It’s More Than Just Saving Buildings

What Historic Preservation Is All About

Historic preservation is not just saving a historically or architecturally significant building in your community. Though most people think of restoration as historic preservation, the real meaning of historic preservation lies within the community as a whole: people, places, and ideas.

Historic preservation often comes in many forms such as the celebration of events or holidays, individuals we are proud of, places we cherish, and ideas that change our way of doing things. Other times it can be the recognition of moments in our history that may be painful or uncomfortable to remember.

The Sharon Historical Society focuses its efforts on historic preservation in a few ways. These are the restoration, preservation, and tasteful rehabilitation of historically or architecturally significant buildings or homes, the encouragement of celebrations of all ethnic or religious groups as a means of cultural heritage, and the remembrance of those who have come before us, who have shaped Sharon, Pennsylvania - and the Shenango Valley - whether they are average citizens or movers and shakers, they all make up the fabric of our local history.

 

What Are Our Current Initiatives?

Currently, the Sharon Historical Society is working on three initiatives:

  1. Interpretative signage for high foot-trafficked areas to give historical context to the city, its buildings, and landscape.

  2. Historic districts for the city’s downtown business district and notable neighborhoods through the U.S. Department of the Interior and Pennsylvania History and Museum Commission.

  3. Our Historic Landmark Program will allow building owners and homeowners to apply to be declared a historic landmark based on architectural style, historical significance, or both.