Other area sites named to the list of Ohio's Most Endangered Historic Sites

Along with Hancock County's probate and juvenile court building in Findlay, three other area sites were named to Preservation Ohio's 2024 list of the states most endangered historic sites. Hill Memorial, Ohio Northern University, Ada Hill Memorial is an academic building at the front of ONU's campus. Located along Ada's Main Street, Hill has long served as the iconic image of the university. Originally constructed in 1879, Hill Memorial stands as the last remaining structure from the institution's original name, the Northwestern Ohio Normal School. Its approximately 12,500 square feet span two floors and additional space in the clock tower and basement. While the foundation may need some attention, the core structural integrity is sound. The university held classes in the building this spring. A consultant recently recommended that Hill be demolished because of a stated restoration cost of $9 million. Some faculty members, current students, alumni and local residents believe this to be an overestimate to discourage dissent to demolition. There is also a question about the consultant's restoration qualifications as the recommendation was a small part of a larger campus master plan initiative. A.A. Cunningham House/Tiffin City Schools Administration Building, Tiffin The home was built by A.A. Cunningham. Cunningham was one half of the "Sneath & Cunningham Company" which built and operated three elevators in Tiffin, one for seed and the other two reserved for grain. They also had 37 other elevators within a 60-mile radius of Tiffin. Cunningham was also president of the Commercial National Bank in Tiffin. The impending threat is demolition because the school wants to build a new school on the site. The goal is to move the home to another area in Tiffin. Octagon House, Tiffin The Octagon House is on the Heidelberg University campus and is being used for storage. Due to the current state of the outside of the building it will be unsalvageable in the next couple years. The Octagon was constructed in 1852, and other than Founders Hall, it was the first building constructed on Heidelberg's campus. Built along with the President's House and the Gerhart-Rust residence, it was, like the others, intended to be used as faculty housing. There is an organization that is willing to donate land for the house to be relocated.