On March 22, 2014, a devastating fire engulfed the historic Buckeye Block in Garrettsville, Ohio, marking a day etched into the collective memory of its residents. The blaze, which razed 33% of the town’s historic downtown district, threatened lives and livelihoods. Fast-forward to the 10-year anniversary, and the narrative is one of adaptation, reemergence, and community strength.
The conflagration razed the homes of 12 local businesses, including the Nelson-Garrettsville Community Cupboard, Garrettsville Foot & Ankle Clinic, T&B Tools, Attorney Dann Timmons, Maschek Construction, Shaker Tree, New Hearing, Barber of G-Ville, Miller’s Lawn & Garden, One Real Peach, Shiffer Clock Repair, and Chic and Shabby. Miraculously, everyone was evacuated safely, supported by Garrettsville firefighters and over 100 firefighters from 34 neighboring departments, who spent more than seven hours suppressing the fire. While some businesses relocated within the village, others embarked on new ventures outside Garrettsville.
The aftermath witnessed a global outpouring of support, sparking the establishment of the GarrettsvilleStrong fund through Middlefield Bank. Formed on March 24, 2014, by the Garrettsville Area Chamber of Commerce, this fund became a unified fundraising platform, accepting donations from as far away as Australia. Over the last decade, it has amassed nearly $95,000 through donations and accrued interest.
This fund, allocated to the property owners of record at the time of the request for funding, based on the ground-level square-footage of the property affected by the 2014 fire, is earmarked specifically for financing expenses related to construction, such as drafting, materials, landscaping, and grading. The shares of the fund transfer with the property when/if the property is sold.
As the 10-year milestone approached, a vision emerged to transform the Buckeye Block into a community attraction. In September 2022, plans to rebuild gained momentum. The Garrettsville Area Chamber of Commerce worked with Michael Maschek to purchase his portion of the Buckeye Block property, laying the groundwork for a transformative project. The land purchase is funded through the Chamber’s general fund — not the GarrettsvilleStrong monies.
In December 2022, The Pattie Group, a local landscape design firm, donated their services, presenting visual renderings for a park-like setting, complete with an all-season amphitheater. Phase one of the project, initiated in spring 2023, included construction of a wrought iron and brick entryway and the planting of mature trees, funded by the Chamber’s share of the Garrettsville Strong fund ($45,048.69).
The project unfolds in three phases: phase two involves additional space-defining elements, personalized brick pavers, utility work for the amphitheater stage, and grading. Phase three encompasses the installation of personalized bricks and the construction of the Buckeye Block’s covered stage.
Fundraising plays a pivotal role in realizing this ambitious project. Individuals can contribute and leave a lasting mark by purchasing personalized bricks for the Buckeye Block Amphitheater at 44231.org/shop. Orders placed by June 1, 2024, will be installed during Phase 2, with those purchased after June 1 held for installation during Phase 3.
Additionally, a limited edition “Total Eclipse of the Block” t-shirt, celebrating the upcoming Solar Eclipse, is available at garrettsvillechamber.itemorder.com, each shirt comes with solar glasses to safely view April’s total eclipse.
As Garrettsville reflects on the 10 years since the Buckeye Block fire, the journey is not merely one of recovery but of a community forging a new legacy – a testament to the indomitable spirit of Garrettsville — and a signal to the other property owners that it’s time to begin to rebuild their section of the block.
For more information, please visit discovergarrettsville.com.