'A homecoming': Summit County Land Bank celebrates new offices at John S. Knight House
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The spiral staircase scales all three floors of the John S. Knight House. The walls are decorated with pieces from Summit County artists. And in a conference room in the west wing, a portrait of the Pulitzer-prize winning Akron Beacon Journal publisher and editor watches over what used to be his living room. Now, the house has a new homeowner.
Hundreds gathered to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the John S. Knight House with a ribbon-cutting ceremony from Summit County Land Bank.
"We're still working to strengthen neighborhoods and communities throughout Summit County. Only now we're going to be doing it from our beautiful new home at 400 South Portage path here in West Akron," Summit County Land Bank Executive Director Patrick Bravo said.
Summit County Land Bank is celebrating its 10th anniversary and is officially located within the Knight House after leading the preservation and renovation of the property.
The Knight House, built in 1922, is located on North Portage Path — south of the Akron Woman’s City Club along Exchange Street and north of the John Brown Home and Perkins Stone Mansion.
Cynthia Knight spoke fondly of memories of the house from her adolescence. She became John's daughter-in-law after marrying Charles Landon II.
She said she remembers attending parties at the home in the 1950s, when it was owned by the Maglione family. At that time, she did not realize she would soon be part of the family of the home's original owners.
"It's important to retain things from the past. The Knight family is so much a part of Akron history and I'm glad there is still a light being shed on them," Cynthia Knight said.
The Knights shuttered the home after the untimely death of Knight's wife, Katherine. It has been vacant in recent years and had been a target of vandalism.
In 2020, the Summit County Land Bank acquired the property and four surrounding parcels for $275,000. The agency raised nearly $712,000 to restore the home, including a $637,500 gift from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
The Land Bank's mission is to support neighborhood and community reinvestment and economic development efforts. In the future, Bravo said they hope to further connect the Knight House with other landmarks in the area with a sprawling sidewalk down Portage Path featuring local art and historical artifacts from the area.
The 6,700-square-foot home is nearly four times the space the land bank previously occupied in the Russell M. Pry Building.
Knight built the two-story, six-bedroom stucco home after serving in France with the 113th Infantry during World War I. It was designed by the architectural firm of Good & Wagner, which also designed Akron City Hall, the YMCA building and the clubhouse at Portage Country Club.
The Knights lived in the home with their sons John Shively Jr., Charles Landon II and Frank McClain Knight until Katherine's death at age 33 in 1929.
Cynthia brought original portraits of her family back to the house during renovations.
"It is like a homecoming," she said. "It really was quite moving. When I put the portraits into the car, it felt like I was bringing the family back home, right where they belong."
Tours of the John S. Knight House are open to the public with an appointment. Those interested should email Tyron Hoisten, marketing and communications specialist, at thoisten@summitlandbank.org.
Reporter Molly Walsh can be reached at mwalsh@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Summit County Land Bank celebrates new home at John S. Knight House
