Ada in Hardin County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Ohio Northern University
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 7, 2010
1. Ohio Northern University Marker
Henry Solomon Lehr founded Ohio Northern University in 1871 as the Northwestern Ohio Normal School. Its purpose was to train teachers and to provide higher education to the people in Northwest Ohio. In 1885, the school became Ohio Normal University. The new name recognized that the institution drew students from all over Ohio and the nation, and offered courses in many disciplines, including literature, music, business, telegraphy, and law, as well as teacher training. Beginning with 131 students, the institution's enrollment grew rapidly during its first thirty years of existence. Buildings on the early campus included Dukes Memorial (left), built in 1905; the Normal School Building, built in 1871 and demolished in 1915 to make way for Lehr Memorial (center); and Hill Building (right) finished in 1879. The Methodist Episcopal Church (predecessor to the United Methodist Church) assumed control in 1899. Ohio Normal University became Ohio Northern University in 1903. On June 3, 1910, President William Howard Taft delivered that year's commencement address near this spot.
Erected 1998 by The County Connection Club, Ohio Northern University, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 14-33.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion
this page online
Location. 40° 45.933′ N, 83° 49.4′ W. Marker is in Ada, Ohio, in Hardin County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street (Ohio Route 235) and College Avenue, on the right when traveling south on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 525 S Main Street, Ada OH 45810, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Memorial Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Liberty National Bank Of Ada (approx. 0.3 miles away); Ada Civil War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Ada Passenger Depot, 1887 (approx. 0.3 miles away); Dedicated To All Veterans (approx. 0.4 miles away); Northwestern Ohio Volunteer Firemen's Association (approx. 0.7 miles away); Jacob Parrott (approx. 4.2 miles away); Alger Marion Township Veterans Memorial (approx. 4.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ada.
Also see . . .
1. Ohio Northern University. Ohio History Central website entry (Submitted on March 23, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 7, 2010
2. Ohio Northern University Marker
2. Ohio Northern University. University website homepage (Submitted on March 23, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Additional commentary.
1. Dukes Hall at Ohio Northern University
Dukes Hall was donated to Ohio Northern University by Louis Dukes, brother of Eli Dukes, my husband's great great grandfather, in 1902.
— Submitted April 3, 2011, by Donna McLean Young of Springfield, Ohio.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 7, 2010
3. Ohio Northern University Marker
Looking south.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 7, 2010
4. Dukes Hall, Ohio Northern University
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 7, 2010
5. Lehr Hall, Ohio Northern University
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 7, 2010
6. Hill Building, Ohio Northern University
Credits. This page was last revised on July 5, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 23, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,573 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on March 23, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
