Groups, grants working to keep 'Mabel's Stable'

Much effort and expense has gone into “Keeping Mabel’s Stable” over the last several years.

Since 2018, six major projects at a total expense of more than $65,000 have been undertaken by the Alliance Historical Society to preserve Alliance’s most notable Victorian landmark, the Mabel Hartzell Historical Home.

“We have certainly been doing our due diligence with our responsibility of taking care of the house,” said Dave McMahon, chairman of the building committee of the Alliance Historical Society board of trustees. “We are doing all we can to make sure the Mabel Hartzell Historical Home stands for as long as possible and will be here for future generations.”

Located at 840 N. Park Ave., the Italianate-style home was built in 1867 by Matthew Earley, a politician and businessman, and his wife, Mary Edwards Earley. The house, which now functions as a museum, is named for the Earleys’ adopted daughter, Mabel Hartzell, a prominent Alliance educator and Northeast Ohio women’s suffrage leader who was an active community leader and was a founder of the Alliance Historical Society in 1939.

Of the six major projects at the Mabel Hartzell Historical Home since 2018, the bulk of the expense has been spent on the installation of a standing seam metal roof ($28,605) in 2018 and tuckpointing and eaves repairs ($31,290) over the last two years. Other major projects have included lighting and electrical upgrades, repair and painting of water damaged areas, and the replacement of flooring in the summer kitchen.

Fortunately, the Society has been able to obtain grants and donations to cover many of those expenses as it continues to tell Alliance’s story.

For example, a $15,000 Greater Alliance Foundation grant was used for the 2021 repair to fascia and gutters on the main roof, repointing of brick on the kitchen and south wall of the chimneys.

That work continued this summer as Coon Restoration conducted spot brick repointing on the balance of the home’s exterior. In some cases, the bricks were replaced – a service that was not included in the contract, but was donated by the restoration company. That’s no easy task, considering the age and scarcity of the vintage bricks.

“Not only did Coon Restoration do a fine job, but there were some real issues with a couple of the bricks and how damaged they were,” explained McMahon. “Our Coon representative took the initiative to replace those bricks that really needed it with ones from their stock. They really went above and beyond what they quoted us.”

Several other contractors have given discounts on bills, including Pauli Electric and Keith Crewson, while past President Michelle Dillon donated all of the materials for new hardwood floors in the summer kitchen. Meanwhile, her husband, Jeff Dillon, installed the flooring and donated the labor for that 2020 project.

Funding for the metal roof project was obtained through the Stark County commissioners ($2,083), the Elks ($3,500) and an Ohio History Fund grant ($13,240), while J.A. Mehl Restoration donated some materials and labor.

McMahon noted there is a photo taken in the late 1800s of the house that shows the home originally had a metal roof. At some point that roof was taken off and replaced with shingles, which was in disrepair and needed to be replaced.

“We were actually able to obtain the Ohio History Fund grant because we were restoring the roof back to what was original to the house,” explained McMahon.

The Mabel Hartzell Historical Home is listed on the National Register, a requirement of Ohio History Fund brick-and-mortar projects.

“The metal roof is quite an improvement,” added McMahon.  “Not only is it aesthetically better, but it will provide much more longevity. Plus, it brings the house back to what it was originally.”

With the roof and brick work completed just in time for annual Carnation Festival tours, the Mabel Hartzell Historical Home may be in the best shape it has been for years, giving the Alliance Historical Society the opening to take on new opportunities.

“The house is in really good shape,” said McMahon of the 155-year-old structure. “There is always something that needs to be done to the house, but the projects over the last five years have repaired some very major issues and those repairs will last for many years. They were rather large expenditures, but it has brought the house to a really good state of repair.”

This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Alliance groups, grants working to keep 'Mabel's Stable'