Ohio City

Location:

This City is located at the coordinates 38°32' 43.998"N 100°0' 0"W, its zip code is 81237.

Population & Household Income:

Please visit Open Public Records Website for more information.

About Ohio City 

In the rural mountain town of Ohio City, Colorado at the corner of Miners Avenue and Main Street you will discover the Ohio City Town Hall.
Photo courtesy of Lance Nelson Photo courtesy of Anna Dutka

Ohio City was established on the original site of Eagle City previously settled by miners in the latter part of 1879. Ohio City is located in the beautiful Quartz Creek Valley of Gunnison County and incorporated on June 24, 1907. The Ohio City Town Hall was constructed in 1906, during the second period of three distinct mining periods of boom and bust. During the second period, the town supported approximately 250 people, a newspaper, theater, several civic organizations, baseball teams, a brass band and even an orchestra. [1. 1906 - ca. 1910 Mercantile Building (area of significance: commerce); 2. 1910 - ca. 1913 Restaurant (area of significance: commerce); 3. 1914 - ca. 1955 Town Hall (area of significance: government); 4. 1964 - ca. 1976 Community Center (area of significance: social history).]

The Ohio City Town Hall was originally constructed as the Baer Boss Mercantile. Thereafter the building was used for a short time as a restaurant owned by the Tarkington Family. In 1914 the Tarkingtons sold the restaurant to the Town of Ohio City for use as a town hall. In 1974 Gunnison County acquired the Town Hall when the Secretary of the State of Colorado determined Ohio City to be an abandoned town site pursuant to C.R.S. 139-19-101, et. seq. By virtue of Resolution 1996-25, Gunnison County designated the Ohio City Town Hall as a historic county landmark.

Ohio City Town Hall - 1977 - Photo courtesy of Robert & Barbara Wilson
Photo courtesy of Anna Dutka

The Ohio City Town Hall represents a significant type of architectural style predominant around the turn of the century. The wood framed building is a Vernacular Victorian style characterized by the false front and store front glazing. The building is unique with its corner entrance. The exterior walls are sheathed with a combination of unpainted vertical wood board and batten siding on the north and south sides. The east and west sides are covered with a pressed metal shingle that appears to be terne metal and predominately has a pattern that mimics the appearance of stone. For areas around the entrance and the corners of the building a small metal tile with a medallion pattern is used as an accent with the stone pattern.

Photo courtesy of Anna Dutka

The interior is an open one room undivided space. Interior walls are covered with varnished wood bead board paneling from floor to ceiling.

Photo courtesy of Anna Dutka

The high ceiling is finished with an unpainted pressed metal tile with a decorative quatrefoil pattern. This pattern is commonly associated with the Gothic and renaissance Revival periods of architecture in the United States. The symbol is considered a representation of a flower with four petals, or a leaf with four leaflets (such as a four leaf clover symbolizing good luck). A decorative border with a covered cornice adds additional formality to the design.

Photo courtesy of Anna Dutka

The Ohio City Town Hall is not only historically significant but significant to the community as it represents simplicities of times past. Not only does the Ohio City Town Hall provide a community center for its residents, it also represents the perseverance of its ancestors who established this mining town and is a significant and beloved historical landmark of the community and a treasure to leave for children and children’s children.

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Phase I - Rehabilitation of the Ohio City Town Hall

In 2010, it was discovered that there was movement of the north wall of the Ohio City Town Hall. Out of concern for the structural integrity of the building, Gunnison County applied for and received grant funds from the Colorado State Historical Fund for a historic structure assessment which was completed in 2011.  In 2012, Gunnison County hired Ben White Architecture, L.L.C. of Crested Butte, Colorado to draft construction plans and provide methodologies consistent with The Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for rehabilitation of the building.

In October 2013, Gunnison County applied to the Colorado State Historical Fund for an acquisition and development grant for Phase I of a two phased project for the rehabilitation of the Ohio City Town Hall. Gunnison County was successful in being awarded those funds and along with members of the Quartz Creek Valley are incredibly grateful and very appreciative of having the opportunity of preserving this historic building. For further information regarding historic preservation projects, educational opportunities, and the wealth of information provided by the Colorado State Historical Fund please see http://www.historycolorado.org.

Rehabilitation of the Ohio City Town Hall; Foundation Stabilization and Electrical Upgrades, Phase 1

Phase I addresses the immediate concern of stabilizing and preserving the building structure to be accomplished by lifting the structure and rebuilding the foundation, replacement of the electrical distribution system, installation of light fixtures, ceiling fans and safety devices, removal of non-historic interior columns and reinforcement of the interior ceiling, reconstruction of the front deck, construction of the ADA ramp, parking space, loading zone and western door landing and exterior lighting.

The design plans and methodologies for Phase 1 drafted by Ben White Architecture, L.L.C., of Crested Butte, Colorado may be viewed below:

Gunnison County is pleased and proud to have the following construction team on board for Phase I:

  • TerraVision Contracting Group of Montrose, Colorado to serve as the general contractor.
  • Vogy’s House Moving, LLC, Montrose, Colorado selected for moving the structure.
  • Legacy Electric of Gunnison, Colorado for installation of the electrical upgrades.
  • Hearne Excavation, Inc. of Ohio City, Colorado was retained for excavation work.
  • Alpine Archaeological Consultants, Inc. of Montrose, Colorado to provide archaeological monitoring.

Architectural services and construction oversight and administration is provided by Ben White Architecture, L.L.C. in conjunction with John Cattles, Gunnison County Facilities Maintenance Director.

On August 24, 2014, construction activities began for Phase 1. A tentative construction schedule may be reviewed below.

Progress Reports and photos may be reviewed below:

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Phase II- Interior & Exterior Rehabilitation of the Ohio City Town Hall
In April 2016 Gunnison County again applied to the Colorado State Historical Fund for another acquisition and development grant for Phase II, the final phase of this two phased project for the rehabilitation of the Ohio City Town Hall. In August 2016 the Colorado State Historical Fund notified Gunnison County that its grant application was successful and that the entirety of the requested funds would be awarded. Gunnison County and the Quartz Creek Valley community are very appreciative for this grant award.

Phase II will include rehabilitation of the historic doors, windows, wood flooring, an extension of the fire protection area around the wood stove, rebuilding the stage and stairway to the stage, replacement of missing and damaged interior metal ceiling tiles and realignment of the exterior metal siding panels.

Thank you Colorado State Historical Fund for your consideration, commitment, and investment towards this project.

Thank you Gunnison County for supporting this project and providing funds towards the cash match as well as in-kind services.

Thank you Quartz Creek Improvements Association for your support and fundraising efforts by hosting the 2014 and 2015 Gold Rush 5K/10K Run/Walk as well as collecting donations!

The design plans for Phase II drafted by Ben White Architecture, L.L.C., of Crested Butte, Colorado may be viewed below.

Gunnison County is pleased and proud to have the following construction team on board for Phase II:

  • Christopher Kelin Construction, Inc. to serve as general contractor
  • Curtis Hanson Builders, LLC, of Ohio City for carpentry work
  • Legacy Electrical, Inc., for disconnection/reconnection of lighting and fans while the interior metal ceiling tiles are being installed
Architectural services, construction oversight, and administration is being provided by Ben White Architecture, L.L.C. in conjunction with John Cattles, Gunnison County Facilities Maintenance Director.

Construction activities are to begin the month of May and conclude around October 31, 2017.

Progress Reports and photos may be reviewed below:

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