Come for the homes, stay for the fun

Toledo’s Old West End Festival, now in its 5th decade, is one of the Toledo area’s most well-attended neighborhood festivals. A major reason for its enduring popularity is the historic homes tour, an exceptional opportunity for people to view remarkable examples of late Victorian and Craftsman-style homes built at the turn of the last century.But none of this would have been possible without the persistent dedication of those who’ve come to the neighborhood over the last 50+ years with the mission of preserving these architectural treasures. Two such people are the guests on the interview posted here — Michael Walker and Chuck Madrigal.Michael and Chuck are among many who migrated from other regions, both near and far, to settle in Toledo’s Old West End. As the neighborhood saying goes, “We came for the homes and stayed for the people.” To be a part of preserving what is now the largest continuous neighborhood of homes from this era east of the Mississippi is to be a part of an active community dedicated to a mission — and it has attracted a colorful group of people to participate in it. As Michael and Chuck note in our conversation, this mission is NOT easy. They admit you have to be a little crazy to devote time and funds to bring sometimes uninhabitable homes back from the brink of total ruin while maintaining their historical integrity. But you can also hear in their voices the joy that comes along with it — and that joy can be infectious. I’m personally grateful that in our throwaway culture, there are people like this who not only work to beautify our communities but who also preserve our anchors to the past and the people who built them. Such tangible connections to the norms of another era can inspire us to consider how our own future could be just as markedly different from what we consider “normal” today, and to value building things worth preserving.If you are able, I encourage you to mark your calendar for the first weekend in June (it’s the same weekend every year) and visit the Old West End Festival. Come for the homes — and stay for the fun! The wacky, exuberant kick-off parade on Saturday morning. The music, the food, the yard sales, the art. The pure joy of watching families share the moment together. And of course, the homes.Your Community Matters is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Here’s a sampling of the homes discussed in the interview:The in-progress “Delaware House”The Virginia Land Bank House — before and afterThe (mostly) rennovated Ford Mansion and the Knight House next doorThanks for reading Your Community Matters! This post is public so feel free to share it.The Old West End Festival is always the first Saturday and Sunday in June. For details about or tickets to the home tours, visit the House Tours page at the Old West End website. (tickets are NOT required for the Project House or the Virginia Land Bank House). Get full access to Your Community Matters at yourcommunitymatters.substack.com/subscribe