1. Vermillion Institute, Hayesville, Ohio

The Vermillion Institute in Hayesville was not just a local private college. In the mid 1840's it was chartered by the General Assembly of Ohio. Opening its doors in the spring of 1846, the professors taught in the building that measures thirty-five by fifty feet. The college struggles in the firest three years. The Presbyterian Church stepped forward to purchase the college on two acres for $3,500. At the height of its existence, the student enrollment was approximately 600 with students from 13 states. With the onset of the Civil War in the 1860's, the college enrollment decreased. By the 1880's, the College of Wooster and Ashland College were established, creating a further drain on student numbers. By the mid 1880's, Vermillion Institute was closed and the building was used as Hayesville High School until 1929.
Today, the building sits empty as it has for many years. The Vermillion Institute was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The building suffers from years of neglect. The current owner does not live locally but has put the property up for sale by owner. The sad truth is, the old Vermillion Institute will take a tremendous amount of effort to make it a useable space again and with this economy, most would probably rather raze the building and sell off the bricks. The good news is that the property is on the National Register. That doesn't protect a building from being destroyed by neglect or a bulldozer, but it does allow for the potential of tax credit incentives as well as grants if only someone will step up to the plate. Chances are slim in these economic times and time is running short for this 165 year old building! So, this is #1 on my list of the top most endangered historic properties in Ashland County.