Written by Alison Adams, Conner Howard Monday, 20 February 2012 18:43
KentWired Video
A house on South Willow Street will avoid demolition because of its connection to Kent State. It was moved across the street Monday in order to make way for the new Esplanade extension.
The 110-year-old home originally belonged to May Prentice, one of Kent State’s first female faculty members.
“It seemed fitting to preserve the house because of that significance,” said Emily Vincent, the university’s director of media relations.
Carol Lutz, who came to see the move, lived in the house for 11 years but was never aware of its history.
“It was a beautiful house, it had beautiful woodwork,” Lutz said. “You don’t see that anymore in houses.”
The home has never been used for university housing, unlike others in the area.
South Willow Street resident and Junior English major Ashton Kamburoff has a front row seat to the house moving on Feb. 20. The house, which used to house former Kent faculty member May H. Prentice was moved to help make way for the new University Esplanade, which will connect campus to downtown. Photo by Brian Smith.
“I think it’s great that it’s being saved, because it was in better shape than the surrounding houses,” said Lutz. “It hadn’t been destroyed, it has always been owner-occupied, and a lot of these had been rentals already.”
Seeing the house again brought back a lot of memories for Lutz.
“My daughter was born here in 1980, it’s kind of a special house to me,” said Lutz. “I’m wondering what they’re going to do with it.”
Plans have not been finalized as to how the house will be used.
Mike Fehr, a Kent State marketing alumni and community member, also said preserving the home is a great idea.
“Anytime you can preserve a 100-plus-year-old home, why not,” Fehr said.
The house had to be moved to make way for the Esplanade expansion project.
Construction on the Esplanade, which will be a physical and symbolic link between the city and university, according to Vincent, should be complete the same time as the construction downtown.
“It will allow people from downtown Kent to take advantage of the university,” Vincent said.
Community reactions to the project have been largely positive.
“I think it’s going to be fantastic,” Fehr said. “It will really enhance the entrance to Kent State.”
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