College of Wooster Seeks Qualified Party to Relocate and Restore Overholt House
WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster is working with representatives of the Wayne County Historical Society and the community to find qualified individuals with a love of historic structures and the resources to disassemble, relocate, and restore a 142-year-old house that currently sits at the corner of Beall Ave. and Bloomington Dr., on the northern edge of campus.
Overholt House has been used for office and student meeting space since the college purchased it in 2001, but there is no longer a programmatic need for the structure on campus. It has already been moved twice since it was constructed and it is not possible to move it intact a third time. Therefore the college has issued a Request for Information seeking a third party willing and able to disassemble, move, and reassemble the building on a new site. The college will contribute $25,000 toward the costs of the relocation process.
“Overholt is a great example of late 19th century Stick Style architecture,” said Doug Laditka, associate vice president for facilities management and development at the college. “There’s original walnut woodwork throughout, and a circular stairway, also in walnut, that ascends through all three stories of the house.”
Overholt House was built in 1874 by Civil War veteran and lawyer Aquila Wiley on a farm north of Wooster and moved to its present location in 1982. In addition to many years as a private residence for the Wiley and Overholt families, at various points in its history the structure housed professional offices and a bed and breakfast, before the college purchased it in 2001.
“I am so pleased that the college has asked for proposals from the community to disassemble and relocate Overholt House, rather than simply demolishing it,” said David Broehl, past president of the Wayne County Historical Society. “By making this home available for reconstruction and offering $25,000 to help defray the costs of relocating it, they have developed a very creative proposal. This is another fine example of the special town-gown relationship between the college and the community.”
Disassembly will take place in the summer of 2017. Following Overholt House’s removal, the corner site will be reclaimed as green space.
Posted in News on August 4, 2016.
