History of the "Castle on the Hill"

190 West Winter Street

Delaware, Ohio 43015
740.369.ARTS (2787)

www.artscastle.org

History of The Arts Castle

The Building of "The Castle"

The Arts Castle has a fascinating history, beginning when a man named William Little moved from Connecticut to Delaware in pursuit of better business opportunities. He and his partner, George W. Campbell, ran the Blue Limestone Quarry, which is today part of the Blue Limestone Park located down the street from The Arts Castle. When Mr. Campbell wed William Little’s daughter Elizabeth in 1846, Little presented the castle as a wedding gift to the couple.

The Arts Castle’s architecture remains much as it was in 1854 when the home was completed for George and Elizabeth Campbell. The house was fashioned after the Anglo-Norman style popular at the time, as can be seen by the round tower and arched windows and doorways. Inspired by the Amish, the arches were built using various sized scrap woods rather than one molded board. Campbell used blue limestone from the quarry to build the house. It is believed that the house may have been designed by W. Russell West, Esq., Architect, of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Campbell was a renowned horticulturist, and, while living in his new home, introduced several new plants to the area. During one trip to China, Campbell returned with a gingko tree to be planted in the yard, which still blooms there today. Campbell also had a small vineyard to the east of the house where he developed and improved a variety of fruits, most notably the world famous Delaware Grape.

Today, many of the streets surrounding the castle bear the names of members of the Campbell family: Elizabeth Street, Catherine Street (named for George and Elizabeth’s daughter), and Campbell Street.

Ohio Wesleyan Moves In

Following Campbell’s death in 1898, Reverend Aaron J. Lyons and Mrs. Abbie Parish purchased the house and donated it to Ohio Wesleyan University. Ohio Wesleyan decided to make the building the home of their art department, and for more than seventy years it was Lyons Art Hall. Frescos painted by art professor Jarvis Stewart and his students may still be viewed on the walls of the basement.

From Art Facility to Private Home

In 1966, Ohio Wesleyan decided to transfer the art department back to the main campus and the building returned to its original use as a private home. When Dr. and Mrs. Melvin Vulgamore bought the house in 1974, they renovated the building but retained the style of the original home, using the ballroom for private concerts. The building then passed through the hands of architect Roger Koch who made a few structural changes and on to Jay Maynard. Maynard would be the last private owner of the building, selling it to the newly formed non-profit organization, the Delaware County Cultural Arts Center (DCCAC), in 1988.

Return to the Arts

Upon the purchase of the building by the DCCAC Board of Trustees, "The Arts Castle" was born. Renovations were undertaken to prepare the building for its use as a community art center and today the building houses ten studios, a gift shop, and administrative offices.

The Delaware County Cultural Arts Center

A Dream Becomes Reality

In 1985, Joy Kaser and Fran Hutchinson envisioned a facility that would create excitement about the arts for all ages in Delaware County. They began to seek other community members who also felt that an arts center would contribute immensely to the community and they soon met Dotty Florance. Together, Dotty, Fran, and Joy increased the number of supporters for the DCCAC, and soon William H. Eells was on board. To this day, Bill is the only Ohioan to have served on the National Endowment for the Arts. Growing up in Delaware, he was happy to assist and agreed to be the Honorary Chairman for the first capital campaign. His experience enabled him to harness the enthusiasm Dotty, Fran, Joy and the other supporters of the DCCAC had, creating a driven team.

As DCCAC continued to gain support and was granted funding from the Ohio Arts Council, the committee began to look for a building to house their center. When the property they had hoped to buy was sold to another organization, their hope endured and the "The Castle" was discovered.

"The Castle" was not yet fit for royalty when purchased by the DCCAC, and it would be some time until classes could be held there. The Board of Trustees worked hard along with artists and teachers to develop courses and plan studio spaces. Local architect Robert L. Grant supervised the building’s renovations to meet safety standards throughout 1988-89. Volunteers made the renovations possible, as professionals, Ohio Wesleyan students, and Delaware residents were all enthusiastic to help.

Class is in Session

The Delaware County Cultural Arts Center opened its doors to students for its first classes in 1989. Though there was still a lot of work to do to continue the improvements being made to The Arts Castle, these classes were a success and set the standards for the quality programming that continues to be essential to The Arts Castle’s mission:

Today The Arts Castle offers over ninety classes a quarter, enrolling approximately 800 students. Courses focus on anything from modern dance to creating willow settees, as well as the more traditional fine arts, like painting, drawing, and ceramics.*

The Arts Castle

The Arts Castle today offers many opportunities for individuals of all ages to explore the arts. Below, are overviews of the programs and events held here at The Arts Castle.

Classes and Workshops

Professional artists, vocational artists, and qualified art educators instruct students of all ages and abilities in a wide range of art opportunities. The Education Director carefully selects all instructors. Although most of the courses are offered in our facility, new satellite locations are in Lewis Center, Powell, and Sunbury. Scholarships are made available for many of the classes and workshops offered by The Arts Castle.

Summer Arts Camps

The Arts Castle offers several summer Arts Camps for youth, teens, and adults. With sunny days and creative juices flowing, students can express themselves in new ways!

Visual Arts Exhibitions

The Arts Castle offers awe-inspiring visual arts exhibits that rotate every six to eight weeks. These exhibits give The Arts Castle a chance to showcase area artists and students work as well.

Performances

Every year The Arts Castle holds a series of special events open to the public, featuring local musicians, guest lecturers, or poetry readings. The Dance Academy also holds performances, giving its members an opportunity to demonstrate their artistic development.

Outreach

Providing outreach opportunities for special and under-served populations in the community is a significant aspect of our mission. The Arts Castle provides many programs and services in partnership with community organizations and area schools. These Outreach programs include arts opportunities for pre-school children with disabilities at the Liberty Community Center, the Open HeART Project in association with the schools, the Positive StART Project with the Juvenile Court System, as well as programs in conjunction with area senior citizen centers.

Castle Arts Affair

An annual four-day celebration of the arts, the Castle Arts Affair is an exciting time at The Arts Castle. Held in November, over 100 artists exhibit and sell their artwork. This spectacular event also includes Ohio musicians sharing their talents and culinary artists serving their best.

The Gallery Shop

The Gallery Shop at The Arts Castle features a gorgeous spiral staircase that provides a unique space to display works of art. Most of the artists who have work in The Gallery Shop are Ohio residents and a few are emerging as artists from the Columbus College of Art and Design. Educational information is available on the artists’ works that are displayed. Totally staffed by volunteers, the shop offers one more jewel in The Arts Castle’s crown!

The Arts Castle Staff

Executive Director C. Joy Kaser

Education Director Linda Johnson

Office Manager/Book keeper Kathy Cope

Class Registrar Jan Brinkerhoff

Development Officer Sherry Fisher

Building Caretaker Phil Koons

Technical Support Don Byerly

Outreach Coordinator Pamela Spence

3^rd and 5^th Grade Coordinator Mary Williams