Here's how National Register listing will help Girard use its past to improve its future
GIRARD — Girard's downtown is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service.
That's good news for more than local history buffs.
National Register designation: Girard plans to leverage the past to revitalize its downtown
Girard Borough applied for National Register designation for the Girard Historic District in partnership with the nonprofit Downtown Girard Inc. to leverage history, architecture and other assets to revitalize Girard's downtown.
"The designation is incredibly good new for Girard," said Melinda Meyer, president of Preservation Erie. Meyer worked with borough officials to apply for the National Register listing, which was announced Friday. "Not only does it acknowledge Girard's unique history and resources, it also can be used as a planning tool and a tool for economic development.
"It's an opportunity for the community to utilize the designation in tourism initiatives and in attracting new residents. It also makes some commercial properties in the historic district eligible for grants and tax credits" intended to attract new business and increase tax revenues, Meyer said.
The designation also could attract visitors.
"It puts us on the national map, and hopefully, people will come here to learn more about our rich history," Girard Borough Manager Rob Stubenbort said.
"It also may spark some interest for people here to learn more about the town they live in and what a great place it has always been," he said.
The Girard Historic District is mainly along Main Street (Route 20) between Rice and Penn avenues.
Girard's colorful history
A central figure in Girard history was flamboyant circus owner and performer Dan Rice.
The 19th century showman wintered his circus in Girard from 1853 through the Civil War. The circus returned to Girard each fall in a parade from the nearby Erie Extension Canal.
Flanking Dan Rice Monument: Civil War cannons are being returned to their posts in Girard's Main Street median
Rice commissioned and paid for the nation's first monument to Civil War dead. The monument was dedicated in Girard's Main Street median in November 1865. The event was featured in a double-page spread of Harper's Weekly.
Rice additionally has been credited as the inspiration for the Uncle Sam persona and for a time dabbled in national politics. He ran for a Pennsylvania U.S. Senate seat in 1864 and for president of the United States in 1868.
Girard additionally boasted early business magnates, including industrialist and banker Rush Battles, as well as an Underground Railroad "station." The Underground Railroad in western Erie County was led by the Rev. Charles Shipman, pastor of Girard's Universalist Church and regional superintendent of the network that conducted formerly enslaved persons to freedom.
The canal, railroads and Route 20, the longest highway in the U.S., also played major roles in Girard history, Meyer said.
The road to the National Register
Consultants hired by Girard prepared and last year submitted the National Register of Historic Places application to the Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Board, which recommended National Park Service approval. The National Park Service reviews state recommendations and makes the final decision on which properties to add to the National Register of historic sites worth preserving.
2022 approval: The historic district in Downtown Corry is now on the National Register of Historic Places
Corry, Lawrence Park, North East, Union City and Waterford are among other towns with historic districts included in the National Register of Historic Places.
Contact Valerie Myers at vmyers@timesnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Girard downtown is added to National Register of Historic Places
