Historic dwelling’s defender quits post
She opposes move of Lathrop House

One of the most ardent defenders of the historic Lathrop House assailed discussions to move the home, urging the Sylvania City Council last night to keep it where it is.

Sue McHugh, who announced she has resigned as co-chairman of the Friends of the Lathrop House, said the building must not be moved "from its land, from its history."

Some had expected that the City Council last night would announce an agreement had been reached with St. Joseph Parish on a location for a move of the historic home, which sits on land the parish has bought. Instead, the meeting ended with the mayor saying he would continue discussions with church officials.

The 1830s house is on Main Street, across from St. Joseph. Some say it was a station on the Underground Railroad and that escaping slaves used its basement as a resting point on their journey to Canada.

Negotiations involving a swap and purchase of property in and near the parking lot across from the church would have resulted in moving the house from the south of the lot to its north edge. The city and parish own different sections of the property.

Mrs. McHugh said the move would take the house from the ravine which slaves presumably used as a route to safety and put the building near an office building and motel.

She said she resigned as chairman of the group prior to council’s meeting because the Friends of the Lathrop House had agreed to work to accomplish the move and not call for keeping it in its current location.

The church had agreed not to demolish the building while the volunteer organization worked toward that goal.

Individual members, many of whom attended last night’s council meeting, have said that they agreed to work toward moving the building, but only because it seemed the only way to save it.

Mrs. McHugh said that was a "false choice," and that the house should remain where it is.

Mayor Craig Stough said that since Mrs. McHugh has resigned, he would like some direction from the organization. He said he had been encouraged by them to find a location to which the house could be moved.

Ted Ligibel, co-chairman of the Friends, told the mayor he had been unaware Mrs. McHugh had decided to resign. He said after the council session that he would likely call an emergency meeting of the group in the next few days.

Mrs. McHugh’s husband, John, an attorney who has worked with the volunteer organization, said council should consider using its power of eminent domain to pay fair market value and use the building for a public purpose.

The Toledo Area Metroparks has agreed to help renovate the house and run historical programs from it.