Sylvania pledges $50,000 for Lathrop house

Sylvania City Council last night tentatively committed $50,000 to moving the Lathrop House from its location on Main Street and agreed to find a site to which it can be moved.

Ted Ligibel, co-chairman of Friends of the Lathrop House, asked council to provide a site.

He said those who have been working to save the building are unable to assure potential donors what plans have been developed for the building.

The house, said to have been used on the underground railroad as a stop for escaped slaves on their way to Canada, is owned by the Catholic Diocese of Toledo, and the property is meant to be used for the expansion of St. Joseph Catholic Church. The parish agreed to not raze the building while the citizens’ group continues to work toward moving the building from the four-acre site. The house and property are across the street from the church and its school.

Mr. Ligibel noted in a letter to council that the people who have joined to try to save the structure have collected more than $25,000, "but are in the awkward position of attempting to obtain corporate, foundation, and grant funds without a definite site or a commitment from local governments."

Mayor Craig Stough said it is time for council to commit $50,000 to the project and to guarantee a site for the building.

Although there will be further study, Mr. Stough suggested that the parking lot directly north of the house, which is jointly owned by the city and the diocese, might be best.

Not only would it involve a relatively short move for the building, it would also keep it on the same ravine, which oral history suggests was a route taken by slaves to enter and leave the house after a stay on their way to Canada.

Councilwoman Bonita Scheidel moved that an ordinance be prepared for the next council meeting that will affirm the commitment of the money to the Friends of the Lathrop House and guarantee a site. The resolution is expected to be voted on March 4.

After the meeting, Mr. Ligibel said council’s action took him by surprise and was more than he anticipated. "This is what we needed," he said. The group now can support its requests for donations with the commitment from the city.

The group earlier asked for a commitment to match up to $50,000 from the Sylvania Township trustees and said they plan to attend the trustees’ meeting scheduled for tomorrow.

They have asked the board of Olander Park System to take over the building after its move for use as offices and possibly develop it as a museum to commemorate its use as a station on the underground railroad.

Friends of the Lathrop House has a commitment to move the building, including the basement, in which it is said the fugitive slaves hid, for $115,000. The group has a goal of $350,000 to move and refurbish the house.