Site's role in history is obvious; fate unclear

The homes of Sylvania's founders are gone, but an 1830s-vintage building left behind is "the most significant house" in town, Ted Ligibel, director of the historic preservation program at Eastern Michigan University, said yesterday during a taping of The Editors television program.

The home, called the Lathrop House, is believed to have been a stop on the Underground Railroad - a way station for those escaping slavery en route to Canada - and, like an endangered natural resource, "once it's gone, it's gone," Dr. Ligibel said.

"This is Sylvania's premiere historic house," he said.

The Lathrop House gained the limelight last year when the Catholic Diocese of Toledo bought the house and its four acres for use by St. Joseph Church, which is across Main Street from the structure. Church officials have said the Lathrop House and adjoining property will be used for a multipurpose building and athletic fields.

A citizens group, Friends of Lathrop House, organized to stop demolition. The church and preservationists agreed in November to delay demolition so the group could raise more than $100,000 to save the house.

Keeping the house in place is important, those who wish to save it have said. That likely won't happen, said Bonita Scheidel, a member of Sylvania city council. Church officials have told the Friends group they must cooperate and allow time for moving the house.

"There has been no discussion about allowing it to stay where it is," Ms. Scheidel said.

Church representatives did not appear on the program.

Any move, ideally, would include the house and basement, where the escaped slaves hid.

"As a historian, and I've said this to the church, it just rips me up inside to think about even having to move this home because it does alter its integrity, because it's not its original site, and it may well preclude it from being designated, say, on the National Register of Historic Places," Dr. Ligibel said.

But even relocated, the house has enormous value, he said. "It is the most important property in the history of Sylvania," he said.

"I think it stands as a symbol of exactly what the foundation of our country is," Ms. Scheidel said.

She and Dr. Ligibel were questioned by Thomas Walton, vice president-editor of The Blade, and Marilou Johanek of The Blade editorial board.

The Editors will be broadcast at 9 tonight on WGTE-TV, Channel 30 and at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow on WBGU-TV, Channel 27.