With only hours to spare the Henninger house has been saved from destruction! Thanks to last minute efforts from volunteers of WCPC, Parma Historic Society, and The Henninger House Task Force this pre-Civil War homestead will be saved from the wrecking ball. A big thank you goes out to all the volunteers who passed out pamphlets, set up yard signs, and worked hard in many other ways to make this possible.

For those of you not familiar with the Henninger house, it is the oldest structure in Parma and was scheduled for demolition to make way for commercial development . Using sandstone from their own quarry on Rockside Road, Philip and Sophia Henninger built the house back in 1849. It was constructed from solid sandstone 30 inches thick at its base and 14 inches in the upper walls. Unfortunately, the house was abandoned and allowed to fall in to decay over the last 15 years.

Due to its prime location, rich history and potential for adaptive reuse, it is thought that this irreplaceable landmark can be a significant attraction to the West Creek Preserve and Towpath area. We hope that someday the Henninger house can become the centerpiece of the West Creek Greenway and Towpath connector trail, possibly being used for a trailhead or featured destination for Greenway and Towpath users.

The funding for the Henninger house and its 1.5 acres of land will come from a number of sources: grants, including one from NOACCA (Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency), and donations from the community. Fundraising to provide for the restoration of the home will continue.

Currently the home is in need of some emergency repairs to prevent any further damage to the roof and interior, and following that, a plan for its reuse and restoration will take place. Specific plans for the home are still being considered, but thanks to your support the most important future plan is for the Henninger house to be standing proud in another 154 years.