Tag: WLHD

  • [Part 3] My journey to the “West Loveland Historic District”

    [Part 3] My journey to the “West Loveland Historic District”

    Did you Know that the Loveland Museum Center is located in the West Loveland Historic District?

    Did You Know?

    Cassie Mattia is a resident of Historic Downtown

    Loveland, Ohio – Our journey continues as we take a stroll down the sidewalks of the West Loveland Historic District (WLHD) and discover the facts that make living and working there so appealing.

    It may not be a surprise to Loveland residents that this historic district has always had businesses that give off an artistic ambiance. In the WLHD, there are two businesses that not only give off that Loveland artistic feel, but have also found a way to set themselves apart from other art studios. DID YOU KNOW there is an art studio that provides art classes, parties, events, after school programs, camps and art exhibitions for children and adults? For the Love of Art Studio teaches people of all ages the fundamentals of art using only the best tools and supplies. The art studio hosts birthday parties, private business events and special themed parties for adults, teens and kids. For the Love of Art has a had an overwhelming response to its after-school programs and summer camps. In the after-school art program students from ages, 8 to 14 can work with pastels, oil paint, mix media, acrylic, paper-mache and textures. DID YOU KNOW the Love of Art helps young talent pursue fashion design in their summer camps? The art studio teaches students the basics of fashion illustration and helps them create their own collections using “figure design” and watercolor pencils. Students also get the opportunity to create their very own accessories, such as fiber jewelry and a purse.

    A recent work by Loveland artist Deirdre Dyson.

    Another place where art is both shared and celebrated is Studio 430 & Art Gallery (formally The Art House II) located in a historic home at 430 West Loveland Avenue. Deirdre Dyson, a world renown artist known for her landscape art, turned the home into a beautiful workspace and art gallery. DID YOU KNOW Dyson has created some of the most sought-after art collections right here in Loveland? Landscapes, A World of

    Deirdre and Dick Dyson invested several hundred thousands of dollars in the WLHD to create an art studio and gallery in this historic home as well as a “live-work” 2nd floor.

    Light and Color, and Fall Art Show are just a few of Dyson’s collections that have been featured in the media and have been up for prestigious art awards. The public is welcome to enjoy Dyson’s art collections displayed at Studio 430 as well as use the house as an open art studio. Dyson also holds painting classes where she teaches beginners and those with experience about color mixing and how to look at images through a more creative lens. DID YOU KNOW several of Dyson’s painting are inspired by architecture and landscape in Loveland? Dyson has created beautiful oil paintings of the Loveland Historical Museum, Loveland Presbyterian Church, Loveland Market Tents, Putti Fountain Loveland, Old Broadway Loveland, Rolkes Coal Loveland, April Showers on The Little Miami and Loveland Historic Home.

    Deirdre and her husband Dick also live above the gallery, living the dream of creating a live/work environment. The Dysons invested thousands and thousands of dollars in the historic home with a large addition to the back, secluded balcony and gardens, and an elevator.

    The city of Loveland has always been a community that is dedicated to helping others whether that’s through hosting benefits and charities or just simply getting the word out for a greater cause. DID YOU KNOW the WLHD has two facilities that are dedicated to helping the greater good located in an iconic historic church, The former site of the United Methodist congregation? One such business in the renovated church is RecruitMilitary, founded in 1998. RecruitMilitary is a veteran-owned firm. This recruiting agency has helped more than 1.3 million veterans find careers making them the number one military-to-civilian recruiting firm. DID YOU KNOW RecruitMilitary is the largest producer of military career fairs in the country? Thus far, RecruitMilitary has held more than 900 career fairs in over 60 different markets. From these career fairs, the recruiting agency typically does at least 300 interviews with military veteran job seekers, which in turn generates on average 120 job offers. In addition to the success of the career fairs, RecruitMilitary offers more than 200,000 job opportunities on their website’s job board and has recently teamed up with Google to enhance their job search engine so that candidates will be able to find jobs more relevant to their experience. 

    Both CancerFree KIDS and RecruitMilitary are in buildings that used to be the Loveland United Methodist Church.

    Another organization that the WLHD holds near and dear to its heart is a non-profit for kids that’s also located in the beautiful old church. DID YOU KNOW CancerFree KIDS has been funding childhood cancer research since 2002? CancerFree KIDS was founded by Ellen and Sam Flannery after their five-month-old daughter was diagnosed with cancer in both her eyes. Today their daughter is enjoying a normal life in college due to cancer research. CancerFree KIDS host fundraisers and events all year long to fund the most innovative research in cancer. DID YOU KNOW, since 2002 CancerFree KIDS has funded 124 research projects for a total of 4.4 million dollars? Most recently, on June 19th CancerFree KIDS gave $800,000 in research grants to projects at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus. DID YOU KNOW if you visit CancerFree KIDS website you can send a “Courage Lion” to a courageous person? If you go to the how you can help tab on the non-profit’s website you can buy a 12-inch stuffed lion that comes with a personalized gift card and send it out to someone you know. With every lion sent out, CancerFree KIDS sends a “Courage” lion to a child that has been recently diagnosed with cancer. Those wanting to help CancerFree Kids have a number of options they can choose from. Those wanting to help can hold a fundraiser, purchase a raise awareness magnet, donate to CancerFree KIDS or volunteer for any of the events held by the non-profit.

    A Loveland Magazine file photo of the Loveland Veterans’ Memorial taken in 2006

    History runs very deep in Loveland’s roots, which is why the landscape is decorated in historical memorials. DID YOU KNOW the WLHD has a Veterans’ Memorial? Located on the corner of West Loveland Avenue and Riverside Drive in Veterans’ Memorial Park, the memorial was designed to honor the men and women who have served our country. DID YOU KNOW the Veteran’s Memorial features brick pavers with the names of local veterans engraved in them? Every year before Memorial Day people can order brick pavers to be engraved and placed in the Veteran’s Memorial. The memorial is owned and maintained by taxpayers and overseen by a Veterans’ Memorial Committee.

    To learn more about purchasing a paver, call 513-707-1439. (Download the memorial paver application form (PDF).)

    Each year residents come to the WLHD on Memorial Day at the Loveland Veterans’ Memorial to pay respect to men and women who “gave their all” and to those left behind to mourn. (This is a Loveland Magazine file photo from the Memorial Day service in 2009)

    The Veterans’ Memorial was designed by Loveland designer, David Camele and dedicated on Sunday, November 13, 1994.

    DID YOU KNOW one of the oldest family-owned funeral homes in the nation is in the WLHD?

    Loveland is home to many family legacies, many of those legacies being businesses that were built by generations of family members. DID YOU KNOW one of the oldest family-owned funeral homes in the nation is in the WLHD? Tufts Schildmeyer Family Funeral Homes and Cremation Centers legacy began in 1840 in Maineville. Seth G. Tufts passed the business on to his son Oscar B. Tufts who then moved the business to a livery stable in Loveland. Eventually, in 1920 Lawrence S. Tufts, Oscar’s son, bought the property on Riverside Drive and the rest is history! Today Robert and Marilyn Schildmeyer along with their sons and grandson run the funeral home officially making them the fourth, fifth and sixth generations to help run the family business. DID YOU KNOW Tufts Schildmeyer offers more funeral options than any other funeral home in Cincinnati? Tufts offers the Traditional Complete Funeral Service, Graveside Service, Personalized Services, Funeral Director Services, top of the line Memorial Products and several different Cremation Services with four different memorialization options for Cremation.

    Riverview Monument is part of the Tufts Schildmeyer Family of Services and a full-service memorial provider of top quality Granite and Bronze Memorials with full art design Department. They provide civic Memorials such as veteran memorials. They also offer personalized custom printing and can use a laser to engrave any image you choose on a memorial stone.

    The Gertz law firm is at the corner of West Loveland and Wall Street in the WLHD and still undergoing a major facelift.

    DID YOU KNOW there is another business that dates back to the 1800’s that is now in the WLHD? Gertz Law began its legacy in Reading with Charles and Marie Gertz. Eventually, Charlie’s son Anthony continued the Gertz legacy and opened his general law practice at the Pike Street office in Reading in 1972. In 2013 Susan Gertz (Allspach) opened a second Gertz law office location in Loveland so that Clermont and Warren County clients could easily access Gertz services. DID YOU KNOW Gertz Law has three attorneys that practice 7 areas of law? The Gertz Law Firm handles divorce and family law, probate administration, wills, trusts, and estate planning, corporate and small business transactions, real estate and personal injury.

    The firm has recently invested tens of thousands of dollars into their WLHD building with such things as extensive new landscaping and rebuilding the copper box gutters.

    If you are interested in visiting or finding more information on any of these businesses please see the contact information below.


    For the Love of Art Studio, 513-207-3165, For the Love of Art Studio in Loveland on Facebook

    The 430 & Art Gallery, 513-683-0349, and on Facebook

    RecruitMilitary, 513-683-5020, RecruitMilitary on Facebook

    CancerFree KIDS, 513-575-5437, CancerFree Kids on Facebook

    Veterans’ Memorial, 211 Riverside Drive, Loveland, Ohio

    Tufts Schildmeyer Family Funeral Homes and Cremation Center, 513-683-2430, Tufts Schildmeyer Funeral Home on Facebook

    Gertz Law, 513-583-1549, Gertz Law Firm on Facebook


  • [Part 1] My journey to the “West Loveland Historic District”

    [Part 1] My journey to the “West Loveland Historic District”

    Residents and business owners in the West Loveland Historic District enjoy having the State and National “Scenic” Little Miami River and it’s many recreational opportunities and beauty, as its eastern border.

    Did You Know?

    Cassie Mattia lives in Historic Downtown Loveland

    Loveland, Ohio – After exploring the history behind Historic Downtown Loveland’s businesses, a question arose; “What about the businesses and history across the river in the West Loveland Historic District?” I found that the question presented a good point, so I decided to take a walk down the sidewalks of the west side to see exactly what interesting secrets I could find about both the new and old businesses.

    The West Loveland Historic District (WLHD) is often forgotten due to the big-name businesses being just steps away in Downtown Loveland, but what many people don’t realize is that the West side is just as historic. It is not only very diverse but also architecturally strong. DID YOU KNOW that there have been no public dollars used to renovate any of the businesses or homes there? The businesses have proven to establish themselves using their own resources rather than using extra city services. The WLHD businesses have not only contributed thousands of tax dollars to Loveland’s economy but have also created many employment opportunities. Millions of private dollars have been invested in the last decade improving, restoring, and preserving the historic homes, many converted to professional business spaces and “Live/Work” dwellings.

    In Cincinnati, there are more than 100 advertising and marketing agencies. DID YOU KNOW two of the top advertising and marketing agencies are located right in the WLHD?

    Snap Advertising was moved from Cincinnati to the WLHD in 2018 by Dave Fagin with one goal in mind; to help create stronger brands and brand builders. The advertising agency landed in a historically vacant building that had been remolded but sat vacant for many years. Fortunately, through all the remodeling of the building the historic architecture was kept intact. Snap poured even more money into the historic home. DID YOU KNOW Snap Advertising represents some of the nation’s top brands? Snap represents Zim’s Max Freeze, Invisible Ink Tattoo Removers, P&G Pampers Cruisers, The Hershey Company, and Humana Behavioral Health.

    MMG Corporate Communication was founded in 1993 by Claudia McKee. Today, the marketing company serves some really prominent brands such as Ethicon, P&G, AtriCure, Yogi Bear’s, Heidelberg Distributing Company, ISTO Technology, Contech, AdvancePierre Foods, UC Health, EnteroMedics, Merz and SonoSite FujiFilm. MMG is known for helping brands reach their customers effectively through storytelling using marketing, apps, videography, editing, and animation. DID YOU KNOW that MMG has received over 100 national awards for their work? MMG has access to several marketing tools in-house that many marketing companies don’t have such as 2D and 3D animation, full video production services, mobile apps, web design, scripting, and content development. DID YOU KNOW MMG donates to over 50 non-profit charities every year? MMG has always been a huge advocate for community involvement, going as far as giving an employee every year 200 dollars to donate to a charity of their choosing. MMG also supports businesses locally like Paxton’s, The Works and Tano’s Bistro. DID YOU KNOW that Claudia McKee is married to Emmy award-winning, WCPO journalist, Tom McKee?

    Paul-rally-towels
    Xavier knew who to call as APEX has come through before with big orders. Apex owner Paul Elliott delivered 2000 Sweet Sixteen, Xavier University rally towels in 2012 from Loveland to the Georgia Dome with 48 hours notice. Elliott was fishing in Alabama when he got the order. Fishing, a passion of Elliott’s, was supposed to be a break between basketball and lacrosse officiating duties. Alabama wasn’t far enough for Paul to escape the “Madness” of March.

    Although this next business isn’t necessarily your traditional advertising or marketing agency, it does its fair share of promoting. DID YOU KNOW Loveland has its very own specialty company that has over 50 years of experience creating promotional products? Apex Imprinted Sportswear has been operating since 1992 in the WLHD and now has over 600,000 promotional products. Apex assists their guests with theme creativity and layout design. DID YOU KNOW Apex offers custom embroidery on many different popular brands such as Nike, Northface, Eddie Bauer, and Port Authority? Apex only offers the best quality regarding brand and material, which is what really sets the shop apart from other shops of its kind. The promotional specialty store can imprint on t-shirts, polos, knits, sweatshirts, fleece, caps, activewear, outerwear, wovens, dress shirts, workwear, bags, accessories, and youth clothing. Many of the business attire with corporate branding you see in retail establishments around Loveland were bought from APEX. Thousands of Loveland’s young athletes wear sports apparel customized with team logos and the athletes’ names at APEX. Apex tees purchased by Toyota have been handed out to every Xavier University fan at “White-Out” games.

    Dsc_8543
    A fan wearing the Xavier White Out Tee Before the Defeat of Purdue on December 7, 2012. The 10,250 tee shirts were sold by Loveland businessman, Paul Elliott. Xavier came from a 19-point deficit to win the ESPN televised game. The shirts were credited by local sports commentators with the fan excitement, the extra 2-points X needed, for the Musketeers defeat over the Bulldogs, who later in the year played for the National Championship.

    Paul Elliott has officiated Ohio High School Division I Football for decades. In recent years he has taken up blowing the whistle at Ohio High School Lacrosse and Basketball. He keeps on the go during the winter, sometimes officiating as many as seven youth basketball games a day.

    It is a short walk from the WLHD across the State and Scenic Little Miami River to shops and restaurants.

    David Elliott, Paul’s son who works at APEX, is the Head Swim Coach for the Wyoming Cowboys swim teams. He has won coach of the year several times in the CHL conference and in the District. Wyoming is more often than not one of the teams shaking up the State finals in Canton.While exploring the businesses within the WLHD I have come to the realization that if you live there you have access to nearly anything and everything you need! DID YOU KNOW Loveland residents have their choice of 3 different insurance agencies located within footsteps of one another? In 2005, Carey Bush and Bill Re opened BRS Insurance in hopes that they could use their years of insurance experience to deliver the best comprehensive buying experience for their guests. Just a few steps away, Ron Delsignore, a State Farm Insurance agent since 2002, has his very own insurance business. Ron focuses primarily on out of state relocations to Loveland. Ron personally holds himself responsible for his guest’s assets, financial dreams, and legacy. Last but not least is Wilber-Price Insurance Group managed by husband and wife Don and Mary Jo Shrout. DID YOU KNOW Don opened the Nationwide insurance agency that now stands today right in Loveland’s WLHD 23 years ago! Both Don and his wife Mary Jo grew up in Loveland and thoroughly enjoy establishing a trusting relationship with each guest they help. Don’s agency provides home, auto, business, boat, equine, golf cart, motorcycle, and life insurance.

    Loveland Magazine’s production office is in the Historic West Loveland District.

    While you’re walking along the sidewalks on the WLHD of Loveland you certainly can’t forget one of the most well-known businesses; Loveland Magazine. DID YOU KNOW before Loveland Magazine was published it had been four decades since Loveland had a newspaper of its own? Forty-six resident David Miller first published Loveland Magazine in 2004 and has seen a tremendous amount of success ever since. Miller had dreams of creating a publication where Loveland residents could have a voice, Loveland’s youth were recognized and readers received accurate, fully investigated information on even the most controversial subjects. DID YOU KNOW Loveland Magazine has published over 14,000 stories and 850 HD videos? In all its glory Loveland Magazine has received The Booth Spirit Media Award and has been inducted into the Ohio News Media Association as the first digital-only member, and The Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association.

    The West Loveland Historic with its ample parking and friendly atmosphere is always a popular viewing spot for the many annual Loveland parades.

    If you are interested in visiting any of these amazing local businesses on the West Loveland Historic District please see the contact information for each business below.

    Snap Advertising, 513-721-7627, snapadv.com

    MMG Corporate Communications, 513-677-8787,mmgonline.com, MMG Corporate Communication on Facebook

    Apex Imprinted Sportswear and Promotional Specialties, 513-677-0700, apex-specialties.com

    BRS Insurance, 513-683-0777, brsinsurance.com, BRS Insurance on Facebook

    Ron Delsignore-State Farm Insurance Agent, 513-984-5433, ron4insurance.com

    Wilber-Price Insurance Group, 513-239-8610,wilberprice.com, Wilber-Price Insurance Group Ltd. Nationwide Insurance on Facebook

    Loveland Magazine, 513-305-6071,lovelandmagazine.com, Loveland Magazine on Facebook