Sylvania Twp. withholds cash to save Lathrop House

Sylvania Township trustees generally agree to support the Friends of the Lathrop House, which is trying to save the historic building on Main Street, but the trustees did not agree to donate a specific amount of money to the cause last night.

James Schwerkoske, chairman of the trustees, said after the meeting that he supports the group’s efforts, but added that the trustees would like more input from the community before committing money.

Ted Ligibel, co-chairman of the group raising funds to save the house, asked the trustees to match the $50,000 tentatively committed Monday by Sylvania City Council. The city also agreed to find a site on which to move the building.

Mr. Ligibel told the trustees he did not expect a vote last night on funding but wanted to present a case for an eventual grant from the township. He said the 1835 landmark is the oldest house in the city and was home to many of the area’s leading families.

He said it was used as a stop on the Underground Railroad for escaped slaves making their way to Canada. He also noted that it is connected by a ravine that runs from what is known as the Harroun barn on the grounds of Flower Hospital. It is likely, he said, that the runaway slaves used the ravine to travel from the barn to the Lathrop House on their way to freedom.

The fate of the Lathrop House was put into question in October  when the Catholic Diocese of Toledo bought the building for the eventual expansion of St. Joseph Church, which is directly across Main Street. The house and its four acres abuts eight acres to the east that the diocese bought earlier. The church obtained a demolition permit, but has agreed not to raze the building as long as the citizens’ group works toward moving it from its present location.

Though there is no specific location to which the building might be moved, Sylvania Mayor Craig Stough noted Monday that the city owns some of the land on a parking lot just north of the site which might be appropriate and keep the building on the ravine.

The Friends of the Lathrop House have collected about $27,000 toward moving the building, in addition to the promise of funding from the city. They have been told it will cost $110,000 to move the building.