South Court historic homes open doors to public
Tourists learn about Medina history, past residents
Actors portraying Andrew and Katherine Griesinger conversed with residents who passed by their home. The Griesingers built the largest brick home in Medina and ran a shoe business in Public Square. Photo by SCOTT KRISKA
MEDINA – The owners of five historic homes on South Court Street opened their doors as part of an annual home tour the evening of Sept. 16.
The South Court Historic Neighborhood Association held its seventh annual Twilight Stroll Home Tour. Those who toured the homes learned the stories of their builders and past residents and the contributions the residents made to Medina’s history.
Other highlights of the tour included the opportunity to board and take a ride inside the Old Phoenix Stagecoach outside one of the homes. Visitors even had the chance to step inside the 1880 vault inside the basement of Huntington Bank on the square, formerly known as Old Phoenix Bank.
Local author David Allen Edmonds also signed copies of his books, “The Faculty Lounge Stories” and “Personal Pronouns.”
Neighborhood association member and city councilman Bill Lamb explained the years in which these homes were built range from 1837 to 1940. He said one thing visitors had the chance to learn about was the architecture of the time in relation to how the current residents of the houses live now.
“They can learn about how people can live in a home that is 80 to 100 years old in modern time,” he said. “They can learn about the people who lived in the home.”
Several actors portrayed the original residents of these historic homes during the tour. Visitors met and learned about Andrew and Katherine Griesinger, who built the largest brick home in Medina and started a shoe business on Public Square. Freda Snyder, whose family built the Medina Farmers Exchange, welcomed tourists into her home. Next door to one of the tour stops, William Asire, who worked as a furniture dealer and undertaker, greeted the public with his wife, Sarah.
At another home on the tour, Tom and Mildred Goulding spoke about Western Auto, a business Tom started on the square. Current Medina Mayor Dennis Hanwell portrayed Joseph Andrew, who served as Medina’s mayor from 1880 to 1883, and spoke with visitors as they walked through the tour.
Lamb said he hopes those who toured the homes in this neighborhood gained an idea of what it is like to live in Medina’s historic district and learned about the city’s history.
“It’s a blessing I get to live in the area I live in,” he said, pointing out his house was one of the stops on the tour.
The South Court Historic Neighborhood Association held its seventh annual Twilight Stroll Home Tour. Those who toured the homes learned the stories of their builders and past residents and the contributions the residents made to Medina’s history.
Other highlights of the tour included the opportunity to board and take a ride inside the Old Phoenix Stagecoach outside one of the homes. Visitors even had the chance to step inside the 1880 vault inside the basement of Huntington Bank on the square, formerly known as Old Phoenix Bank.
Local author David Allen Edmonds also signed copies of his books, “The Faculty Lounge Stories” and “Personal Pronouns.”
Neighborhood association member and city councilman Bill Lamb explained the years in which these homes were built range from 1837 to 1940. He said one thing visitors had the chance to learn about was the architecture of the time in relation to how the current residents of the houses live now.
“They can learn about how people can live in a home that is 80 to 100 years old in modern time,” he said. “They can learn about the people who lived in the home.”
Several actors portrayed the original residents of these historic homes during the tour. Visitors met and learned about Andrew and Katherine Griesinger, who built the largest brick home in Medina and started a shoe business on Public Square. Freda Snyder, whose family built the Medina Farmers Exchange, welcomed tourists into her home. Next door to one of the tour stops, William Asire, who worked as a furniture dealer and undertaker, greeted the public with his wife, Sarah.
At another home on the tour, Tom and Mildred Goulding spoke about Western Auto, a business Tom started on the square. Current Medina Mayor Dennis Hanwell portrayed Joseph Andrew, who served as Medina’s mayor from 1880 to 1883, and spoke with visitors as they walked through the tour.
Lamb said he hopes those who toured the homes in this neighborhood gained an idea of what it is like to live in Medina’s historic district and learned about the city’s history.
“It’s a blessing I get to live in the area I live in,” he said, pointing out his house was one of the stops on the tour.