MiddletownJournal.com

TURTLECREEK TWP. — One of the last remaining Shaker buildings in Warren County is off the chopping block — for now.

Otterbein Retirement Community's plans to demolish Bethany Hall have been shelved while for more study of opportunities and costs of preserving the 162-year-old building on Ohio 741 in Turtlecreek Twp.

"Otterbein continues to explore problems and opportunities associated with Bethany Hall," Otterbein CEO Don Gilmore said. "Otterbein is trying to find ways to preserve the history of the area within the scope of our mission which is to provide services for senior citizens."

In May, the Otterbein-Lebanon board of trustees voted to demolish Bethany Hall, citing high cost of restoration and lack of residents using it. Last week, Otterbein announced a 20-year development plan which would include a Town Center with a theater and shops and housing in the area occupied by Bethany Hall.

Bethany is one of the buildings remaining from the original Shaker settlement west of Lebanon.

Historical preservation groups have come forward to plead the building's case. Heritage Ohio placed the building on its Top Ten Preservation Opportunities List while the National Trust for Historic Preservation wrote to Otterbein pleading for a six-month delay on demolition so alternatives could be explored. Otterbein spokeswoman Rosemary Cicak did not comment on whether these calls persuaded Otterbein administrators to delay Bethany Hall's demolition.

Otterbein has also established a five-person historical preservation task force, which Cicak said has been asked to make recommendations for the preservation and use of artifacts associated with Bethany Hall and other buildings owned by Otterbein. The task force includes members of Shaker study groups and the Warren County Historical Society.

"We respect that Otterbein owns [Bethany Hall], but that building has a rich history," said Joyce Barrett, director of historic preservation for Heritage Ohio. "To obliterate it and no one gets a choice is pretty hard to take."

Barrett said that Heritage Ohio works with communities to use historic buildings, such as Bethany Hall, to encourage economic growth.

"Historic buildings are an economic asset to a community," Barrett said. "It's always easier to take advantage of assets rather than start from scratch."

Martha Boice, spokeswoman for the Western Shaker Study Group whose members want to save Bethany Hall, said that she still believes the situation is grim, but will continue to fight.

"We haven't given up because the building is still standing," Boice said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4544 or jmcclelland@coxohio.com.