Historic open house

CELINA - An open house will be held at a Market Street building in Celina with more than a century of history from the Civil War to a legendary OSU football coach.

Michelle Salazar and George Moore, siblings from Celina, recently purchased the three-story building that housed the former Otis Hospital and more recently the Mercer County Educational Service Center.

Now called the 441 Building, the pair is looking to market the building to tenants.

"I also think there will be a lot of people who would simply like to see inside the place, so now is their chance," Salazar said.

The open house is set for 1-4 p.m. Sunday and 4-7 p.m. Monday. Acoustic music and light refreshments will be offered.

Moore said 23 rooms are available in the basement and on the main and second floors. Various configurations of rooms will be available depending on a tenant's needs, he said.

"Some offices are piped for water, so a small food service or salon could find a place here," he said.

Since taking possession of the building Feb. 1, Salazar said it hasn't required much work to get the building ready.

"We haven't really had to do much besides paint touch-ups and perhaps rug replacement," she said. "It's like polishing a diamond."

Educational Services Center officials kept up improvements over the years, including installing all new windows and keeping the building Americans with Disabilities Act compliant. A modern elevator provides access to all three levels of the building, Salazar said. All tenants will have access to a large conference room on the first floor.

Moore and Salazar said a sign listing businesses inside will be erected in front of the building.

The building has a long and significant history in the Mercer County area.

In the spring of 1915, the founder of Otis Hospital, Dr. Lloyd M. Otis, purchased the Civil War-era property and eventually added onto the building, turning it into a 25-bed hospital, according to information provided by Moore. More than 6,000 babies were born at the hospital, he said. Dr. Jim Otis Sr., joined his father's practice in the early 1940s, Moore said.

Legendary Ohio State University football coach Woody Hayes also was a visitor at the hospital, Moore said. Through connections with Dr. Jim Otis Sr., who was Hayes' college roommate, Moore said Hayes was known to keep his presence in Celina a secret by sleeping in the former nurses' rooms on the third floor. Jim Otis Jr. played football at OSU and went on to play professional football for the New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs and then-St. City Cardinals.

"(Celina resident) Kip Wright's mom would bring him meals from the cafeteria," Moore said of when Hayes would stay at the hospital.

Faced with increasing regulatory requirements, the hospital closed its doors in 1978, Moore said. After a period when the building's fate hung between demolition or repurposing, the ESC took it over and stayed there for decades, he said.

Once the ESC moved to the more spacious former Fanning and Howey building, the building was put up for auction on Nov. 18. The price was estimated at $208,000 by the Mercer County Auditor but was sold to Moore and Salazar for $100,000.