Waynesville Interpretive Center
Waynesville, Ohio

Preservation and adaptive use of Waynesville's 1881 Engine House & Lock-up as the Waynesville Interpretive Center reuses a local landmark to educate the community and promote tourism.

Built as a firehouse and jail, the one-story brick "lock-up" had been used in recent years for storage. Recognizing its history, the Village of Waynesville nominated the Engine House & Lock-up to the National Register of Historic Places.

Jeff Wray Architects of Dayton studied the roof, masonry, structural supports, windows, doors, and mechanical systems, then recommended historically appropriate improvements.

The new Waynesville Interpretive Center teaches visitors about the history of this southwest Ohio community and its Quaker heritage. The center is also tied into Ohio's Scenic Byways, a statewide network of scenic routes.

The project was made possible in part by grants from the U.S. Department of the Interior's National Park Service, administered by the Ohio Historic Preservation Office of the Ohio Historical Society; a $2000 matching grant helped fund a study for reusing the building; a $35,175 matching grant helped fund work to rehabilitate it.

Reuse of the old Engine House & Lockup preserves an important local landmark and contributes to understanding and appreciation of the community's heritage.