By COURTNEY ALBON
T-G Staff Writer
Ashland University in December will tear down its oldest building due to costs related to maintenance and renovations.
AU president Frederick Finks said the university cabinet in early October voted to raze 88-year-old Miller Hall, a decision that was difficult, but necessary.
"There are a number of reasons we came to this decision," Finks said. "Old buildings are hard to remodel ... and to tear it down and build new is cheaper."
He said the university learned the difficulty in remodeling older buildings when it remodeled Kettering Science Center in 2006.
Renovating Miller Hall would cost upward of $6 million and maintaining the building in its current state would cost about $200,000 this winter alone, Finks said.
Also, as part of the university's strategic plan, Finks said it is looking to relocate and consolidate its arts and humanities classes and Miller Hall is too small to accommodate the school's needs.
The plan is to raze the building mid-December during winter break, but a definitive timeline is pending.
On-campus response minimal
For a campus about to lose its oldest-standing building, the AU community has been pretty quiet about the decision to eliminate Miller Hall. Perhaps it's because it hasn't been used for academics since before today's seniors were freshmen or maybe it's the building's current state, but officials -- and students themselves -- say the campus is, for the most part, disinterested.
"I've had one letter from an alumni," Finks said. "No individuals from campus, since the decision was announced, have expressed any concern."
Kyle Kanaga, in his fifth year at AU, wasn't sure where Miller Hall was located when first asked about the building's recently-decided fate. When he made the connection and realized he'd taken a few classes in the building his freshman year, he simply shrugged his shoulders.
"It doesn't really matter," Kanaga said. "It really doesn't affect me."
Senior Jimmy Hoppel said he thinks that's the approach a lot of students take. The building isn't really central to the campus' function, Hoppel said, and most students haven't even used it.
Hoppel himself is neutral.
"I guess I can understand why some people are concerned they're tearing down the oldest building on campus. I guess I can see the concern. But also, it's not being used, and the cost to make it useful is too much," Hoppel said. "I understand both sides."
As AU's archivist, David Roepke said he has a natural interest in preserving history and is sad to see the building go, though he understands the financial demands of dated buildings. When he heard word the university cabinet was considering demolition, Roepke said he made an effort to swing their decision the other way.
"I had been working with administration to find a way to save the building, finding other opportunities. I guess they decided to go in a different direction," Roepke said. "It's a connection to the past. ... I'm sad to see it go, but I do understand."
Ashland County resident historian and Ashland College alumnus Betty Plank said she, too, was sad to hear of Miller Hall's fate.
"When I went to Ashland College, it was one of four buildings on campus. I'm sad to see what was the last of the four going down," said Plank, a 1945 graduate. "After I heard what it would cost to repair it and bring it up to the point that it could be used, I could understand why it was necessary to tear it down."
Plank said she's not sure why the decision has slipped under local preservationists' radar, noting there seems to be much less interest in saving Miller Hall than there has been for buildings past.
"It seems we tear down a lot in this town," Plank said.
Finks said he understands the importance of preserving an institution's history, but said when it comes to retention and future growth, it's new facilities that attract students.
"How do you remodel to keep the quality of life for students?" Finks said. "Our (newest facilities) are some of the most popular places on campus.
Hall has served many functions
Built in 1922, Miller Hall originally was designed to serve multiple purposes -- housing administrative offices and classrooms on its main floor, science labs in its basement and a library on its third floor, Roepke said. Until 1958, the building also housed the seminary which, at that time, was comprised of a single classroom.
"The intention was that it would be an administrative building and then have four or five classrooms," Roepke said.
The building's architect, Vernon Redding of Mansfield, designed several other Ashland County buildings, including Lincoln, Grant Street and Arthur Street schools, Ashland Middle School, Ashland County Courthouse and the original county home, Roepke said.
During Kettering Science Center's renovation in 2006, Miller Hall housed science classes, but hasn't been used for academic classes since. University archives currently fills the building, which also serves as storage space for furniture, equipment and supplies.
n Courtney Albon can be reached at 419-281-0581, ext. 243, or calbon@times-gazette.com.
