President's house

Abstract

In 1946, Youngstown College bought the house at 444 Wick Avenue to serve as a residence for President Howard Jones. The dwelling was originally constructed in 1917 by steel executive and investor Henry A. Butler and stood on a lot immediately adjacent to the Butler Institute of American Art.

While living on campus, Howard Jones was accessible to both faculty and students. President and Mrs. Jones invited students to join them for tea and other social functions, and classes were held in the basement. Home economics students even tried their hand at cooking for the Joneses in return for college credit.

When Howard Jones retired in 1966, the structure was extensively remodeled and converted into the new Executive Office Building.

In 1976, the house was demolished to make room for the new Maag Library building. The Administration moved its offices to a newly-refurbished Tod Hall.

Howard Jones' two immediate successors, Albert Pugsley and John Coffelt, both resided with their spouses at 1010 Colonial Drive, in Liberty Township, in a house owned and maintained by YSU.

President Neil Humphrey preferred to live in his own home in the neighboring community of Poland. Consequently, the property at 1010 Colonial Drive was sold.

During the 1990's, President Leslie Cochran and his wife, Lin, purchased Clingan-Waddell Hall from YSU and remodeled it into “Penguin Place,” their official residence. When President Cochran retired, the building was purchased by a local business firm.

President and Mrs. David Sweet currently reside in Liberty Township in a privately-purchased home.