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The Lathrop House, once a stop on the Underground Railroad, can avoid the wrecking all if preservationists can raise $110,000 by spring.

That is the agreement forged by Friends of Lathrop House, an organization aimed at preserving the house, and St. Joseph's Catholic Church, the property owner. Representatives from the two groups met Nov. 13 to seek a solution to the Lathrop House dilemma. "I feel very optimistic after our meeting that we can work together," said Boyd Montgomery, spokesperson for the Friends of Lathrop House.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church of Sylvania purchased the house and accompanying 3.7 acres on Oct. 31, and intended to raze the dwelling to make way for the church's expansion, which includes building a multigenerational complex, gymnasium and administrative offices. The church had decided that renovation costs, estimated at upwards of $100,000, were too costly to save the house.

But historians and preservationists lobbied to preserve the dwelling based on its history as well as antique architecture. Oral legend puts the South Main Street house on the map for one of the greatest journeys many Americans ever took: the path from slavery to freedom. The Lathrop House offered slaves a refuge on their way to Canada, and many preservationists argue that the property itself serves as an ideal historic landmark because of the undeveloped ravine and woods that allow visitors today to get a feel for the same route slaves traveled in the 1800s.

"It (the land) goes with the house," Gaye Gindy, Sylvania historian and author explained. "It's like going to visit Gettysburg battlefield and finding a bunch of condos, and the guide explains that they moved the battlefield."

But leaving the house at its current location, according to the church, is not feasible. The most likely option is to move the house north onto the neighboring property owned by the city of Sylvania.

 Now, the future of the 163-year-old Sylvania home rests in the hands of Friends of Lathrop  House, a coalition comprised of the City of Sylvania, Sylvania Historic Commission and the Sylvania Historic Village.

The group is working with Lindsey Graham, an experienced, historical site mover. Graham estimates relocating the house will cost around $100,000. (Friends of Lathrop is raising $110,000 due to possible cost overruns, generally budgeted at 10 percent over cost.) This includes moving the foundation and basement where slaves are said to have hidden. To meet this goal, Friends of Lathrop House formed fundraising, historical research and public relations committees. To date, the group has at least $15,000 in the bank, courtesy of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, which donated the money set aside to demolish the house into relocating it.

Elizabeth Reiter is a TCP freelancer.