Oviatt house to be razed immediately; acquiring Rising Valley a possibility

by Sue Serdinak

Nov. 25 Richfield Joint Recreation District meeting

The Oviatt house is the oldest standing building in Richfield, circa 1812. It has a history that connects Oviatt with the Underground Railroad, hiding and transporting indentured people who were fleeing from bounty hunters.

Jeff DeLuca, operations manager for the Richfield Joint Recreation District, said dead animals are inside the building, which is in danger of collapsing. He said it would take thousands of dollars to restore it. He said the history of the building could be memorialized with plaques and paintings.

DeLuca said the board spent $1,500 to put a tarp across the roof and then paid $700 for paint, according to an agreement with resident Jim Fry, who hoped to save the structure.

However, Fry has not continued to work on the historic home.

Board member Meg Slifcak reminded the board that in May they agreed to give Fry one year to restore or move the building, and that year was not up.

“We’re days away from the park being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The fact is that it is part of the John Brown history… I’m begging that we give it three to six months,” she said.

Pat Norris said if that was the commitment to Fry it should be kept.

Board Chair Bob Becker said he emailed Fry to get an update from him, but didn’t receive a response.

All of the RJRD board members stated their appreciation of the historic value of the building. Sandy Apidone said an effort to save the home should have come a long time ago. Art Gonzales said it would be a waste of time and money to keep it.

A motion to delay the vote to raze the building was defeated. A motion to raze the building in 2020 at an approximate total cost of $6,000 passed with only Slifcak voting against the motion.

After the meeting Fry said he already put a tin roof on the house and was waiting for more precise direction from the RJRD to be able to continue working on the building. He said he would like to fix the siding, remove the back porch and paint the house a dark gray at his own expense. 

Fry has been working on a plan to create The John Brown Freedom Trail Byway, which would link the Oviatt house to the former John Brown home, also on Route 303, east of Brecksville Road.

Rising Valley

DeLuca reported that the operations committee recommended that the board explore further the possibility of accepting Rising Valley Park from Richfield Township.

He said the RJRD could use the park for different venues that cannot be offered in the 336-acre Richfield Heritage Preserve because of conditions placed on the property as part of the $1.8-million grant received from Clean Ohio.

DeLuca said the additional 44 acres could be used for parking and shelters, and the baseball and soccer fields could be rented. He suggested that residents in the McIntosh development in Broadview Heights might be interested in renting the athletic fields because of their close proximity to the park. RHP maintenance equipment could be stored in the garages on the property, DeLuca said.

“This gives us an opportunity to expand. It gives us an opportunity to offer recreation that we can’t offer now,” he said.

DeLuca said he has asked that $2,400 be added to the 2020 budget to cover the annual cost of mowing the additional acreage of Rising Valley.

RJRD treasurer Pat Norris questioned if money from the operating levy for the RHP could be used for the expanded property.

“When we went to the voters for our operating levy, it was to manage the 336 acres. I wonder if we need to go to the voters to ask them for operating money for this park,” Norris said.   

DeLuca said he’s been told that the township may have money in a fund that would be provided with the park. 

“I’m sensitive of our two resources, money and time,” board member Art Gonzales said. 

The roadway on the east edge of the park, which connects Newton and Oviatt roads, is not a dedicated road and is maintained by the township as a park driveway. Neighboring residents have voiced that they don’t want that connection closed.

In a formal motion, the RJRD board requested more financial information from Richfield Township regarding the park and the possibility that the township could continue to maintain the park driveway.

Budget

The board took its first look at the 2020 budget, and Slifcak, as governance chair, said the committee should cut about $30,000 in capital expenses, even though capital improvements are necessary to make buildings and shelters rentable.

DeLuca said the water wells are a capital expense, but it is important to get one well operational and EPA-approved for Gund Hall.  

Apidone said she has calculated that the park could generate about $100,000 annually from rental of the hall. She estimates they could charge $4,000 for Saturday rentals and less for Fridays and Sundays.

She said a brochure to promote the rentals is being printed.