We begin our Journey on August 15 at ArtSpace/Lima as we present the Where Art and Therapy Unite collection by local artist Ethan Jordan. Prints of these exquisite oil paintings of familiar buildings and landmarks will adorn our new, state-of-the-art inpatient rehabilitation center, which will inspire, motivate and comfort our patients who are undergoing intense therapy within the center. Images of Ethan’s collection can be found below with quick links to bid on each of the original paintings, right from the comfort of your own home.
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Ethan Jordan
American, born 2002, Gomer, Ohio
Ethan Jordan leverages his raw artistic talent to showcase the community he loves. With bright chromatic colors and small detailed strokes of the brush, Ethan has created a 17-piece collection of oil paintings that feature key buildings, landmarks and scenes in Northwest Ohio. The Where Art and Therapy Unite exhibition brings a sense of community to patients undergoing intense therapy to regain their independence at Lima Memorial Health System’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Center. Evoking a strong sense of community, Ethan’s paintings remind patients of their end goal – a return home.
Ethan began creating at a very young age and has been relishing in the joy of using his God-given talent to benefit others ever since. As his work began receiving recognition at youth art contests, Ethan dared to dream bigger. More recently, he completed a large-scale project where he created an amazing hand-painted wall pattern for The Met in downtown Lima. He also illustrated local historical landmarks for the Auglaize Township Historical Society to support fundraising efforts.
This budding artist is attending Lourdes University in Sylvania, Ohio, where he is pursuing formal training in the arts while playing baseball for the university.
As a gifted painter, graphic designer and brother to 11 siblings, Ethan brings joy to the masses through his delightful personality and artistic endeavors.
The Collection
Allen County Courthouse, Lima
The Allen County Courthouse is one of the region’s most recognizable structures. The present courthouse is Allen County’s third since its inception in 1832. It was built from 1881-1884 at a cost of $360,000. The building, designed by architect George Maetzel, is an elaborate French Second Empire style. Mansard-roofed towers frame it with a projecting entrance pavilion located in the center. The county and courthouse are named after Ethan Allen, a soldier of the Green Mountain Boys who fought in both the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War. The courthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
The Justice Center, a complex built in 1990 containing a jail, courts and sheriff offices, is located just north of the courthouse and is connected by an overhead walkway. The seamless blending of the two buildings creates an impressive complex for the citizens of Allen County.
Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center, Lima
The Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center anchors Town Square in downtown Lima. It is the region's premier event and meeting space and performing arts center, created to honor all military personnel. Civic leaders, arts enthusiasts and business owners partnered to make the civic center a reality. No new development had occurred in downtown Lima for the fifty years prior to the construction of the Civic Center in 1980. This team of committed supporters understood that every city needs at its heart a central district that invigorates the rest of the town. These community leaders then developed and implemented a plan using public and private funds to build the civic center, with the private sector contributing 80% of the funds for the $8 million project. Groundbreaking occurred on January 4, 1983, and construction was completed in September 1984.
A spectacular celebration was held in Lima in October 1984 to commemorate the opening of the Civic Center. Over 4,000 volunteers assisted in the planning and execution of the four-day celebration which included appearances by Hugh Downs and Phyllis Diller, a concert by the pop group Air Supply, performances by local musicians and dancers, a parade which attracted 20,000 spectators and a presentation of the Broadway musical “Ain’t Misbehavin’.”
The Civic Center is a 64,000 square foot building which houses a 1,700-seat auditorium with a main floor and balcony, a three-story glass lobby, and a two-story multipurpose wing. Hundreds of events take place at the Civic Center each year, including Lima Symphony Orchestra concerts, local dance recitals, graduation ceremonies, trade conventions, wedding receptions, concerts and Broadway Series productions. The VMCCC economically benefits the Lima region and improves the quality of life for its residents.
The Metropolitan Block, Lima
The Metropolitan Block is a historic five-story brick building on North Main Street in Lima. Erected in 1890 in the middle of Lima’s petroleum boom, each floor of the building has floor-to-ceiling windows. It is a historically significant example of Romanesque Revival architecture and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The ground floor housed the Stippich Hardware store. The floors above the hardware store housed doctors and dentists’ offices. These floors later housed apartments. By 1987, the building had fallen into disrepair. A group of farsighted community leaders formed a nonprofit organization called American House, the purpose of which was to preserve the history and culture of the Lima region. American House purchased the building from the Stippich family and worked with civic leaders to renovate the building.
Since its renovation in 1993, the Metropolitan Block has had several first-floor tenants including American House and Nitza’s Boutique. In 2012, Rob Nelson purchased The Metropolitan Block and opened The Met, a wine bar and restaurant. The Metropolitan Block continues in its role as a major anchor that furthers downtown Lima’s redevelopment.
Lima Stadium Park, Lima
Lima Stadium Park, dedicated in 2015, includes three acres of open green space, meandering sidewalks, perimeter fencing with controlled access points and a public splash-pad water park. A grotto area is featured which commemorates five local high schools from the city who have called the adjacent stadium their home - Lima Senior, Lima Central Catholic, Lima South, Lima Central and St. Rose.
A group of visionary community leaders, the Lima City School Board, the State of Ohio and the City of Lima worked together to develop Lima Stadium Park into a recreational and community gathering space which celebrates the resiliency of the City of Lima and provides a stunning entrance into the downtown district. The project revitalized five acres of land adjacent to the existing stadium grounds which has helped create an aesthetic and vibrant community space.
Kewpee Downtown, Lima
Kewpee Hamburgers is iconic. The first Kewpee location was built in Lima in 1928. As downtown Lima grew, so did Kewpee. The location on Elizabeth Street was built in 1939 and was one of the first buildings in Lima to have central air conditioning. The Davidson Enamel Products Company, located on East Kibby Street in Lima, created this building. Interestingly, there was an exact twin building built at that time in Utica, New York, both fabricated in Lima. The only difference is the Lima building had a wall along the side of the building that joins to The City Loan Building, and the Utica, New York building had windows.
In 1939, as Kewpee moved into their new home downtown, the frosted malt was introduced. This ice cream mixture, which is served in a frosted soda glass and eaten with a spoon, is still served just like this today at the downtown Lima location. In 1975, French fries were added to the menu. An addition had to be built onto the building to accommodate the fryers. As curbside service grew impractical, the downtown location went back to using the drive-thru window. A turntable was installed to spin a car around to exit the lot, which was a huge hit with children and adults.
Allen County Farm Park, Lima
The Allen County Farm Park was created in 1982, through a 90-year, no-cost lease agreement with the Allen County Commissioners and the Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District. The lease consisted of a 45-acre tract of land that was originally part of the Allen County Home. In 2003, an additional 18.8 acres were added to the 45 acres by a donation from the Park District Foundation of Allen County. The Farm Park hosts a bi-annual Apple Festival, a community favorite. Activities during the two-day event include pioneer craft demonstrations, apple butter cooking demonstrations, antique apple cider press demonstrations, hayrides and a frontier encampment.
The main feature of the Allen County Farm Park is the bright red barn painted with the state of Ohio logo welcoming visitors to Allen County. The logo was painted on the barn in 2018 by famed barn artist Scott Hagan of Belmont County, Ohio. The barn dates to the early to mid-1900’s and was originally a dairy barn. Artist Scott Hagan is well known for painting Ohio’s bicentennial logo on a different barn in each of Ohio’s 88 counties. He traveled 65,000 miles throughout Ohio using 645 gallons of paint and 100 brushes to help celebrate Ohio’s bicentennial.
Faurot Park WPA Stone Bridge, Lima
Faurot Park is 89 acres of green space located within the city of Lima. Faurot Park is named after the original discoverer of oil in Lima, Benjamin Faurot. Community members gather at Faurot Park for a quiet picnic, to play baseball, to fish in one of the ponds, to play on the playground, to listen to a concert or to watch spectacular fireworks at the annual Star Spangled Spectacular. One of the park’s most recognizable features, the stone bridge, was constructed in the late 1930’s. This bridge is a gathering spot for many today and is often featured prominently in photographs.
Allen County Museum, Lima
For more than a century, the Allen County Historical Society has been preserving our area's rich history. The Allen County Museum is operated by the Allen County Historical Society. Originally located in Lima's Memorial Hall, the Historical Society outgrew the available space by 1935 and began privately raising funds to build a museum. Spearheaded by Elizabeth M. MacDonell, and supported by the notable John Wesley Van Dyke, Chairman of the Atlantic Refining Company, the organization successfully raised the needed funds to build a separate facility.
World War II interrupted construction plans, but by 1954 the cornerstone was laid - a stone from the original White House, Washington, D.C. Since that time, the Historical Society has amassed a large collection of items - both local and international. The vast majority of the 280,000 collection items housed at the Allen County Museum were donated by the citizens of Allen County. For more than 100 years, Allen County citizens have donated their prized family heirlooms with the intent that these items be shared with future generations who would be educated about, and find pride in, their heritage.
Allen County Fairgrounds Grandstand, Lima
The Allen County Fair is a tradition woven into the fabric of the Lima and Allen County community. Citizens from throughout the area are drawn together for a common cause - to showcase the agricultural achievements of their citizens and promote the accomplishments of their 4H and FFA youth. Community service and volunteer leadership contribute to the success of the Allen County Fair. The Allen County Fairgrounds has one of the finest fair facilities in Ohio. The 2,000-seat Grandstand, constructed in 1958, symbolizes the proud tradition of the fair dating back to the first fair held in 1851.
Ada Pennsylvania Station and Railroad Park, Ada
An Ada treasure, the Ada Pennsylvania Station and Railroad Park is a historic train station built in 1887 by the Pennsylvania Railroad. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. The train station is a wooden building, set on a stone foundation and topped with an asphalt roof. The Railroad Park includes a Pennsylvania Railroad caboose. Founded as a railway town, Ada grew quickly after the establishment of Ohio Northern University in the 1880s. Consequently, this station was built to accommodate increased passenger traffic. Its Stick-Eastlake architecture was unusual for Pennsylvania Railroad depots, and it was larger than most stations built to serve small communities.
Armstrong Air and Space Museum, Wapakoneta
On July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 crew had completed the greatest journey in human history, putting men on the moon and setting the course for the future of the nation’s space program. That day, Ohio Governor James Rhodes proposed a museum as a monument to the achievements of not only Armstrong but “all Ohioans who have attempted to defy gravity,” as well as to the history of the space program itself. On July 20, 1972, three years to the day after Neil Armstrong’s walk on the moon, the Armstrong Air & Space Museum opened. Many historical items are displayed in the museum, including a moon rock, two full-sized aircraft flown by Neil Armstrong, the Gemini VII space capsule and artifacts from the Apollo 11 mission.
Hardin County Courthouse, Kenton
The Hardin County Courthouse was built in 1915. The present courthouse is the third structure to occupy the middle of the city's central square. It replaced an 1880 building, which in turn replaced a structure erected in 1834. Architectural historians rate it as an excellent example of neoclassical architecture, with elements such as pilasters topped with Doric capitals and walls of dressed stone. The interior is lit by a skylight and stained-glass windows and features multiple murals and brass chandeliers.
The courthouse is unique because it houses Veteran Hall, which commemorates Hardin County patriots. One of the patriots honored is Jacob Parrott, a Union soldier of the American Civil War. Parrott was the first recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor. The courthouse was constructed of Indiana gray limestone and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Sandy Beach Bridge, Indian Lake
The Sandy Beach Bridge has been an icon of both Indian Lake and Logan County since its construction in the 1920's. The bridge served as the pedestrian connection between the east side of the Sandy Beach Amusement Park and attractions and eateries on the west side. The bridge and amusement park closed in the 1960’s. A lack of maintenance led to the removal of the decking from the bridge in the 1980’s as a safety precaution.
Developer Mr. W.M. (Bill) Reed purchased the amusement park property and envisioned making the bridge come to life again as the center of activity in Russells Point harbor. In 2009, the Reed family joined forces with the Indian Lake Area Historical Society to restore the bridge for the enjoyment of the community and visitors. The refurbished bridge was dedicated in 2014 as part of a celebration, “Bridging the Past into the Future.”
J. H. Manchester Round Barn, Waynesfield
This spectacular round barn was built by Horace Duncan in 1908 on the J.H. Manchester farm in Auglaize County, Ohio, where it has served the Manchester family for five generations. Echoing an eighty-year-old Shaker design, hay and feed were stored in the center of the barn for livestock housed around the circumference. With a diameter of 102 feet, the Manchester barn is the largest round barn east of the Mississippi River. In 2008, to celebrate the centennial of the barn, it was repainted bright red, with white trim. The entrance faces west and features double-hinged doors with diagonal siding with a helmet-shaped projecting entrance. It is adorned with the nameplate "J.H. MANCHESTER, 1908, MAPLE AVENUE FARM, HORACE DUNCAN BUILDER". In 1980, the barn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
St. Michael Catholic Church, Kalida
The church of St. Michael the Archangel is a majestic structure that graces the Kalida countryside as a testament to the faith of that community. The first St. Michael Church was built in 1878 and had no heat, bare floors, no tower and no organ. By the 1920’s, the congregation had outgrown its space, and funds were raised to construct a new church. Construction was completed in 1926. The result was a stately, magnificent building, whose campanile soared 135 feet into the air, topped with a huge golden cross. The church is designed in the Lombardic-Romanesque style of Northern Italy. The church’s distinctive red roof is made of Spanish tile. The campanile, a separate structure adjacent to the church, was removed from the original church plans to save costs. But the pastor at the time, Father Michael Muehe, really wanted the tower. So, he re-canvassed the community and raised the funds to construct the distinctive campanile.
Impressive stained-glass windows from the world-renowned Franz Mayer Co. of Germany adorn the interior of the church. The windows contain detailed images depicting important events in the life of Christ. The original opaque glass windows in the lower half of the church were replaced with stained-glass windows in 1939 at a cost of $14,000. The windows were shipped from Germany just two days prior to Germany’s invasion of Poland and the start of World War II. The windows are semi-jeweled, hand-blown glass. The exquisite, vibrant color is throughout the whole glass and is guaranteed to last forever. The windows today are valued at over $3 million. The upper windows were created by the Franz Mayer Co. in their New York studio and were installed in 1941.
Grand Lake St. Marys Lighthouse, Celina
The Grand Lake St. Marys Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse built in 1923 on a peninsula in Grand Lake St. Marys. It is a predominantly concrete structure that rests on a stone foundation. The beacon atop the 50-foot-tall lighthouse is incased in a dome of bronze glass and is topped with a decorative weathervane. Although the lighthouse was built partially for ornamental purposes, it served as an active lighthouse during its earliest years. Grand Lake St. Marys was built to provide water for the Miami and Erie Canal. Although the canal ceased operations by 1923, there was still sufficient lake traffic to warrant the use of a lighthouse on this peninsula.
In 1982, the Grand Lake St. Marys Lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its historically significant architecture. Key to its inclusion was its unusual location in a flat, landlocked region far from major bodies of water. It is the only historic lighthouse in the region.
The Brumback Library, Van Wert
The Brumback Library has the distinction of being the first county library formed in the United States. The Brumback Library was built with funds bequeathed to Van Wert County residents by John Sanford Brumback, a former resident and early philanthropist of Van Wert. Mr. Brumback’s will directed that enough funds from his estate be devoted to the building and furnishing of a library as a gift to Van Wert County if the county would provide books and maintenance.
The cornerstone of the building was laid in 1899 with dedication on January 1, 1901. The architecture is a combination of Gothic and Romanesque with a Ludowici tile roof and turreted towers. This imposing building sits among the trees in the park, as originally requested by John Sanford Brumback. Mr. Brumback’s heirs continue to provide support to the library including two renovations. In 1991, a 10,500 square foot addition was added along with a complete renovation of the existing structure.