Middleton House, Denison University's guest house and conference center off State Route 16 West of Granville, is for sale, according to an announcement made today by University Vice President for Finance and Management Seth Patton.

Denison's Board of Trustees passed a resolution directing the college to proceed with the sale of the 16-room Middleton House, together with a moderately sized parcel of land, near the Kendal Retirement Community currently under construction, Patton said. The University plans to retain the remainder of the land surrounding the house. Earlier, some 60 acres had been leased to Kendal aton a long-term basis.

Built in 1916, Middleton has been owned and operated by Denison as a guest house and conference center for administrative and alumni functions since it was received as a gift from Mr. and Mrs. Claude Middleton in 1961. The gift included a restriction for Denison to retain ownership until Dec. 31, 1995, Patton explained. The Middletons farmed the property and raised Shorthorn cattle and thoroughbred horses until he retired in 1958.

Middleton House is situated on the 200 acre-original site of theLiterary and Theological Institution, which was the 1831 predecessor institution of Denison. Faced with financial difficulties and a poor location, the early Denison founders voted to sell the site and move the institution into the village in 1854. Approximately half of the land came back to the college between 1961 and 1979 through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Middleton.

Denison has taken good care of the house, Patton said, but has delayed making major investments in it. "The Board does not see this as the best use of resources compared to other needs," Patton said. " Funds for investment in plant are limited and many other facility renewal projects involving academic buildings, recreational facilities, residence and dining halls, and administrative facilities are considered of a higher priority."

The Denison vice president noted that actual use of Middleton House for housing guests and hosting meetings is quite modest and has remained consistently so for years. Though many guests thoroughly enjoy staying at Middleton, many others comment they feel isolated fromand the campus. For example, he cited that some departments already chose not to house guests at Middleton because they want candidates to have a better opportunity to experience the village during their visit.

In addition, Denison wants to support thebusiness community, including the historic inns located in the village, and would expect to be using the Granville Inn and Buxton Inn even more after sale of Middleton, Patton added.

"It's in Denison's best interest for theand Buxton Inns to be successful. We believe they are integral to a successful Granville business district, and in the minds of many, very much a part of the Granville and Denison experience."

The Denison vice president said that Middleton is on the market but that Denison "isn't in a hurry to sell." In the interim, Middleton House will continue to operate as Denison's guest house with no change in operating procedures.

Denison has no plans to sell the adjoining Irvine Hill farm house, also on the Middleton property and currently used by Kendal for offices.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

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(740) 587-8575