Conversations with Allison Meade

Today we’d like to introduce you to Allison Meade.

Hi Allison, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
As a kid, I was moved around to a lot of different Ohio towns and schools. I went to a new school every year until the 7th grade, when I landed in a small town called Covington, Ohio. I graduated as a junior and moved to Columbus, where I went to Columbus State for Automotive Technology and Welding. I loved old cars and welding, but decided I wanted to pursue a career in the fire service. I became a Columbus Firefighter in 2013, but continued to weld for fun, and continued to teach art and welding. I had the opportunity to purchase an old opera house in 2020, in Ashville, Ohio, which reminded me very much of Covington. In the 1950s, this special property became an auto parts store and mechanic shop. The automotive history here was a huge appeal for me, since there were still artifacts and old car parts from this era, left behind by the family. I have been working hard for the last 5 years to renovate this magical place, so I can share it with the community. My aim is to build a community space to teach and display art, hold small concerts, host events, and sell locally made products. Fort Buffalo is lovingly named after the Fortner family, who has entrusted me to bring this space back to life. It’s my honor to create a very artistic and unique space here, with the many amazing artifacts left behind, that will help to display the rich history of the property. We aim to open in 2026, but still have some fundraising goals to meet in order to do so.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
This project has been anything but smooth. The first 2 years I was able to get a lot accomplished, since I was excited and energized by the project and opportunities. Tragically, my mother died in January of 2023. My mom was a huge part of this project, my biggest supporter, and best friend. This tanked my motivation for an already inherently difficult project. Operating on a small budget, with massive renovations needed, has required a lot of creativity; both in funding and in resources. My mom and I used to hold a lot of pop-up sales; selling vintage clothing and antiques to help raise funds for renovation. I’ve tried to reuse materials found on the property, and salvage supplies where possible. I’ve done a lot of the work myself, with the help of friends. I also have applied for grants and programs to try to get financial assistance for larger expenses like HVAC and a new roof. It’s also very difficult to renovate a 150-year old building while working a full-time job. It has become important for me to take breaks when needed, but the opportunity to serve my community by offering a gathering space for creativity and camaraderie has motivated me to keep moving forward.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Columbus Firefighter and paramedic, but currently operate as a K9 Handler with the Fire Investigations Team. My canine, Doc Holliday, and I go to fire scenes that the investigators think could’ve been intentionally set. Doc is trained to detect and locate ignitable liquids. My job is to collect evidence, maintain Doc’s training, and care for him 24/7. Working with dogs, while also serving the community, has been such a wonderful opportunity for me. My two biggest passions in life are art and dogs, so the opportunity to have a career involving canines, and pursue my artistic passions with Fort Buffalo has been a real gift. I’ve been an artist since I was a child, and have admittedly put my artistic passions on the back burner for my career. I believe opening Fort Buffalo will re-ignite my artistic passions and allow me to share the arts with the community. I used to teach artistic welding at the Idea Foundry in Columbus, and hope to teach welding and other classes here in Ashville when we open. I’d love to employ other artists to teach their craft as well.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Most of my art is made with discarded or salvaged materials like old auto parts or barn wood. Since Fort Buffalo sat vacant for 30 plus years, it has served as a sort of junk yard for me, to pick and salvage materials and supplies for my art. The last painting I made was a memorial painting for my mother, and I used a rusty old 55-gallon drum lid as the canvas. I have been researching ways to make paint from natural pigments, found in nature. I believe in creating as little waste as possible, and using natural products when possible. Repurposing discarded items into art is a great way to keep things from landfills. Sustainability is important to me and will be reflected in the operations at Fort Buffalo.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://FortBuffalo.com
• Instagram: @fortbuffalo
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/fortbuffalo
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@fortbuffalo