Olander Park System weighs rescue of Lathrop House
Possible uses include park offices

By MIKE JONES
BLADE STAFF WRITER

The Olander Park System may consider whether to take an active role in the attempt to save the Lathrop House from destruction.

Gary Madrzykowksi, director of the system, said the home could be used for the system’s offices. The board will talk about the Lathrop House at its Wednesday meeting.

The park system has been discussing space problems for the last year.

"Perhaps we can work with all parties to restore the first floor and basement of the Lathrop House to its 1860s timeframe, when it was a stop on the underground railroad, while utilizing the upper level for park system offices,’’ Mr. Madrzykowski said.

He said that through late last week he had received more than 20 letters from people asking that the system become involved in the push to save the historic house which reportedly was a sanctuary for runaway slaves on the underground railroad.

The Catholic Diocese of Toledo, which bought the house and four acres surrounding it last year, intended to raze the structure and use the land and another eight acres the diocese owns to the east for expanding St. Joseph Church and school facilities.

After public demonstrations against the demolition of the building, the parish agreed temporarily to take no action as long as The Friends of the Lathrop House secured funds to move the building.

Plans call for the house to be moved north to a site on a parking lot that is owned in part by the church and the city of Sylvania.

The fund-raising efforts are continuing, according to Boyd Montgomery, chairman of the volunteer effort and of the Sylvania Historical Village, Inc. Mr. Montgomery said the Olander system is dedicated to conservation, education, and preserving history, and that its position in the Sylvania community is appropriate for taking a lead role in saving the property.

Mr. Madrzykowski said it is too early to be definitive, but said the park system needs more space for its offices and that the Lathrop House is near city-owned Harroun Community Park, where the system runs various nature programs.

The basement, where runaway slaves may have hidden in rooms now bricked over, could become something of a museum dedicated to the role the Sylvania area had as a stop on the underground railroad.

Stations on the underground railroad were used as resting and hiding places for the escaped slaves on their way to Canada.

Friends of the Lathrop House have collected $22,000 toward the estimated $115,000 it will take to move the building, including its basement.

Sue McHugh, involved in the fund-raising effort, said the money collected so far has come without any formal solicitations and that no formal requests have been made to governmental bodies, corporations, or foundations.

Mr. Montgomery said he is confident that the funds necessary to move the building will be sufficient, but that leaves structure maintenance issues. If a way can be found for the park system to take over the building, that need will be met, he said.

The park system’s board will discuss the Lathrop House issue at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the community building at Olander Park, 6930 Sylvania Ave.