Berea takes a lot of pride in its history and many entities, including those at Baldwin Wallace, work hard to preserve its past. But sometimes, age catches up to an old building and there’s nothing left to do, but say goodbye. Kohler Hall, on the corner of School and Seminary Streets, is one of those structures that will be erased from Berea’s landscape but will certainly not be forgotten.
Kohler Hall has an extensive history, although the specific date of construction remains uncertain. A Western Reserve Historical Society map of Berea shows the original building existed as early as 1858 and was added to throughout the years. It first functioned as a Methodist Children’s Home. During the Civil War, it served as both a hospital and a morgue. There was even an underground tunnel through which they could carry the deceased to the Lindsay-Crossman Chapel across the street. It is also said to have been a mental institution at one time. Then in 1913, BW acquired the property and it became a student dormitory until 2018.
Over the years, not only has a lot of history taken place within the walls of Kohler Hall but perhaps events of the supernatural kind as well. Many students have reported bizarre experiences that occurred in the middle of the night, including sightings of a ghost that was named The Blue Haze, hearing a girl’s screams, and blankets being yanked from their beds as they slept. In fact, these incidents received enough attention that Kohler Hall was eventually featured in an edition of “Haunted Ohio,” by Chris Woodyard. And sadly…Kohler Hall will soon become a ghost itself.
Baldwin Wallace is a keeper of important history for that of the campus, but also to our entire town because the college is such an integral part of Berea and its foundation. Therefore, BW takes a lot of care to protect it. “Preservation of historic structures on the BW campus is a top priority and we have been fortunate to restore so many of our original structures,” says Daniel Karp, Assistant Vice President of University Relations.
When issues involving Kohler Hall came to BW’s attention, they sought the expertise of historic preservation architect, Heather Rudge, in the attempt to save the building. The structure had originally been erected with brick, but in 1910 an addition was added and during the renovations, it was coated with cement so that it might resemble a sandstone foundation. Over the years, moisture continued to build up and be trapped in between the brick wall and the layer of cement. Unfortunately, Rudge found this resulted in severe cracks and other damage that rendered the building unsafe and ultimately unsalvageable. Highly disappointed, but with all of their efforts exhausted, BW had no choice but to retire the building from service.
It was scheduled to be razed in either 2019 or 2020 but this was delayed due to the pandemic, and currently, a new demolition date has not yet been set. However, the staff at BW are already gathering together to figure out how to best fill the void that the raising of Kohler Hall will leave. Though plans for the plot of land have not yet been carved into sandstone, there has been talk about utilizing it as a green space. Karp confirms this as a possibility. “The pandemic has shown us that an outdoor learning space on that part of the campus is welcomed and will be used.”
Though the staff, students, alumni, and surrounding community members will all share in the loss of this historical building, the ghost of Kohler Hall will live on. BW hopes to salvage some of its architectural material to be repurposed for future construction projects and a historical marker will be placed on the site. Karp explains the importance of such a sign. “Marking the significant locations on campus helps keep current students and our community connected to our past, and reminds us that we walk the same pathways as the great leaders of BW and Berea.”
Kathleen Bradley
Scheduled to be raised or razed? Auto-correct strikes again.