Zoar homes and buildings to receive historical markers
Zoar Mayor Scott Gordon, left, Diane Geis and Tom Klingamen on the steps of the Number One House in Zoar. The three are on the Zoar Village Historic Preservation Commission, which recently purchased historic markers for homes and other historic structures in Zoar.
The Zoar Village Historic Preservation Commission recently dedicated a $6,000 grant from the Reeve’s Foundation to the purchase of more than 30 historical plaques for buildings and homes.
The customized markers recognize properties as being placed on the National Register of Historic Places and feature the Zoar Star insignia.
Rick and Diane Geis of Zoar made the drive to the Erie Landmark Company in Colombia, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia, to retrieve the plaques, saving shipping fees on the heavy, cast bronze markers. While there, they were treated to a tour of the foundry.
“Everything there is done by hand,” Rick Geis said. “It’s really old-school.”
Diane Geis, a member of the HPC, said what is unique about the foundry is it still does sand castings. “They are also a family-owned business, and this is the fourth generation of family members operating it.”
Scott Gordon, mayor of Zoar, said in determining which homes and buildings will receive plaques, first priority will be given to the structures that most contribute to the history of Zoar.
“For example, the numbered houses from 1-26 are all still existing except for two,” Gordon said. “Next would be the museums owned by the Ohio History Connection.”
Gordon said the village may search for additional funding to have additional plaques made so all historic properties receive the recognition. He also said the plaques are part of a larger effort to designate historical properties to assist visitors who may take self-guided or interactive tours.
Andrea Zimmerman, general manager for the Erie Landmark Company, talked about the process used in making the plaques. She said either a handmade or electronic design is first developed into a photo negative.
“Sand casting is the oldest method of casting metals,” Zimmerman said. "Bronze or aluminum is heated to 2,400 degrees, then poured into a silica sand mold along with a liquid polymer until it hardens. On the Zoar plaques, we added a pebbled background, which is more exciting because it kind of grabs the light from all different directions."
Zimmerman said bronze ingots weighing between 32 and 36 pounds are melted to make the plaques.
“The amazing thing is the gentleman who does this is 76 years old,” she said. “His name is Martin Fonseca, and he takes one ingot at a time, climbs four steps and then leans over the furnace to gently place the ingot in the bottom of the furnace, because if he drops it, he'll break the crucible.”
Zimmerman said the company got its start supplying the military with belt buckles and forged parts for ships during World War II. “They were very good at it, and the family actually was in the millionaire strata at that time.”
Once the war ended and many foundries began sending their work overseas, Zimmerman said the family decided to just stick with the business of making plaques. “It is what we did best,” she said.
The Zoar HPC was created to preserve the architectural elements of the village, which they say reflect the heritage of the Separatists of the Zoar Society founded in 1817. Members of the HPC who arranged for the plaques to be made are chair Mark Gaynor, Gordon, Diane Geis, Patrick Eddy and Tom Klingaman.
The stated goal of the HPC is to help home owners make historically correct decisions when modifying or restoring homes and other structures that lie within the boundaries of the National Historic Landmark District from First to Fifth streets.
The museums in Zoar Village are open for tours from April through October, although hours vary by the day. Museums also are closed on Mondays and all holidays. Visit www.historiczoarvillage.com, call 330-874-3011 or find them on Facebook.