The Spirit of Main Street award was presented to Mary Lewis of Downtown Tiffin.
Mary Lewis of Tiffin, Ohio, has exemplified dedication to her community, committees, boards, and local leadership for countless years. She moved to Tiffin, Ohio in 1969 and has been busy ever since. She is 93 years young and nothing seems to slow her down.
In 1976, a group of local leaders that included Mary Lewis created an organization called The Tiffin Historic Trust. This group helped Tiffin to recognize the value of our historic buildings, properties, and homes in the 44883. The group still meets monthly and Mary Lewis is still an active board member. She brings fresh ideas to the table and is willing to volunteer for countless committee roles.
She was with the original group during the first attempt to make Tiffin into a Main Street community back in the 1970’s. Although placing in the top five communities, the National Trust chose three for the pilot program.
In addition to the Tiffin Historic Trust, Mary has had past involvement with the first Heritage Festival board, helped organize the Tiffin Art Guild in 2006, helped write the ordinance to create the Tiffin Tree and Shade Commission, and chaired The Blooming Artist Stroll in April 2019 and April 2022.
She is currently involved with the Main Street marketing committee, is a board chair of the 2022 Tiffin Ohio Bicentennial board, is on the Heritage Festival board, regularly volunteers at the Tiffin Art Guild and participates in the offered classes as well as handles their monthly dues. Mary is the business manager for the Tiffin Wash Board Band which performs at county fairs, nursing homes, music festivals, and other venues. She organized and is chair of the Museum/Gallery Alliance which sponsored Art Walks in 2014 and 2015, and is on the board of League of Women Voters of Tiffin.