LATHROP HOUSE AT NEW HOME

8/11/2004

Sylvania's historic Lathrop House is eased onto its new foundation in the city's Harroun Community Park. The Main Street landmark, used as a sanctuary by escaping slaves on the Underground Railroad, was moved and settled onto its new site yesterday by Merkle Heavy Moving of Ohio City, Ohio. Since the house and its 3.7 acres were purchased by the Catholic Diocese of Toledo in October, 2001, it has been the center of a controversy between preservationists and St. Joseph Catholic Church, which has contended the house had to be razed or moved to make room for an expansion of the parish campus. The Toledo Area Metroparks will refurbish the house and have educational programs there.