After the opening of the Ohio and Erie Canal in the 1830s, Cleveland became a destination for fugitive slaves and the bondsmen who tracked them.

Before the Civil War, slaves moved through Ohio's Underground Railroad network that extended two hundred and fifty miles from Ripley to Cleveland.

Persons seeking freedom were often aided by abolitionists in University Circle, formerly a part of East Cleveland Township.

The initial steps included the replacement of the slate roof, guttering systems and construction repairs to the belvedere and chimneys.

[2] UCI and private donations helped cover the remaining funds needed to full renovate the structure, totaling $2 million.