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Progress Through Preservation is hosting its Dining in Akron History fundraiser on three Sundays.The event allows guests to dine inside one of seven historic homes in the Akron area.Each dinner includes a meal, a tour of the home, and a discussion of the property’s history.
Have a sumptuous meal with a side dish of local history.
Owners of seven distinctive homes will open their doors to the public for an elegant dinner on three consecutive Sundays this autumn.
Dining in Akron History, the signature fundraiser of Progress Through Preservation, will be held Sept. 21, Sept. 28 and Oct. 5.
Guests will arrive at 5 p.m. for each event, which includes a meal, home tour and discussion of the property’s history. The cost for the event is $125 per person. Seating is limited. The tour tends to sell out each year, so don’t dawdle if you’re interested.
Venues will be assigned according to personal preference and the earliest reservations. Guests should plan for indoor and outdoor dining, weather permitting.
Here are the homes on this year’s tour:
The Ink House on Delaware Avenue (Sept. 21)
Pharmacist Charles Ink had this home built in 1928. After a fire in the 1950s, the owners changed the exterior from French Tudor Revival to Colonial. A burst pipe caused heavy damage in 2014. The current owners spent five years making repairs and returning the outside to its original design. An Italian dinner will be served to 16 guests on the patio.
The Myers House on Sunset View Drive (Sept. 21)
Built in 1927, the brick Tudor was the home of Albert and Martha Myers until 1952. Myers was a realtor and developer who bought 45 Ohio farms for home sites, including some around Akron. The house has its original floors and paneled walls. Eight guests will be served an Italian menu in the dining room with its original chandelier and intricate gold trim.
The McAllister House on North Highland Avenue (Sept. 21)
Randall McAllister and his wife, Mary, built the red-brick Colonial in 1918. He was born in Ireland in 1845 and came to the United States as a child. McAllister was a machinist who started the Brandon-McAllister Miter Co. The house sits on a cul-de-sac with other century homes in Highland Square. The interior has extensive crown molding, original woodwork and French doors. The McAllister family occupied the house until 1970. Six guests will be treated to an Irish dinner in honor of the original owner’s birthplace.
The Wetmore House on Kent Road (Sept. 28)
The Wetmore family moved from Connecticut to Ohio in 1804 and William Wetmore was a founder of Cuyahoga Falls. He deeded 95 acres in what is now Silver Lake to his 21-year-old son Edwin Wetmore, who built the house circa 1812. Over the past 200 years, there have been only four owners. Much of the interior is original, and the banister is said to be carved from a solid piece of black walnut. The house is rumored to have been a stop on the Underground Railroad. Eight guests will be served an Italian dinner.
The Johnson House on Dorchester Road (Sept. 28)
Architect Roy Firestone designed this 1925 Regency Revival house for Diamond Rubber CEO William Johnson and his wife, Mae Johnson. Johnson, a land speculator, helped develop Kenmore, a separate village before merging with Akron in 1928. The home’s current owners, who live with three bulldogs, have done period-sensitive remodeling. A dinner with a southern French menu will be served to 14 guests.
The Comeriato House on South Rose Boulevard (Oct. 5)
Surety Fidelity & Surety Co. owner Samuel Comeriato and his wife, Cora, built the Georgian Revival-style home in 1948. Notorious bondsman Liborio “Whiskey Dick” Percoco, Comeriato’s friend and business associate, was among those to enjoy the couple’s hospitality. The current homeowners have repaired damage and redecorated the home to reflect their personal taste. Eight guests will enjoy an Italian dinner like the Comeriatos might have served — and Percoco might have eaten — more than 75 years ago.
The Hale Hibbard House on South Maple Street (Oct. 5)
Known as the Orchard House, this 1865 historic home was built for one of the Hale Farm & Village daughters. It includes original oak woodwork, pocket doors, fireplaces, high ceilings and a grand staircase. The current owners spent five years restoring the home to its original glory and won a 2024 Architectural Heritage Award for their efforts. A Victorian-themed dinner will be served to 10 guests.
How to make reservations
For more information or to make a reservation, call Janet Little at 954-605-1197 or email events@ptpakron.org. Once a reservation is confirmed, guests can choose a check, cash or online payment option. Instructions will be provided.
The cost is tax deductible.
Reservations not paid within one week after confirmation will be canceled. If guests later learn they are unable to attend, they can transfer the reservations, but their payment will not be refunded.
Progress Through Preservation promotes and encourages the preservation, maintenance, restoration and adaptive reuse of buildings of historic or architectural significance in Akron and Summit County.
Visit https://www.ptpakron.org/ to learn more about the group.
Mark J. Price can be reached at mprice@thebeaconjournal.com
Dining and Cooking