on Pin Oak Parkway, Avon Lake’s industrial parkway that opened in 1974.
Located in Avon Lake, Sheffield and Sheffield Lake, the Ford Ohio Assembly Plant is eying a $1.5 billion expansion.
Discount Drug Mart/Drug Mart Solutions on Walker Road is the centralized fulfillment center that provides items for the company’s Ohio-based stores and mail orders. That’s a lot of antibiotics.
Avient Corp., a global manufacturer of specialized polymer products, ranked 863 on the Fortune 1,000 list in 2024, making it one of the largest American companies by revenue.
Nor thern HammerWorks kitchen renovation
Building Brighter Futures
Avon Lake City Schools embarks on a transformative investment in facilities, student success and community partnerships.
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT for Avon Lake City Schools. This past spring, the community supported an $88 million bond issue to construct a new building for grades five through eight and to renovate the elementary schools, along with passing a levy for new operating funds.
“Our mission in the Avon Lake City Schools is to prepare students for an evolving world by delivering student-centered learning, celebrating personalized goals and encouraging diverse career paths through collaborative partnerships with our staff, families and community,” says Avon Lake City Schools Superintendent Joelle M. Magyar. “We thank the community for their essential support last May that will allow us to further implement our strategic plan and significantly and positively
alter education in our community for generations to come.”
Avon Lake City Schools currently has 3,345 students in pre-K through 12th grade, and approximately 230 teachers.
The new construction will consolidate Learwood Middle School and Troy Intermediate School into a single facility boasting 128,000 square feet, serving grades five through eight. It will be located behind the existing Learwood Middle School and is projected to open in fall 2028. Learwood will remain in service until the new building is complete, and then it will be demolished along with Troy Intermediate. Additionally, Eastview, Westview and Redwood Elementary Schools will receive renovations and mechanical upgrades.
— Patricia
Faulhaber
Superintendent Joelle M. Magyar with students of the Avon Lake City Schools.
Newsworthy Notes
The district is celebrating having a National Merit Semifinalist at Avon Lake High School. Andrew Cline placed among the top 16,000 learners (approximately 1%) in the entire country.
The high school improved its ranking in US News and World Report’s rankings of high schools in the country, finishing No. 1 in Lorain County, No. 8 in the Cleveland Metropolitan area and No. 25 in the state of Ohio. Plus, the district’s AP scores have continued to rise over the last five years.
27 Avon Lake High School students were recognized through the CollegeBoard’s National Recognition Program, including 13 current seniors and 14 current juniors.
At the intermediate school,
global initiatives has taken center stage, including Troy Intermediate’s support for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The students hosted the Prayers from Maria ice cream truck during lunchtime, and students wrote encouraging cards for children who are currently hospitalized.
At Westview Elementary School, second graders drew inspiration from studying a copy of Vincent Van Gogh’s The Sunflowers, then created their own unique still-life works based on the famous painting.
The district looks forward to partnering with local nonprofits such as United Way of Lorain County, Community Resource Services and Connecting for Kids, and continuing its competition with Avon Local Schools to collect nonperishable food items to
Old School Pizza and Wings 445 Avon Belden 440-961-0892
Parker’s Grille and Tavern 32858 Walker Road 440-933-9400
Pizza Cutter
33501 Lake Road
440-933-5570
Pizza Hut
377 Lear Road
440-930-8600
Plum Asian Fare & Sushi
32730 Walker Road
440-930-2623
Romeo’s Pizza
428 Avon Belden Road
440-930-8575
Salad KraZe
690 Avon Belden Road
440-933-9123
Sam’s Supper Club
33688 Walker Road
440-876-3885
Starbucks (inside Giant Eagle)
31990 Walker Road
440-933-5078
Subway 33382 Walker Road
440-930-2727
Subway
375 Lear Road
440-933-9099
Taco Bell
510 Avon Belden Road
440-930-4371
Tailgators Sports Bar 33499 Lake Road
440-933-4007
Taki’s Greek Kitchen
377 Lear Road
440-930-8888
Thai Chili
32730 Walker Road
440-933-8424
The Kitchen
All Day Brunch
32822 Walker Road
440-653-5699
The Quarry
182 Lear Road
440-653-5103
Charged with History
Key pieces will be preserved in the redevelopment of the historic Avon Lake Power Plant site.
DON’T WORRY. The company’s master clock and several pink marble slabs from the lobby (where customers once paid their electric bills through a counter window) have been saved.
The demolition and major cleanup of the former Avon Lake Power Plant was completed by fall 2025. Although the building is gone, memories remain.
Built for $30 million in 1926 by the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, it was once the largest power plant of its kind in the world. At its apex, the plant produced enough power to supply a million homes. The last of its turbines powered down in 2022, and a chapter of Avon Lake’s history came to a close.
A new chapter for the 43-acre lakefront site will begin, but Ted Esborn, community development director for the City of Avon Lake, says plans and negotiations with the current property owner, Avon Lake Environmental Redevelopment
Group (ALERG), and others, are ongoing. ALERG worked with contractors to shut down and demolish the plant, conduct environmental cleanups and consider redevelopment ideas.
Esborn says part of the Avon Lake Economic Recovery and Resiliency Plan recommends determining “what has been done and what needs to be done on the site.”
Possible plans by future site owners and developers may include mixed-use development. The city wants to buy 23 acres of the property for a public park along the lakefront with access to Lake Erie. That would include a section earmarked for a power plant commemoration site. There, some of the artifacts recovered by the city and the Avon Lake Historical Society could be incorporated.
“We had a list of items we wanted to save, some of which we could, and some of which we
“This
precision timepiece was located in the electrical control room, sometimes called the Ivory Tower. During the early years, “The Clock” was functional and was relied on as the official time.”
—
Michael Landy
“We were trying to save the entire front entryway with granite steps, the carved lintel over the door and all that beautiful sandstone that was quarried in Amherst in the 1920s. But the building accidently came down on all that.”
— Tony Tomanek
couldn’t,” says Tony Tomanek, president of the historical society. “We were trying to save the entire front entryway with granite steps, the carved lintel over the door and all that beautiful sandstone that was quarried in Amherst in the 1920s. But the building accidentally came down on all that.”
Fortunately, the lintel was saved, in addition to the following items: nine of the streetlights in front of the building; seven brass wall sconces; a flashing strobe light from one of the plant’s iconic towers; brass railings; pink marble architectural slabs and trim used in the design of the building’s art deco lobby; a decorative clock from the lobby and a master clock that the “whole building ran on,” according to Esborn.
Architectural blueprints, historic photos and other documents were also preserved. Some items are temporarily on display or in storage at the Avon
Pictured above is one of nine street lights that were saved for historical preservation.
Lake Public Library. (Archival information includes accounts of a situation in 1953 when “great masses of gizzard shad” died from a sudden drop in temperature in Lake Erie near the plant’s intake channel. The dead, floating fish interfered with the intake screens, and the plant’s seven generators shut down, leaving a good portion of Greater Cleveland in the dark.)
Two thousand original bricks from the coal-powered power plant, which employed 300 workers at its height, are also being sold to benefit the historical society.
“In the park’s commemorative area, if it becomes a reality, we’d like to put up some of the marble,
light the walkway and install a bronze plaque,” says Esborn, noting additional members of the preservation committee include Dave Kos, Chuck Fye, Bobbe Rudge, Dan Rogatto and Matt Sarver.
“We haven’t designed any of it yet, but that’s the goal. We want the public to be able to visit that park and remember the power plant whenever they want.”
— Jill Sell
The city plans to buy 23 acres of the site for a public park along the lakefront with access to Lake Erie.
The first stack was completed on June 4, 1926.
6 weeks - 12 years
• Beautifully remodeled, large classrooms
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• Our EXCLUSIVE Kindergarten Bootcamp program, a one-of-a-kind kindergarten readiness program
