Howard House

Howard House is the home of the Office of Alumni Relations. It is part of the Temperance Row historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1914, it has served as the home of Purley Baker, superintendent of the Anti-Saloon League; the editorial office of the Standard Encyclopedia of Alcoholism; and the Westerville community library. Otterbein's presidents called it home from 1948 until 1971, including namesake J. Gordon Howard, president of Otterbein from 1945-1957. At one time, the house featured a large, decorative sunken garden in the front. Legend has it that one night, President Howard had the pleasure of watching a group of Otterbein students chase a group of Capital University vandals straight over the edge of the garden.