Saving the News-Sun Building

In downtown Springfield, Ohio is the old News-Sun Building. It was originally opened in October 1929, only days before the stock market crash. It is located on 202 North Limestone Street. The 1929 dedication was a grand event. Thousands of visitors from around the area came to take a tour of the building. There were music and speeches throughout the afternoon. Also, former President Calvin Coolidge pressed the button that started the presses. This was delivered from Northampton, Massachusetts to Springfield, Ohio by a Western Union Telegraph Company wire.

Last February, the building was sold by the Cox Media Group to the Lagos Apartments IV, Inc. It was sold for $400,00. Then in September 2014, this incorporation sold it to James H. Lagos Company Inc. for $200,000.

 

Recently, the community had heard rumors that the site was going to be demolished and a parking lot put in its place. A number of historic buildings in Springfield have recently been razed, including Memorial Hall in 2010. A group of concerned citizens has rallied around the News-Sun building. They have attended city council meetings and have gotten the Historic Landmark Commission to nominate it as a city landmark. If this happened, then this would be the first landmark of Springfield in about 30 years. This designation will keep the building safe from demolition. The current owner consented to this nomination and tonight the nomination will be voted on by the Springfield City Commission.


Video: http://www.whio.com/videos/news/residents-work-to-save-springfield-news-sun/vCxKrd/

Work Cited

“New Home of News and Sun Dedicated,” Springfield News-Sun, October 20, 1929, Clark County Heritage Center, Springfield, Ohio

Data For Parcel 3400700035409006." John S. Federer: Clark County Auditor. Accessed October 25, 2014. http://gis.clarkcountyauditor.org/Data.aspx?ParcelID=3400700035409006.

"News-Sun Building Sale Finalized." Springfield News-Sun. February 10, 2014. Accessed October 25, 2014. http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/news/local/news-sun-building-sale-finalized/ndKKJ/. 

“News-Sun Building’s Future,” The Wittenberg Torch: Wittenberg’s Student Newspaper Since 1873, October 29, 2014. Accessed November 28, 2014. http://thewittenbergtorch.com/?p=4465. 

Michael Cooper, “Landmarks Hearing to Discuss Downtown Building,” Springfield News-Sun, November 7, 2014. Accessed December 2, 2014, http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/landmarks-hearing-to-discuss-downtown-building/nh2zp/ 
Photo Credit: http://s18.photobucket.com/user/kaelinnb/media/SpringfieldDtown/100_8390.jpg.html