Historic Hoyt Building razed

NORTH FAIRFIELD — A more than 140-year-old Huron County building came crashing down this week. The historic Hoyt Building, located at the corner of West Main Street (Ohio 162) and North Main Street, was demolished on Wednesday. The building, which finished construction in 1883, was known to county residents as a longtime storefront whose tenants included a grocery store and market, among others. Many people posted in the North Fairfield Community Bulletin Facebook group with memories of visiting and shopping at the building. 'Best country store in Ohio' The structure was built by Harry Hoyt, born Oct. 22, 1860, and his father, Elmon, according to research posted online by Bev Shute, whose great-grandfather was Elmon Hoyt. Shute's research on the building cites the book "Picturesque Huron," published in 1896 by the Norwalk-based Laning Printing Company. Harry Hoyt managed a general store in North Fairfield before his family constructed the Hoyt Building and established a business which became "perhaps the best country store in Ohio," according to "Picturesque Huron." The building was listed in the 2024 Ohio's Most Endangered Historic Sites list by Preservation Ohio. The historic preservation group described the structure as a two-story Victorian building that was "derelict" and being used for storage. "The building has been left to deteriorate for some time, to the point that pieces of the facade have begun to fall," the group wrote. "The village has applied for a grant from the county land bank for the demolition and the bank has done testing on the property to determine what possible contaminants would result from its demolition." 'Too late to save the old place' Skinner Mills of the nonprofit New Haven Ohio History League added additional context on the situation: The Hoyt Building, the iconic two-story brick structure located at 1 West Main Street in the heart of North Fairfield in neighboring Fairfield Township, was demolished on June 11, 2025. The building made statewide news in 2024 as one of Ohio's most endangered historic sites, as reported by Preservation Ohio in an article published June 13, (2024). The commercial structure that had stood at the southwest corner of South and West Mains, commanding the Village Center since 1883, made the elite list of historic sites. The Preservation Ohio organization selected the site from a record number of historic site nominations received during the year. Regretfully, this recognition came too late to save the old place. The owner neglected the structure for many years and it gave way to the weather and time. Broken windows, failed roof and structural decay left the building in total ruin. The building was slated for demolition and became just another fatality in historic North Fairfield's landscape. How many more of this township's historic buildings and landmarks are we going to let fall down? As you drive around this county, you can find many old homes and storefronts that are worthy of being saved, not the least of which is right here in our own front yard. I am referring to the old I.O.O.F. "Odd Fellows" building at New Haven Village center which was built in 1850. If you care about preserving our local history, please considering joining and donating to the New Haven Ohio History League. Mills wrote that people can donate to the history league by visiting its GoFundMe page or mailing donations to PO Box 25, New Haven, OH 44850.