Raise the Rutherford!

Part II: Hayes in Cincinnati

Cincinnati Literary Club

A continuing, slightly humorous series to raise awareness of Rutherford B. Hayes and erect a statue of him in Cincinnati.

As far as I can tell, Rutherford B. Hayes was an enthusiastic member of the Literary Club. Hayes arrived in Cincinnati on Christmas Day, 1849, and by early 1850 was a member. Friendships forged in the Literary Club, in many cases, would be life-long. Even though President Hayes moved his permanent residence to Fremont in 1873, after his second term as Governor of Ohio, the Literary Club remained important to him. During his term as President he even met up with those members living and working in DC at the time. For instance his diary notes a meeting in 1878 to celebrate the 29th Anniversary of the Club.


Founded on October 29, 1849, the Literary Club is the oldest organization of its kind in the United States. One hundred members, all men, meet weekly for much of the year and present essays on a variety of topics. In the early days, meetings included debate and discussion of the day’s events. Currently, the Club is housed at 500 East Fourth Street. The building, constructed circa 1820, is Greek Revival with a sympathetic rear addition complete by Elzner & Anderson in 1930. It has served as the Club headquarters since that time.

I have been spending some time reading the President Hayes diary and letters from the time he was in Cincinnati. There are many great references to the Literary Club and thought I’d share a few:

February 19, 1850.
DEAR UNCLE: . . . I belong to a delightful little club, composed of lawyers, artists, merchants, and teachers, which meets once a week--has debates, conversations, (similar, I suppose, to those of the "Fremont Literary Association, H. Everett, Secretary"), essays, and oysters.

QCS Note: This is an additional excerpt from the letter in Part I. Hayes’s father died before he was born and he was very close to his maternal Uncle Sardis Birchard. Uncle Sardis built Spiegle Grove where the Hayes's lived fulltime (besides time in Governor's Mansion and the White House of course) beginning in 1873. Rutherford B. Hayes expanded it a few times over the years. Uncle Sardis lived with them in his retirement.

March 3, 1850.
. . . Made my first speech in the Club last night. So-so, but ratherish good, considering. Shall improve the privileges of the Club in the future to the full. About ten adjourned. Went to Masonic Hall with friend Collins just in time to witness reception of the Legislature who had come down on the new railroad . . .

QCS Note: "Collins" is Isaac Collins, a lawyer, eventual Common Pleas Judge, and one of the founders of the Literary Club. Hayes mentions going to Masonic Hall. Hayes was a member of the I.O.O.F. and a ‘Son of Temperance’ which I think was part of the Masons or related to them somehow. I honestly am not sure yet.

Sunday, May 26.
This evening our Literary Club met and received a visit from Mr. Ralph Waldo Emerson. He, after being introduced to each member, sat down and began a free and easy conversation on literary men and things in England. Talked two and a half hours on all matters from letters to raising corn and pigs. A very pleasant man . . .

QCS Note: This is a diary entry from 1850 though not noted as such.

November 7, 1850.
DEAR FANNY: I reached home in company, as I anticipated, with Lieutenant Collins in time to attend a very gay meeting of our Literary Club held in honor of its first anniversary. The good things that were read, spoken, sung, toasted, and eaten, were quite "too numerous to mention in one advertisement," making no allusion to "things" good or evil which were smoked and drunk. Suffice it, that the ceremonies beginning at nine o'clock P. M. did not "taper off until" after two A.M., nor till all were satisfied that we had had "one of the times we read of." Since then nothing has occurred to disturb the usually tranquil current of my affairs and thought.

QCS Note: Fanny, again, is his much beloved sister.

July 4 or 5, 1857.
MY DEAREST: It is either very late or very early—either the 4th near midnight or the 5th in the morning. I suspect the latter. I have just returned from the club celebration and as I feel no disposition to sleep will spend a few minutes in talking with my darling about it. I do regret, as so many of your friends did, that you were not here. It was one of the pleasantest-- perhaps the very jolliest gathering we ever had.

CINCINNATI, July 5, 1860.
DEAREST LUCY: . . . George Strong said: "I hear the Club has grown dignified and orderly. Oh, don't. I long for the good old days when we called the President, not Mr. President, but Rud or Billy."

QCS Note: "Dearest" and "Dearest Lucy" of course refer to his wife, Lucy Webb Hayes. At this time, I do not know who George Strong was.

Next . . . Part III: Hayes in Cincinnati – Cincinnati Gymnasium & Athletic Club

Baedeker: Wrigley Field, Chicago

Even though the Reds lost today to the Diamondbacks 4 - 2, I thought I'd post some photos of a trip to Chicago in honor of Opening Day. It was a 2006 trip to Wrigley Field to watch the Reds take on Dusty Baker's former team the Cubs. The Reds won but a lot of the fun was sitting in the bleachers and going to the bars across the street after the game.

Author's Note: Baedeker was a German-based travel guide begun in 1827 by Karl Baedeker. These comprehensive guides were hugely popular in Europe, the United States, and throughout the British Empire. I have adopted the moniker for all my travel pieces beyond Cincinnati. Given its German history and stately influence, I thought it fitting for the Queen City.

#3603

My first 5k.

Sunday’s Mercy Heart Mini Marathon included the 5k, the Mini Marathon, the Heart Walk and a kid’s 2K. Having never run one before, I was a little nervous. But it honestly was kind of exciting to have been a part of it. And just cool when there are than many people downtown. Running toward the finish line on 5th Street with people cheering too was a rush . . . and I was about 15 minutes behind the leaders! It was not a great time (32:00) but was actually better than when I run on the treadmill at the gym. Hopefully for my next 5k I can improve my time. I kept my little bib with my number ‘3603’ on it as a memento.

I stayed and took pictures of some of the Mini Marathon that started at 10:00 am. I caught the runners as they were coming back in to downtown and were heading for the finish line.

Fountain Day

Saturday evening I headed down to Fountain Square for Fountain Day. The crowd was pretty light when I got there and remained so for much of the evening. It was a little chilly and I think that kept people away. I did think attendance went up right when Mayor Mallory spoke, the fountain was turned on, and the fireworks began. People must have just been staying inside nearby, keeping warm, until the big event. One could watch the Xavier Men's Basketball team play UCLA too which was on the big screen . . . But sadly the Muskies lost. It was a great season anyway.

Cincinnati March(itecture) Madness

Games 25 - 28

Voting has begun in Games 25 - 28 on the right side of the blog.

To view the 2008 Cincinnati March(itecture) Madness Tournament Bracket and see individual game summary and stats, click here.

Voting ends at 5:00 pm on April 1. Voting begins for all Regional Final games on April 2!

Game 25:

#1 Music Hall vs. #12 Bishop’s Place

Game 26:
#2 Carew Tower vs. #3 Spring Grove Cemetery

Game 27:
#1 Union Terminal vs. #13 Memorial Hall

Game 28:

#3 Roebling Bridge vs. #7 City Hall

Cincinnati March(itecture) Madness

The Elite 8

The Regional Semifinal match-ups are set and voting begins tomorrow to determine our Final 4. All the games are as follows:

In the East Region:

#1 Music Hall vs. #12 Bishop’s Place
#2 Carew Tower vs. #3 Spring Grove Cemetery
In the West Region:

#1 Union Terminal vs. #13 Memorial Hall
#3 Roebling Bridge vs. #7 City Hall
To view the entire 2008 Cincinnati March(itecture) Madness Tournament Bracket and see individual game summary and stats, click here.

Eight facts about our Elite 8:

1. Spring Grove, founded in 1845, is the oldest competitor. Its historic main office is also older than any other structure and its carriage house was completed the same year as the Roebling Bridge (1867).
2. Union Terminal, completed in 1933, is the youngest beating out Carew Tower by just two years.
3. Architect Samuel Hannaford was directly or indirectly involved with four entries: Music Hall, City Hall, Memorial Hall, and Spring Grove. Memorial Hall was fully executed by his sons after his retirement and he completed the Chapel at Spring Grove . . . besides being buried there.
4. Bishop's Place is the only remaining residence and the only building remaining designed by James McLaughlin.
5. Art Deco is well represented by both Carew Tower and Union Terminal.
6. Five National Historic Landmarks remain in the field of eight and out of twelve total competitors that began in this competition.
7. Music Hall and Memorial Hall are neighbors and have been since Memorial Hall was completed in 1908.
8. I'm pretty sure Memorial Hall could fit in the rotunda of Union Terminal.
   

Games 25 -28 begin tomorrow with voting ending at 5:00 on April 1.

Cincinnati March(itecture) Madness

Recap: Games 23 & 24

The 'Elite 8' of Cincinnati March(itecture) Madness is set. And history was made. Carew Tower becomes our first victor with a clean sweep - winning every vote and shutting out St. Peter-in-Chains.

In the East Region:
Game 21 – No. 2 seed Carew Tower beat and shut out the No. 7 seed St. Peter-in-Chains, 18 - 0.

In the West Region:
Game 22 – No. 7 seed City Hall beat the No. 2 seed Plum Street Temple, 13 - 5.

This set of games was interesting as three of the four "competitors" can be found at 8th & Plum Streets. In the end only one moves on. St. Peter-in-Chains was soundly defeated by Carew Tower and City Hall beats up on Plum Street Temple in, at least on paper, an upset. Plum Street Temple was roughed up in Round One by the CAC but survived. It came up short here in Round Two. To this observer, it was an upset. It is, after all, a National Historic Landmark and one of the city's finest structures. In this battle of Church vs. State, State won.

To view the entire 2008 Cincinnati March(itecture) Madness Tournament Bracket, click here.

Voting in all four games of the Regional Semifinals begins tomorrow.

Krohn Conservatory

It was so nice out I decided to stop at Krohn Conservatory on my way home from running errands.

Raise the Rutherford!

Part I: Hayes in Cincinnati

A day in the life of a Cincinnati lawyer in 1850.

A continuing, slightly humorous series to raise awareness of Rutherford B. Hayes and erect a statue of him in Cincinnati.

As I mentioned in the past, I have been spending some time reading President Hayes’s online diary and letters from the time he was in Cincinnati. A lot of his entries are fascinating, giving a glimpse of not only his life, but life in the Cincinnati at the height of the City's growth prior to the Civil War. One of my favorite letters so far is a letter to his Uncle, Sardis Birchard, dated February 19, 1850. The geek in me finds it so interesting . . .

The excerpts below begin at the second paragraph after the greeting "Dear Uncle":

Mrs. Valette's thinking of my place of worship reminds me that I have never given you a detailed account of my way of living and spending time, and, therefore, thinking it may perhaps interest her if it does not you, I will try to give you a picture of my days. My office is in the "Law Buildings." The lower story is occupied by two express offices, an auction store, and a telegraph office; the upper stories by about eighteen lawyers, three or four architects, and a loafer or two, about one-third of whom sleep in their offices or rooms adjoining. The rooms rent for about ten dollars per month each. Our office is one of the best, if not the best, in the building. In one corner of the room, about twelve feet square is partitioned off for a bedroom, in which are two husk mattresses on bunks the size of Mrs. Valette's lounge, a washstand, a bureau, and divers pegs on which hang divers dusty garments. In the morning about 5 o'clock, an Irishman (who is not a Son of Temperance) comes in and builds a fire and sweeps out the office; about seven (more or less) the newsboy comes with the daily paper, and we get up, scratch open our eyes, read the news, and go to breakfast.

QCS Note: The Valettes were residents of Fremont and friends of the Hayes’s. Uncle Sardis lived at their estate at different times from what I’ve gathered. The Law Building, based on another entry, was on the south side of Third Street, between Main & Sycamore Streets, directly opposite the Henrie House. I particularly love the mention of the Irishman.

Photo of Henrie House from Library's Cincinnati Memory Project. Next paragraph . . .

My boarding-house is three squares off. A very respectable set of boarders;--one Old School Presbyterian clergyman, four or five intelligent Scotch merchants, also Presbyterians (but not members of our preacher's church), and strong on doctrinal points, an agreeable lawyer and his lady (an old schoolmate of Fanny's), a young Methodist New Yorker who is always getting the worst of the argument from the Scotchmen, an insurance broker from Connecticut, very like John Pease, and with more sense than all the rest, two or three nondescripts, an old widow lady, great on homoeopathy and Swedenborgianism, a son of hers about forty who echoes his mother's sentiments most dutifully, and myself.

QCS Note: So as I count it there were upwards of fifteen boarders, including Rutherford Hayes! Fanny is his beloved sister.

Next paragraph . . .

While we are gone to breakfast, our Irishman and his wife make up the beds, bring water, and brush off the dust, never omitting to arrange all the books and papers on our tables right wrong exactly.

After breakfast, I read law student-fashion till noon, when one of us go to the postoffice and then read news and letters, if there are any, until dinner. Every few days a forenoon is spent in court, if anything interesting is going on. Dinner at one o'clock. Remain in the office until near four, when we sally out to call on friends or ladies--in short, in search of prey. About half-past five, I go to the gymnasium where I often meet Mat Stem and occasionally Glenn; Glenn you know is pussy [pursy]. He works hard and looks among the youngsters who are seen there like a whale in Green Creek. About half our evenings are spent in the office--one or two evenings a week with the ladies, and one or two at lectures, Sons [of Temperance], or something of that sort. Among the lawyers in this building are Judge Walker, Judge Read, Tom Gallagher, Gholson & Minor, etc.--all clever and social.

QCS Note: Hayes mentions "one of us go to the postoffice" which would at this time imply either he or another lawyer and friend John W. Herron with whom he shared an office. John Herron would go on to become a District Attorney and he was the father of the future wife of President William Howard Taft, Helen Herron Taft.

Photo of the Cincinnati Post Office until 1853 from Library's Cincinnati Memory Project.
To continue reading the entire entry where he discusses church, clubs and his law practice, click here.

Next . . . Part II: Hayes in Cincinnati – Cincinnati Literary Club

Blog Alert: CityBeat's Best of Cincinnati

Queen City Survey Mentioned!

This week's issue of CityBeat is their "Best of Cincinnati" edition. Picks were voted on by readers and by staff and in the Staff Picks there is the following . . .

Best Source of Micro-Local Media:
Cincinnati has a wealth of blog sites devoted to incredibly local topics, and many are quite good: Cincinnati Locavore, whose theme of "eat local, live local" inspired this Best of Cincinnati issue (cincinnatilocavore.blogspot.com); Building Cincinnati, which covers local community development (www.building-cincinnati.com); CityKin, which promotes urban living (www.citykin.com); Queen City Survey, which also promotes urban living and is having a cool NCAA-type bracket tournament to determine the area’s best architecture (queencitysurvey.blogspot.com); and the readers’ choice for Best Blog, Buy Cincy, which promotes one of our favorite causes: supporting locally owned independent businesses (www.buycincy.com).

Honestly, I'm honored. And I was thinking March(itecture) Maddness was only "cool" in my own head. I enjoy the other blogs mentioned and all are in my blog roll.

In the Readers Picks for Best Blog there are the following:
1. Buy Cincy (buycincy.com)
2. Building Cincinnati (building-cincinnati.com)
3. Lance McAlister Blog (1530homer.com/pages/lancesBlog)
4. Cincinnati Blog (cincinnati.blogspot.com)
5. Urban Cincinnati (urbancincy.com)

Of those, I link to all but Lance. I might have to check it out more . . .

I've added CityBeat to my 'Cincinnati Websites' roll on the right. They really do have a great online calendar for live bands and events. Thank you CityBeat.

Weekend Warm-Up: March 28 – 30

My recommendations for something to do this weekend.

This weekend is shaping up to be quite busy with a number of activities going on around town.

Friday is Final Friday on Main Street and the Pendleton Art Center. Action is expanding to Vine Street with Park + Vine, Metronation, MiCA, and A Lucky Step all are open for Final Friday (I think). Add Lavomatic & Grammer’s for food and libations and you’ve got a great night. Joseph Williams Home is open until 9:00 pm and I know I am going to try and stop by there.

This Saturday begins the first High Steel Tours of Union Terminal. This weekend includes a few activities celebrating their 75th Anniversary so check out the Museum Center website. Saturday evening is Fountain Day on the Square. I wrote about it here before but in a nutshell you have . . .

BEER, MUSIC, FOOD, FOUNTAIN, BEER, FIREWORKS, MUSIC, BEER

Festivities start a little before 7:00 pm. Check website for exact times and all the bands.


Sunday for me is the Heart Mini Marathon 5k. I think I push off at 9:00 am. The Mini Marathon starts at 10:00. Sunday afternoon will consist of laying on the couch watching NCAA basketball . . .

If you want something educational for Sunday I am going to recommend seeing Doris Kearns Goodwin at Memorial Hall at 7:00 pm.:

"This historian, Pulitzer Prize-winner and author of such books as The Fitzgeralds and The Kennedys and Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream lectures as part of the Theodore Berry Lecture Series."

It is FREE but might be full so check with the Freedom Center.

Cincinnati March(itecture) Madness

Games 23 & 24

Voting has begun in Games 23 and 24 on the right side of the blog.

To view the 2008 Cincinnati March(itecture) Madness Tournament Bracket and see individual game summary and stats, click here.

Voting ends at 5:00 pm on March 29. Voting begins for all Regional Semifinal games on March 30!

Game 23:
#2 Carew Tower vs. #7 St. Peter-in-Chains
Game 24:
#2 Plum Street Temple vs. #7 City Hall

Bengals and Bearcats and Muskies oh my.

A couple of Cincinnati sports related items from the week and weekend.

First, Xavier advances to the Sweet 16 of the Men’s NCAA Tournament. They play the Bob Huggin’s coached West Virginia Mountaineers tomorrow at 7:10 pm. In my bracket I have Xavier advancing to the Elite 8 so best of luck! Sadly, the Xavier women’s team lost in their first game of the Women’s tournament.

Late last week the Bengals made an offer to Colt’s Tight End Ben Utecht. The Colts did not match the offer and Utecht is expected to arrive this week in Cincinnati. I personally like the signing and like the addition of a Tight End in our passing schemes which hasn’t been there too much in the Marvin Lewis Era. The news on Monday however was that Chad Johnson has not reported to spring camp. I wonder how this will play out.


Lastly, I renewed my UC Football Season Tickets however a couple of points I found interesting in the process . . .

1. Season ticket prices went up $50 from $182 last year to $232 for 2008 for six homes games. This still includes, as it had in 2007, a $50 credit for a bowl game ticket. I guess I am ok with it however a nearly 22% increase in ticket prices seemed a little steep.


2. A change for next year at the stadium is that the UC football team will be on the east sideline instead of the west sideline. It makes sense for the reasons they gave. They also are moving visiting fans to other sections. My group of family and friends are thinking of moving to the east side now but only if we can get our seats, which are in a UCAT section, together like we have this year . . .


3. Speaking of UCATS, UCAT membership is also going up. UCATS is the Bearcat Booster program and all the seats at Nippert Stadium with backs are seats that require a UCAT membership. Price varied last year from $50 to $2000 depending on how close to the 50 yard line one was. For 2008 a $50 membership will be $100. And a $500 membership is going up to $600. (I didn’t even ask about the $1000 or $2000 membership levels.)

So I understand the need for these increases as a result of trying to be competitive in the Big East, however my total costs are going up by a minimum of $100 over last year and I just wanted to get it off my chest.

Cincinnati March(itecture) Madness

Recap: Games 21 & 22

We are getting closer to our Elite 8 in Cincinnati March(itecture) Madness and this was the round of Cinderellas, with both lower seeds advancing and one in a close match.

In the East Region:
Game 21 – No. 12 seed Bishop’s Place beat the No. 4 seed Cincinnati Observatory, 11 - 10.

In the West Region:
Game 22 – No. 13 seed Memorial Hall beat the No. 12 seed Phoenix Club, 15 - 6.

Only one vote separated Bishop’s Place and the Cincinnati Observatory and that is the tightest race yet. City Hall beat Central Trust Tower in Round One by two votes. The winners will face the No. 1 seeds so we will see if they can continue their upsetting ways.

To view the entire 2008 Cincinnati March(itecture) Madness Tournament Bracket, click here.

Voting in Games 23 and 24, the final games of Round Two, begins tomorrow.

Cincinnati March(itecture) Madness

Games 21 & 22

Voting has begun in Games 21 and 22 on the right side of the blog.

To view the 2008 Cincinnati March(itecture) Madness Tournament Bracket and see individual game summary and stats, click here.

Voting ends at 5:00 pm on March 26. Voting begins for Games 23 and 24 on March 27.

Game 21:
#4 Cincinnati Observatory vs. #12 Bishop's Place

Game 22:
#12 The Phoenix Club vs. #13 Memorial Hall

Cincinnati March(itecture) Madness

Recap: Games 19 & 20

The No. 3 seeds advanced easily in this round of Cincinnati March(itecture) Madness. In early voting, Spring Grove and Withrow were tied 5 - 5 but Spring Grove pulled ahead and it stayed that way in the days that followed.

In the East Region:
Game 19 – No. 3 seed Spring Grove Cemetery beat the No. 11 seed Withrow High School, 14 - 8.

In the West Region:
Game 20 – No. 3 seed Roebling Bridge beat the No. 11 seed Scarlett Oaks, 18 - 3.

Voting, I guess, has stabilized. We'll see what happens after the Easter Holiday and as we prepare to crown our Final Four on April 1.

To view the entire 2008 Cincinnati March(itecture) Madness Tournament Bracket, click here.

Voting in Games 21 and 22 begins tomorrow.

Raise the Rutherford!

White House Easter Egg Roll

The continuing, slightly humorous series to erect a statue of Rutherford B. Hayes in Cincinnati.

Need another reason why Rutherford B. Hayes needs his own statue in the Queen City? This Easter we remember it was President Rutherford B. Hayes who started the White House Easter egg roll in 1878. From the Rutherford B. Hayes website:

"Hayes let it be known that children living nearby could gather on the White House lawn on Easter to play games after Congress banned the youngsters from playing on the Capitol grounds."

A true man of the people!
Photo from the White House website.

Cincinnati March(itecture) Madness

Games 19 & 20

Voting has begun in Games 19 and 20 on the right side of the blog.

To view the 2008 Cincinnati March(itecture) Madness Tournament Bracket and see individual game summary and stats, click here.

Voting ends at 5:00 pm on March 23. Voting begins for Games 21 and 22 on March 24.

Game 19:
#3 Spring Grove Cemetery vs. #11 Withrow High School
Game 20:
#3 Roebling Bridge vs. #11 Scarlett Oaks

Blog Alert: 'Sort of Cincinnati' Blogs

On the 'Sort of Cincinnati' blog roll I have two additions. Well, one was more like a lateral move.

In a little bit of housekeeping, I moved Cincinnati Locavore to the 'Sort of Cincinnati' roll as it is really not just about Cincinnati.

Then I added Queer in the City. He is definately all over on subject matter by his own admission. He writes:

"A quasi-political, highly personal, very quirky, somewhat funny 'mo who lives on the westside of Cincinnati. Please, don't shove me into a niche, I don't think you have one that fits."

Here is a recent picture of Mt. Echo Park from a recent post. Enjoy!