Adi Newsletter Winter 2008

HAPPY HOLIDAYS SIGNAGE HOIDAY SPIRT IN ASHLAND COMMUNITY CALENDAR .............. .1


FROM THE CHAMBER ASHLAND TIDBITS BOROUGH NEWS DID YOU KNOW ? …………..2 .

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Around Ashland

ASHLAND DOW NTOW N, INC.

OUR MISSION Ashland Downtown, Inc. seeks a vibrant, attractive downtown by preserving its architectural charm, promoting economic vitality and marketing its historic and cultural resources.

HOLIDAY S PIRIT I N

ASHLAND

Happy Holidays Hopefully everyone is staying warm and enjoying friends and family’s company over these winter months. Ashland’s annual Old Fashioned Christmas came to a close on 12/13/08. It was another great time for the community to come together and enjoy an evening out on the town. Thank you to the businesses for staying open extra hours to help make this evening successful. Santa and some of his reindeer joined us for the evening’s activities. Thank you to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church choir for singing your hearts out. The Live Nativity was a hit again which was sponsored by “Lift Your Spirits Performing Arts ”. The hot chocolate and cookies tasted better than ever this year. The horse and carriage ride was popular with the young and old at heart. Thank you to everyone for coming out to make this a special evening once again. Ashland Downtown sponsored a Holiday Decorating Contest this year for Ashland

residents and businesses. The winners were announced at Old Fashioned Christmas. The six categories were:

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Best Use of LightsWinner-Robert Paulinkonas Jr, Jackie Moro

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Best Traditional DecoratingWinner-John, Cynthia, and Chris Meyers

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Most Original, Creative and ImaginativeWinner-Kris, Lisa, and Kris Jr. Wolfe

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Best Whimsical DisplayWinner-Warren, Carla, and Savannah Harter

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Best Door DecorationWinner-Lou and Patty Rader

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Best Business or Storefront Holiday DisplayWinner-Dr. Kenesky Chiropractic Office

Thank you to the judges who did a magnificent job. As always, please contact me at 875-3571, or visit the ADI office at 733 Centre Street regarding any questions you have. We look forward to hearing from you. Gregory W. Fisher, Ashland Main Street Manager

Signage Heart ‘N Home

By now you have probably seen some of the façade improvements in town. Not only do we assist in façade improvements , we help with signage as well. To the left are two entities who have taken advantage of this opportunity. The first is Heart’N Home gift shop at 1000 Centre Street. The second sign is from the Ashland Area Historic Preservation Society. Below are excerpts from the design guidelines from www.upperschuylkill.com that are encouraged changes. ENCOURAGED

Ashland Area Historic Preservation Society

Replacing, repairing or installing signs that are appropriately scaled for your buildings and storefront. Maintaining and restoring historic signs. Exploring very creative graphics and materials that maintain high standards in legibility and character. Building flexibility into signage and Components to allow for changes or upgrades. Installing signs on the sign band, windows, doors, awnings or other architecturally appropriate location. Establishing a sign band on buildings that may not have a clearly demarcated area for signs. Using durable wood, painted plastics, metals, or pre-fabricated pin mounted letters. Installing painted metal or wood signs. Installing fin or blade signs, projected from the building wall, to identify a business to those passing by walking or traveling parallel to the storefront.

Ashland Community Calendar ———————————————–——————

Exploring bold and vibrant colors, still according to the good graphic design practice, as a method of distinguishing a sign while relating the sign to the storefront design and business type or project. Painting window signs that act as a secondary signage location or that provide an additional level of information about the businesses, such as store hours or types of services. Recommending three-dimensional, fixed signs that include an icon of the business type, business name and/or logo. Illuminating signs from behind. (Backlit box signs are strongly discouraged.) Using neon signs to indicate a business name or trade, but not to advertise products or sales. Complying with signage regulations of Borough

February 18 St. Catherine Medical Center American Red Cross Blood Drive Washington Fire Company Auxiliary Selling lottery calendars for February 2009 Washington Fire Co. No. 1 Selling 2009 lottery calendars (Jan.1—Dec. 31)

Bethany EC Church 1st Saturday of every month at 10AM Give Away Free Clothing to Community St. Joseph’s Hall Every Friday Bingo at 6:30PM

Mother’s Memorial Project

Schuylkill Area Community Foundation (formerly Ashland Trust) has developed a plan to renovate and landscape the upper tier at the Mother’s Memorial in Ashland and has received some help from the Ashland Antler Lodge (the Junior Elks). They held a car wash and tag day on Wednesday, July 30th and fifteen Antlers helped to wash cars and distribute tags from 6:00 to 8:00PM. In spite of severe thunderstorm warnings and light traffic, the Antlers were able to raise $233.12 for the benefit of the Mother’s Memorial and are currently planning another fundraiser.

managed the Mother’s Memorial The North Schuylkill Elementary Fund since December 1988 when the School was also involved with the program, as students were encouraged Mother’s Memorial Anniversary Celebration Committee established to write essays about their mothers. the fund. According to The committee selected the top entries. “The Community Foundation is the agreement, the principal is invested and annual looking forward to the 2009 They were read by the students during Mother’s Day program to celebrate earnings are used for the maintenance, upkeep, the program. “The all mothers, the completion of the Community Founda- landscaping project and to recog- beautification, repair and renovation of the tion is looking fornize the community of Ashland for Mother’s Memorial and ward to the 2009 their dedication to the Mother’s of the Memorial site. Mother’s Day proMemorial” gram to celebrate all Contributions to the mothers , the compleMother’s Memorial Fund are action of the landscaping project and to cepted at any time and in any amount. recognize the community of Ashland If you have any questions, please for their dedication to the Mother’s contact the Schuylkill Area CommuMemorial”, stated Eileen Kuperavage, nity Foundation office at (570) 624Executive Director for the Schuylkill 7223 or you may e-mail your tax Area Community Foundation. deductible donation to 216 S. Center Street, Pottsville Pa 17901. The Community Foundation has

BOROUGH NEWS Ashland Borough Council would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year. The Council has authorized free parking for the month of December at the parking meters. Please refrain from parking at the corners or double parking as these offenses will still be enforced by the Police Department.

Don’t miss visiting Pioneer Tunnel and the Anthracite Museum of Mining this summer Log onto When the Borough is expecting 3 inches or more of snow, a snow emergency will be anwww.pioneertunnel.com nounced and there will be no parking on Center Street and Hoffman Boulevard so that Pennfor this year’s schedule. Dot can plow curb to curb on the roadway.

Did you know? Ashland Area Historic Preservation Society In 1857, the first council meetings for the newly incorporated Borough of Ashland were held in the Mahanoy House. This hotel, on the southwest corner of Seventh and Centre Streets, was built in 1855 and was acclaimed to be the largest hotel in Pennsylvania at the time. Several years later, it was renamed the Repplier House. The Reppliers were partners with William J. Moodie in coal operations. From 1875 until 1923, John B. Price and Sons had a dry goods store on the first floor with professional offices above. In 1923, H. Fred Laurer made it a “modern” apartment house. On April 24, 1925, F. W. Woolworth opened a store there that operated until the late 1960’s. It was then the Pinko furniture store. In 1973, Flash Family Discount opened a store there. Dollar Bizaar rented the storeroom from 2000 until 2006. The building is the oldest brick structure in Ashland

and now stands unoccupied. Council meetings were moved to the Thomas Kinney public house at 1108 Centre Street in 1860. Peter F. Burke purchased the hotel in 1863. Kinney sat on council from 1860 to 1864. From about 1888 to the late 1940’s, the building housed a bakery last known as Schlegel’s Bakery. James Cleaver’s “New Cleaver’s Hall”—a brick structure located just east of Cleaver’s store at the intersection of Catawissa Road and Centre Street— was also a meeting place for early council meetings. That building was also the first location of McConnell’s Hardware store until they moved to 919 Centre Street in 1890. Simon Levine operated a clothing store there until 1917, when Harry Gellert moved “The Home Store” from 515 Centre Street. The building was razed in 2003.

733 Centre Street, Ashland, PA 17921 570-875-3571 www.upperschuylkill.com

CHAMBER The Ashland Chamber of Commerce has been busy with their Capital Campaign to raise money for the new Christmas decorations. The new lights were hung this year and comments have been positive. The old candle style lights were in use for about 40 years and it was hard to see them go, but repairs were becoming more difficult to make. We hope the townspeople are enjoying the new “Christmas tree” style decorations. Besides a town wide mailing to solicit donations, cans were placed in various businesses throughout the town to provide a place for anyone from out of town who may shop here to donate if they want. The donations have been surprisingly generous. A little over $8,000 has been collected to date. The old decorations were to be donated to any town who wanted them. So far, no town has wanted them, so any individual who wants one is welcome to contact George at 875-0329.

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F ASHIONED CHRISTMAS 2008

In 1867, the borough built the stone Station House at Fifth and Chestnut Streets to house the fire engine, a council meeting room and a lock-up. The contract for the building was awarded to Jared Daniels for the sum of $1,950. Frank Rentz furnished the marble stone, inscribed “Station House Erected 1867,” at a cost of $12. The fire equipment was moved to the Washington Hook and Ladder Company at tenth and Chestnut Streets several years later. New cells were ordered for the lock-up in 1914. In 1930, an addition was put on the north side of the structure for an office, drafting room and concrete fireproof vault. The building served as Borough Hall until 2007, when the offices were moved to the Museum of Anthracite Mining at Eighteenth and Pine Streets.

OUR VISION

Ashland Downtown, Inc.

F ROM THE

Ashland shall promote its architecture to both residential and commercial opportunities. Ashland will also enhance and market its historical and cultural resources for tourism. Located at the intersection of routes 54 and 61, Ashland will serve as a western gateway into the region. Ashland shall build upon its potential for tourism by connecting local historical and cultural sites through a coordinated transportation and consistent “way finding” system within the region. Ashland shall become the arts and heritage hub of the Upper Schuylkill region. Help us achieve our Vision for Ashland...become an ADI volunteer!

Join the Downtown Team! ADI Monthly Meetings 1st Monday—Design 2nd Monday-Economic Restruct. 3rd Monday—Board of Directors/ Organization

4th Monday—Promotions

Borough Council Meeting 2nd Wednesday of the Month