History of Cedar Hills

Cedar Hills is a full service ministry of hospitality owned and operated by the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio. Christians of all denominations, other faith communities and educational non-profit groups use the Conference Center for spiritual retreats, educational workshops and family recreation .

Mr. Joseph Patterson of Sargeant-Patterson Paint Company originally owned the property. The first building on the property was a small hunting lodge built in 1926. As Mr. Patterson spent more and more time at Cedar Hills, additions and improvements were made to the house and the grounds. Eventually Mr. Patterson had constructed for himself a formidable estate off in the woods miles from the "outside" world.

Structures built by Mr. Patterson include the main lodge and caretakers quarters, the swimming pool and cabalas, two garages (one for horses and the other for cars and sleds), the chapel originally used as a dining room for those extra large parties, several out-buildings for equipment and pheasants (the pheasants were used for hunting), tow underground reservoirs and three lakes. Along with these he constructed miles of elaborate service roads and trails, some of them with natural stone walls. His secluded paradise came face-to-face with the "outside" world in 1959 with the construction of Interstate 90. The freeway cur off the original driveway and came within one hundred yards of the main house, as well as separating a large portion of the property to the north from the rest of his land.

Mr. Patterson died and his widow sold the estate to the Cedar Hills Development Company. They, in turn, drew a new property line around the estate including only the necessary buildings and roads and sold these 77 acres to the Episcopal Church in 1960. The church converted the main house into a conference center capable of sleeping 40 people. The dining house, which Mr. Peterson ironically call the "Chapel", was converted into a real Chapel and named St. Andrew's-in-the-Woods. In 1969 the church bought the surrounding property up to the original property lines. This was an addition of 100+ acres of land, mostly undeveloped and inaccessible woods. In 1971 the small cabin was constructed and the two larger cabins followed it in 1973. The Diocese operated a summer youth camp for grades six through eight until 1973 when a new family camping program was put into effect. Some of the present camping sites and equipment are left over from this camp.

On March 20, 1974 a fire destroyed the entire main lodge, except the kitchen and caretaker's quarters. This was less that a week after The Rev. William Brown, the first Director of Cedar Hills, moved into his new house on the property. The "new" lodge was built in 1975. In the early 1980's The Rev Ora Calhoun became the Director of Cedar Hills upon the retirement of The Rev. William Brown. R. Calhoun continued to build the Youth Ministry of the Diocese at Cedar Hills until his departure in 1991. During the next eighteen months Cedar Hills was without a permanent Executive Director. Mrs. Marilyn Urban served as Interim Director until January 1993 when Peter Nielsen, the first Lay Professional came to Cedar Hills as its third and current Directory.

In 1993 the caretakers' quarters was converted into conference space and is now knows as the "Bishop's Apartment". Cedar Hills is capable of sleeping 78 people and can be used for one large conference or several small events at the same time. Cedar Hills provides a wide range of settings and services for its guests.

In 1995 summer camp for youth was revitalized and presently serves about 400 youth per summer. We also serve approximately 120 other groups during the remainder of the seasons of the year.