Qualified candidates must be willing to remove, relocate and renovate historic home

Victorian home lovers and history enthusiasts have a unique opportunity. The College of Wooster is giving away a 142-year-old historical house that it no longer has a need for. The individual or business interested in such a proposition must be able to disassemble, relocate and renovate the home in a new location.For the right individual this could be an amazing opportunity, John Hopkins said, the associate vice president for college relations and marketing.The house he is referring to is called the Overholt House, and it once belonged to a Civil War veteran and generations later to a community leader and inventor. On the northern edge of the college campus the Overholt House has become important to the community for both its history and unique architecture. It boasts a rare Stick Style architecture, and the interior holds several gems including a three-story wooden spiral staircase and doors and floors made of the original walnut wood and other elements hard to come by in modern homes.This isn’t the first time the house has had to be moved. It was in danger of demolition in 1982 when community leaders intervened and had it moved to its current site at 1473 Beall Ave. Used for offices and later a bed and breakfast, the building was purchased by College of Wooster in 2001 and used for campus ministries. Campus ministries relocated last year, Hopkins said, and the college administration would like to make room for other possibilities in the future, but it is college tradition to try to preserve old buildings. Structurally it isn’t possible to move the house in one piece, Hopkins said, so it will need to be taken apart. To assist with the cost of demolition, Hopkins said the college will provide the new owner with $25,000.“We would like to make every effort to see that the house has a new home,” he said. Jackie Middleton, senior project director for College of Wooster, was one of the individuals who worked to make a plan for removing the home. She said the college has a long history of restoring and maintaining historical structures in the community and wants to continue to do so.“It’s a beautiful piece of architecture,” she said. More importantly, “It has a deep Wooster history. It would be a home to be proud of.”That history is detailed in the RFI report compiled by Tracy Holtz. The home’s first owner was Aquila Wiley, a Civil War veteran, attorney, politician and later a probate judge. Wiley had just opened his law practice when war broke out. He joined in 1861, personally helping to recruit Company C of the 41st Ohio. He later suffered a wound causing his leg to be amputated in 1863 before being promoted to colonel and returning home in 1864. Wiley was an active member of the Democratic Party and made a bid for Congress, losing to future president William McKinley. However, he later became a probate judge for the county. In 1882 he sold the property to Christian and Elizabeth Overholt for $8,000. The home would be passed down through the family, being owned by their grandson, John Overholt. John Overholt made a name for himself as a successful manufacturer and inventor. One of his most well-known inventions was a crib and bin ventilating system, used for the housing of corn, wheat and grain. He also was a director and the president of the Wayne County National Bank.John Overholt passed away in 1973. The home would be deeded to Edith Gerig and sold to Jurowa Inc., who wished to demolish the space in order to build a parking lot. Instead members of the community intervened, and in May of 1982 the century-old home was moved to its present location at 1473 Beall Ave.David Broehl, the past president of the Wayne County Historical Society, has been assisting the college with the Overholt project. Broehl said there may be many uses for the house. In addition to the unique style, the house boasts of a three-story wooden spiral staircase as well as original walnut wooden doors, floors, fireplaces and other features that can’t easily be duplicated today. Broehl said this wouldn’t be the first time a house or building has been taken apart and restored. It can be done, and there are local contractors with the expertise to do it, among whom are many Amish contractors.The college is looking to have the house removed from the property by this time next year. Interested parties need to submit any inquiries to Mr. Tracy Holtz, 215 Galpin Hall 1101 N. Bever St., Wooster, OH 44691, by 4 p.m. on Monday Aug. 22. All questions will be answered within a week. If still interested potential owners must submit a proposal to Holtz by Monday, Sept. 12. The contract will be awarded Nov. 7. For more information go to the college’s website, call Holtz at 330-263-2367 or email tholtz@wooster.edu.