If you live in Medina, Ohio, or if the intersection of 57 and South Broadway St. is part of your daily commute, you may be familiar with the charming historic home that overlooks that intersection.   With its white picket fence and seasonally decorated window boxes, you might think that it was modeled after a delightful little children’s doll house… That’s what WE like to think anyway!

History

We moved into this charming little “doll house” a little over a year ago, and have been amazed by the incredible history that we continue to learn about our home.  It was built in 1884 by Medina blacksmith Jabez Holben.  If you have ever walked on the sidewalk at the point of the property, right at the intersection, you may have noticed a large horseshoe embedded in the concrete.  That horseshoe was made by Mr. Holben himself, and placed at the point of his property to leave his permanent mark on the home he built himself.  He placed a matching horseshoe in front of his blacksmith shop which once sat around the corner on Smith Road.  That horseshoe is also still there.  As time passed, the house had apparently fallen into some disrepair.  Several years back, a couple bought the home and did an incredible job saving and restoring it, making this charming house what it is today.  The inside boasts hardwood floors, a giant solid wood pocket door, a vaulted ceiling in the nursery, and detailed woodwork throughout.  The Holben House has been featured on the Twilight Stroll Historic Home Tour, has won the Award of Excellence In 2010, Medina's Beautification Award In 2012, and was recently featured on the cover of a home and garden magazine. 
Picture
The Holben House as it appeared at the end of the 19th Century.

Where We Are Today

We take great pride in this cute little house, and we sincerely hope that passersby enjoy the ever-changing seasonal decorations.  While the house itself has been well restored and maintained, the property that it sits on is, unfortunately, not as well off.  The yard is scattered with dead and dying foliage, and the front lawn that faces the main intersection is a mixture  of dirt and dying grass.  We feel like this house deserves something better and we are asking for your help.

The Plan

We would like to re-landscape the entire yard, and feature an eye-catching Victorian-style flower garden in the front for all to enjoy, while also creating a natural privacy barrier for the small "back yard" separating it from the heavily trafficked 57.  While we have crunched numbers time and time again, this awesome ground renovation is just not something we are able to take on ourselves.  We are looking for your help, but we want to make sure we give proper credit too!  As part of the renovation, we want to incorporate a small "public" sitting area near the intersection of 57 and Broadway, paved with bricks that name our “Paver Level” sponsors.  Just like Jabez Holben and his horseshoe, you can leave your mark in Historic Medina.  We will also name the garden after the person who gives the largest donation.  The name will be on a tasteful plaque in an appropriate location. 

Our goal is to create something truly beautiful that the people of Medina can all enjoy, and take pride in.  While for now the house is ours, the yard is a special piece of Medina history that we should all enjoy. 

All donations will be put toward the Historic Holben House Project and its maintenance.