| Former home of BGSU presidents to be demolished |
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| Written by HAROLD BROWN Sentinel City Editor | |
| Saturday, 21 July 2012 07:58 | |
Located at 838 E. Wooster Street just west of South College Drive, the structure was originally a kit home from Montgomery Ward, built in 1930 and renovated in 1950. The house has served as the home of BGSU's Department of Popular Culture since the 1970s. In late May the university demolished two structures directly west of the 838 address. "I can confirm we are planning on demolishing the building," BGSU spokesperson David Kielmeyer said Friday afternoon. "It is in poor condition and would require a substantial investment to bring it up to being minimally acceptable." He said the site, along with the adjacent properties where the buildings were demolished in May, is "one of the sites being considered for a new student health center." He declined to name other sites being considered. The university announced earlier this month it was in discussions with Wood County Hospital to operate a new health center within the next two years. The present University Health Center is located on Ridge Street at Willard Drive. Kielmeyer said Popular Culture will be moved to Shatzel Hall, where it will join the other departments that make up the School of Cultural and Critical Studies. That move could happen in the next two weeks. "We hope to move fairly quickly on the demolition and have it done before the start of classes (Aug. 20)," Kielmeyer said. He said the university is proud of its heritage but officials "do not feel the house is particularly significant. There have been many other buildings sold or demolished over the years to meet the needs of students. "The university is moving forward with plans to preserve and renovate University, Hanna and Moseley halls." Kielmeyer said there is no timetable for those renovations but public and private funding are key to those projects moving forward. Already on the demolition list for this fall are the remaining structures of the former H.J. Heinz factory at Ridge and Enterprise streets. That demolition will cost $135,000. The former United Christian Fellowship complex at Ridge and Thurstin was demolished in recent weeks. Dr. Roy Offenhauer, Dr. Frank J. Prout, Dr. Ralph W. McDonald and Dr. Ralph G. Harshman lived in the home at 838 E. Wooster during their terms as president between 1937 and 1963. After Harshman moved out, the home became the BGSU Alumni Center and then the Popular Culture offices. The Alumni Center relocated to the Mileti Alumni Center on Mercer Road in the 1970s. The first presidential home was at 725 E. Wooster St., an 1880 two-story frame farmhouse. The then newly-founded Bowling Green Normal College purchased the home from the Wooster family, early settlers in Wood County, in 1914. First president Homer Williams lived there until 1939. According to a brochure titled "Presidential Residences," which the university published in 2009, the first residence was later used as to house women students, as the counseling center, the Faculty Club and Delta Sigma Theta sorority. The home was demolished in 1973 to make way for the parking lot and access south of McFall Center. When William T. Jerome III was named president the university acquired an existing home at 625 Hillcrest Drive in the Westgate subdivision. Dr. Hollis A. Moore Jr., Dr. Paul J. Olscamp, and Dr. Sidney Ribeau were later residents. Ribeau moved into a private residence from 2002 to 2005 and later became the first president to reside in University House at 700 S. Wintergarden Road. University House was purchased by Bowling Green State University Foundation Inc., and given to BGSU as a residence for the president. Dr. Carol A. Cartwright lived in the home during her time at BGSU and it is now occupied by the university's 11th president, Dr. Mary Ellen Mazey. |
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Comments
This house is probably sturdier and made better than any of the new buildings that will be constructed on it's site.
"Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
As we move forward with implementing the campus master plan, there are some additional changes taking place over the summer. The offices of the Department of Popular Culture will be moving to Shatzel Hall for the start of the academic year to bring the departments that make up the School of Cultural and Critical Studies together in one facility. We’re excited about the academic collaborations this will help foster.
These changes create some exciting new opportunities for our faculty and students. Provost Rogers and I will keep you updated as we move forward.
Regards,
Mary Ellen Mazey, Ph.D.
President"
Let's consider that the discipline of Popular Culture was founded at BGSU. This is a distinguishing feature of the University, and a rarity in academia. The importance of the House goes beyond the functionality of the building -- the POPC House acts as a powerful visual representation of the department. It may as well be a logo.
From a marketing point of view, there is major appeal in showcasing the building as a historic landmark. By preserving this history, you would be reiterating the importance of the program and discipline on the world stage. Preservation would elevate one of BGSU’s major contributions to academics.
This little brick house is definitely significant. I urge BGSU officials to reconsider demolition.
"Surely the university didn't tell faculty they had two weeks to pack their offices during the summer when they aren't even on contract and may not even be in BG."
This is EXACTLY what happened. Ask Environmental Sciences, whose offices we're being moved in to. They were also notified last week that they had to move out.
If they want to tear down a department store kit house, SO WHAT. They built it. Remember .... A home is not the physcial building you live in but the memories built in a place with loved ones.
And by all means do NOT allow physical disabilities to EVER visit you....EVER.
All you gotta' do is put your $$$ where you mouth is.
I'm sorry to see it go, but it wasn't the first house of a University president.
Why was spending nearly three-quarters of a million dollars on a new home for the president more important than keeping up the maintenance on existing buildings?
I know they can't throw open the doors to public comment. Doing so in BG would lead to endless bickering. But I would like to see more signs of sensitivity to heritage. They came across too ham-handed this time.
The architects on campus talk about tearing the entire south-west corner of campus down, to "open" the campus up. Yet the only things it is opened too, are train noise and fire engines. Yet South Hall, which is a dilapidated ADA liability and eyesore, sits jammed tightly against McFall and Hann halls. It may have "good bones" but I see zero reason why keeping it over Founders, makes any sense. If anything, eliminating South Hall opens a view of the majestic founding buildings and Union. It also adds room for modest parking that Admissions desperately needs.
The architects noted they went many years without much to do, and were happy to be able to get "so much" done. I now wonder if they aren't go overboard. Project-drunk, if you will.
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