Efforts to restore the historic Oviatt House have received a boost from the Ohio state budget, with plans to turn the site into a public museum. In a recent development, State Rep. Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) and State Senator Roegner have secured $100,000 to restore the Oviatt House through Substitute House Bill 2. The two-year capital projects budget, signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine on June 28, is poised to aid in preserving the house's storied past as part of the Underground Railroad Network.
A visit to the property underscored the project's significance as both Roemer and Roegner discussed the funds and their potential impact. Built in 1836, the house is a testament to Ohio’s rich history and role in the network that aided enslaved people seeking freedom. "As one of the oldest structures in Richfield, the Oviatt House has played an important part in the area's history, including playing a part in the Underground Railroad," Roemer said in a statement.
The capital funds are designated for the ongoing restoration efforts at the Oviatt House with an eye toward its reopening in 2026. Judy Bowman, President of Oviatt Housing Inc., has expressed gratitude towards the state representatives for their commitment to the project. "We are grateful to Representative Roemer and Senator Roegner for their continued support of our restoration project," she conveyed, indicating a community eager to see the landmark restored to its former glory and transformed into an educational space.
The future museum will celebrate architectural heritage and function as a poignant educational resource, illuminating a critical piece of local and national history. By featuring the house on the National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, the restoration takes on a narrative of reclamation, one where stone and wood do not merely stand as silent sentinels of the past but as vessels through which untold stories find voice. The funding is more than a financial allocation. It's an investment in a legacy that continues to shape the conversations around freedom and equality today.
