Historic roof restoration complete at Ravenna’s Riddle Block 1

The restoration of the slate roof at historic Riddle Block 1 at 215 S. Chestnut St. in Ravenna has finally been completed after a lengthy process that left workers battling harsh winter weather.

The building serves as one of the most historic landmarks in Ravenna. It is part of the 11-building district known as the Riddle Blocks, which date back to 1931 when the Clark Carriage Company, owned by N.D. Clark, was introduced.

The company was purchased in 1861 by Clark’s brothers-in-law, Charles Merts and Henry W. Riddle, then becoming the Merts and Riddle Coach and Hearse Company.

Merts, a talented woodworker and toolmaker, supervised the factory, while Riddle went on the road to sell the coaches and hearses. Merts sold his shares to the company in 1891 and the business name changed to Riddle Coach and Hearse. Through renovations, the Riddle Block 1 building was finished in 1889. When the company began making motorized hearses and ambulances in 1911, the name changed again to Riddle Manufacturing Company.

Riddle hearses were of fine quality and were used in the processions of Presidents William McKinley and Warren G. Harding, as well as of Roy Rogers in 1998. The factory closed in 1926.

Since the closure, Riddle Block 1 has served as a business hub, featuring storefronts, offices and apartments, and remains a commanding presence in the downtown area.

The Riddle Block 1 building currently houses Portage County Adult Probation, Hometown Bank, Don Basch Jewelers and Mark H. Heisa Attorney, as well as includes probate and juvenile court offices and a data tower for the county’s IT system.

Shannon Kautzman, director of internal services for Portage County, along with the Portage County Commissioners, bid out the job, settling on Boak & Sons, Inc., who replaced the rubber portion of the roof and subcontracted out the slate portion of the roof to The Durable Restoration Company.

The $954,374 project began in fall 2023 and was initially scheduled to be completed in November 2024, but due to Ohio’s harsh winter weather, the project lasted until April of this year.

“We replaced the rubber portion first, and then we did the slate portion, the decorative metal, gutters, downspouts, and that’s what took so long at the ending,” Kautzman said. “I was very impressed with the slate company. They worked through some harsh weather, but they wanted to make sure they got it right, so it took a little bit longer than expected, but we were OK with that.”

Julie Butler, preservation director for The Durable Restoration Company, worked with the City of Ravenna to choose materials that would accurately replicate the original style of the building.

“Specifically, we replaced the roof using 16-inch by 9-inch Greyson slate, sourced from Virginia, and then most of the flashings were restored, and we used painted galvanized steel to match the original materials,” Butler said. “However, the flashings in areas prone to high ice and water exposure, which, of course, we know is something that happens in Ravenna, we upgraded those to copper, so those are a little bit stronger.”

The mostly slate roof system features steep mansard slopes, a pyramidal tower and dormers that have now been restored to their original authenticity.

“The Durable Restoration Company extends its gratitude to the local community and all stakeholders for making this restoration project possible,” the company said in a press release. “Durable Restoration’s high standards of craftsmanship and precise technique will ensure that this architectural gem of Ravenna stands for generations to come.”