May 29, 2025, Press Release from Ohio History Connection:
OTTAWA, Ohio – The Putnam County Community Improvement Corporation and the Ohio History Connection’s State Historic Preservation Office will sponsor a Building Doctor Clinic for old-building owners in and around Ottawa from June 25-26.
The clinic will feature Building Doctors Mariangela Pfister and Justin Cook of the State Historic Preservation Office.
It begins with a free seminar from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 25, at the Ottawa Brewing Company’s Walnut Room, 202 W. Main St., Ottawa. Open to all old-building owners in the area, the seminar will feature guidelines for renovation projects and ways to solve the most common problems of buildings dating from 1800 to 1960.
On Thursday, June 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Building Doctors will visit pre-1960 buildings within Ottawa and nearby communities, advising owners on specific technical or design problems by appointment. They will examine all kinds of old buildings, including homes, commercial buildings, churches and public buildings. Some things that typically call for an on-site examination include persistent peeling paint or flaking plaster, a wet basement, deteriorating masonry and plans for remodeling, additions or demolitions.
Pfister has been with the State Historic Preservation Office for more than 30 years. She heads the Technical Preservation Service Department, which reviews applications for federal and state historic rehabilitation tax credits, works with the Building Doctor program and answers questions about the care and maintenance of older buildings. Pfister has a master’s degree in history from The Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree in history, English and secondary education from Capital University.
Pfister will be joined by Cook, another experienced Building Doctor. Cook reviews applications for federal and state historic preservation tax credits and previously reviewed projects that receive federal funding, licenses or permits for effects they may have on historic properties as required under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. He has a master’s degree in historic preservation from the University of Vermont, with additional studies in history and urban and regional planning, and a bachelor’s degree in classics from the University of Pittsburgh.
Pfister and Cook will be accompanied by Building Doctors-in-Training Miranda Fisher, Abby Marshall and Trent Bradford.
Fisher is the architecture transportation reviews manager who works closely with the office’s federal and state partners and local communities to protect historic properties during implementation of federal and state transportation initiatives. She received her undergraduate degree from Kent State University, where she majored in art history and minored in Italian and architectural studies. Later, she received her graduate degree in preservation design from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia.
Marshall serves as the survey and National Register manager in the Department of Inventory and Registration. She works closely with the Ohio Historic Survey Program and the National Register of Historic Places Program, documenting historic resources across the state. Marshall earned her bachelor’s degree in geography, specifically, travel and tourism, and her master’s degree in historic preservation from Ball State University.
Bradford is a technical preservation services manager in the Technical Preservation Service Department. He reviews state and federal historic rehabilitation tax credit applications and advises applicants on how best to apply the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic Rehabilitation to their projects so that they receive tax credit financing. He has a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Cincinnati.
The seminar and on-site consultations are free with registration. To register, go to building-doctor.org or call 614-298-2000. For more information, contact Amy Sealts, Director, Economic Development, Putnam County Community Improvement Corporation, at 419-523-5595 or amy@putnamcountycic.com.
The Ohio History Connection’s State Historic Preservation Office is Ohio’s official historic preservation agency. It identifies historic places in Ohio, nominates properties to the National Register of Historic Places, reviews federally assisted projects for effects on historic, architectural and archaeological resources in Ohio, consults on conservation of older buildings and sites and offers educational programs and publications.
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About the Ohio History Connection:
The Ohio History Connection is a statewide history organization with the mission to spark discovery of Ohio’s stories. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization chartered in 1885, the Ohio History Connection carries out history services for Ohio and its citizens. This includes housing the State Historic Preservation Office and the official state archives and managing more than 50 sites and museums across Ohio. For more information, go to ohiohistory.org. The Greater Columbus Arts Council and the Columbus Foundation provide support for Ohio History Connection programs.
Prescriptions from the Building Doctors
Do's:
1. Check your roof and attic or upper stories for leaks at least every six months. Look for separations, bulges, cracks, and signs of moisture. It’s important to check your roof regularly. A sound roof is the key to preventing many problems which can occur below.
2. Inspect your gutters and downspouts during a hard rain to see that they’re working properly. Keep them clean and free of leaves and obstructions which may clog them. Make sure water from downspouts is directed away from the foundation.
3. Open your basement windows in the dry season to let air circulate. Feel basement walls for dampness. A musty odor indicates a high moisture level in the basement. Check for proper ventilation and dehumidification. Be certain that air circulates freely and isn’t blocked by materials stored against the wall.
4. Look for loose or damaged siding. Note any areas of paint failure. Check gaps between boards. Gaps smaller than a quarter-inch will help ventilate the wall cavity; larger gaps may admit rainwater.
5. Caulk gaps where window and door frames meet masonry or wood openings to prevent water from entering wall cavities of frame buildings or masonry of bearingwall structures.
6. Examine painted surfaces for signs of peeling, cracking and alligatoring. Look for clues to original painting techniques and colors. A common way to examine hidden layers of paint is to carefully sand a small area in a location where it would not have weathered or been in direct sunlight, exposing the individual layers.
7. Assess the condition of all exterior features, particularly those of significance, such as porches, brackets and other decorative trim.
8. Attend the Building Doctor Clinic.
Don'ts:
1. Don’t use abrasive methods to clean brick or masonry. They can cause irreparable harm. Sandblasting, for example, removes the hard outer surface of the brick, exposing its softer core to the elements, and damages other kinds of masonry and wood, too. Avoid all techniques for cleaning masonry or wood that involve blasting or high pressure.
2. Don’t use water-repellent coatings on masonry. They can trap moisture inside instead of letting it pass freely in and out as it normally would. When trapped moisture freezes, it expands, often forcing the surface of the brick or stone to flake or spall.
3. Never seal basement windows shut. You’ll trap moist air inside and prevent proper air circulation, which can lead to a damp basement.
4. Don’t plant bushes or vegetation close to the foundation. They prevent sunlight from reaching the ground, allowing moisture to accumulate there.
5. Don’t use blown-in insulation unless you install a vapor barrier, too. Without the vapor barrier, moisture can accumulate, saturating the insulation and damaging your wall.
6. Don’t leave unused gas pipes connected or live ends uncapped. Have gas lines professionally inspected. You can prevent a tragedy and save yourself a great deal of money.
7. Don’t allow bare wires to remain exposed. Have old wiring professionally inspected.
8. Don’t forget to give your building a thorough check-up every six months to ensure that it has a clean bill of health
