Queen City Survey

2009-11-01T07:34:00.004-05:00

The End

Yes, Queen City Survey is ending. Off to do other things. I may spin off ‘Raise the Rutherford’ and ‘March(itecture) Madness’ in some manner. And Queen City Survey may live again in some form at some point in the future. But for now it is time to concentrate on other projects. Take care of the Queen City. Vote 'No on 9' and vote 'Yes on 6' for starters this Tuesday. I am still going to be paying attention.

Raise the Rutherford!

2009-10-31T14:28:00.005-04:00

Rutherford B. Hayes Month

Hayes & the Civil War
Bonus: ‘These are My Jewels’

Hayes called his years of military service during the Civil War the best years of his life. The seven-part series in honor of his birthday visited six locations associated with Hayes’ service to the Union.

I can think of no better way to end Rutherford B. Hayes Month than with a trip to my favorite Rutherford B. Hayes statue (that I know about). It is actually a statue of Hayes along with six other Ohioans – William Tecumseh Sherman, U.S. Grant, Salmon P. Chase, James A. Garfield, Edwin Stanton and Phillip Sheridan – on the grounds of the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus.

The statue is called “These are My Jewels”. It was designed by Levi Scofield who also did the spectacular Soldiers and Sailors Monument on Public Square in Cleveland. The name comes from a wealthy Roman mother, depicted at the top of the monument, who told another woman that her real wealth, her real ‘jewels’ were her sons who had served in the military.

The statue then depicts sons of Ohio who had contributed to the Union effort during the Civil War in both battle and politics. It was first exhibited at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. However, as designed it originally had only six figures. Hayes was not included! But before it was moved to Ohio and erected on the Ohio Statehouse grounds, the then Governor William McKinley raised additional money to add Hayes to the monument. McKinley had served under Hayes in the Ohio 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry and Hayes had recently passed away in 1893.
Raise the Rutherford! is a continuing, slightly humorous series to raise awareness of Rutherford B. Hayes and erect a statue of him in Cincinnati.

References:
The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center
Including the Dairy and Letters of Rutherford B. Hayes
The Ohio Statehouse

Raise the Rutherford!

2009-10-31T14:11:00.006-04:00

Rutherford B. Hayes Month

Hayes & the Civil War
Part VII: Conclusion

Hayes called his years of military service during the Civil War the best years of his life. This now seven-part series in honor of his birthday will visit four locations associated with Hayes’ service to the Union.

As Hayes remarks in his letter to his wife after Cedar Creek, fighting was generally over in the Shenandoah. And Cedar Creek was Hayes’s last battle. In January 1865, he was promoted to brigadier general. In March of 1865, Hayes was brevetted a Major General "for gallant and distinguished service during the campaign of 1864 in West Virginia and particularly at the battles of Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, Virginia". But in April 1865, Hayes was supposed to lead a raid on Lynchburg, Virginia, however Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Grant on April 9, 1965. And Lincoln was assassinated on April 14. And there was no need for the raid. The fighting of the Civil War was basically over.

Hayes was officially mustered out of service on June 8, 1865. Having been elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Cincinnati, he prepared to go to Washington to begin the next phase of his life.

Rutherford B. Hayes, taken 1861, from the Hayes Presidential Center

And thus ends Rutherford B. Hayes Month.

Here is a summary of all of the 'Hayes & the Civil War' posts:
Part I: Camp Chase
Part II: Battle of South Mountain
Part III: Battle of Buffington Island
Part IV: Battle of Second Kernstown
Part V: Battle of Third Winchester
Part VI: Battle of Cedar Creek
Part VII: Conclusion

There is so much more that could have been said about Hayes and his military service during the Civil War. I left much out, including many interesting details.

First and foremost, I left out many battles in which Hayes fought with the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. This includes his first battle, Carnifax Ferry, West Virginia, and a number of other battle sites in present day West Virginia. A whole ‘Hayes in West Virginia’ trip may be in order. (Though ‘The Education of Rutherford B. Hayes’ is certainly on the list at some point as an excuse to visit Harvard again.)

So I also left out how he had been appointed Colonel of the 79th Ohio Infantry Volunteers in 1862, but he never assumed that position and stayed with the 23rd Ohio once appointed their Colonel.

23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regimental Flag from the Ohio Historical Society Exhibits
But I also left out a bunch of little details . . .
- Like I simply find it fascinating that his wife Lucy and the children would come visit him while the 23rd was in camp, mostly in West Virginia. A man at Cedar Creek indicated that for ranking officers it was easier for family to come to the camp instead of leaving so regimental business could continue.
- Hayes and Lucy even conceived a child, George, while the war was going on. (He would died in 1866.) That child was named after George Crook his commander. And one child, Joseph, died while visiting Camp White near Charleston with his mother. (Joseph & George are buried in Spring Grove. Check out this post from last year.)
- Another interesting side-notion was it never really donned on me that fighting sort of took a break in wintertime.
- And I simply find it fascinating that Hayes would have been 42 by the time fighting had ended in 1865. Yes, 42! President William McKinley for instance was 18 when he enlisted and 22 when the war ended.

Next:
Bonus!

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

References:
The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center
Including the Dairy and Letters of Rutherford B. Hayes
Fight for the Colors, The Ohio Battle Flag Collection. Ohio Historical Society Exhibits

Raise the Rutherford!

2009-10-30T22:49:00.005-04:00

Rutherford B. Hayes Month

Hayes & the Civil War
Part VI: The Battle of Cedar Creek

Hayes called his years of military service during the Civil War the best years of his life. This now seven-part series in honor of his birthday will visit four locations associated with Hayes’ service to the Union.

The Battle of Cedar Creek took place on October 19, 1864. This was Hayes’ last combat, the battle that included ‘Sheridan’s Ride’, and a Union victory that many note signaled the end of major combat in the Shenandoah Valley and sealed Lincoln’s re-election.

Again, Hayes’s regiment is part of an Army led by U.S. Major General Phillip Sheridan to purse and defeat Jubal Early’s Confederate Corp. It is now October and they have been in pursuit and fighting in a series of battles and campaigns in the Shenandoah Valley since being called from West Virginia in July 1864.

At Cedar Creek approximately 32,000 Union men and 21,000 Confederates battle around the town of Middletown, VA where Early initiated a surprise attack. The Union was ultimately victorious. However after near defeat in the morning, it was Phillip Sheridan’s ride from Winchester some 17 miles north that rallied the troops in an afternoon counterattack and secured victory. (See previous post on Sheridan’s Ride.)

Hayes’ brigade however is generally only involved in the early part of the battle as they were one of the first forces under fire. They get decimated by the Confederates and have to retreat back north of the town of Middletown. They do give the Union enough time to vacate their headquarters at Belle Grove. Hayes is slightly injured in the battle and his horse is killed. Here is an excerpt from Hayes’ letter to Lucy, online at the Hayes Presidential Center:

CAMP AT CEDAR CREEK NEAR STRASBURG, VIRGINIA, October 21, 1864.
MY DARLING: . . . As usual with me I had some narrow escapes. While galloping rapidly, my fine large black horse was killed instantly, tumbling heels over head and dashing me on the ground violently. Strange to say I was only a little bruised and was able to keep the saddle all day. (Mem.:--I lost all my horse trappings, saddle, etc., including my small pistol.) I was also hit fairly in the head by a ball which had lost its force in getting (I suppose) through somebody else! It gave me only a slight shock. -- I think serious fighting on this line is now over.
Affectionately ever, your R.

For a more text-book description of the entire Battle of Cedar Creek, click here for the Civil War Preservation Trust’s (CWPT) battle summary and here for link to the battlefield map. And click here for a further summary of the battle from the National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program.

I visited the Cedar Creek Battlefield as part of the Battle of Cedar Creek 145th Anniversary Reenactment on October 17 & 18th. This event, sponsored by the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation, is held annually the weekend closest to the anniversary of the battle. I had never been to a reenactment before. There were a series of events that took place both days in addition to the battle reenactment which was only a portion of each day. One could walk around the camps, watch demonstrations, and attend lectures and a home tour. The main event of Saturday (when it rained) was the first part of the battle which included the Confederate attack. Sunday afternoon (which was overcast) included the Union counterattack.

Reenactment Photos
The Heater House
Views of Cedar Creek Camps
Belle Grove Plantation – The Isaac Hite family home, his first wife was Nelly Madison, James Madison’s sister. It is a National Historic Landmark and a National Trust property.
The view south from Belle Grove
Ramseur Monument – Remember Ramseur?
To view MANY more photos of my photos from the Battle of Cedar Creek 145th Anniversary Reenactment, click here. To view more photos from the Belle Grove Plantation, click here.

Cedar Creek is fighting the encroachment of nearby development, including a massive mining operation that is about to expand. Click here for a fantastic video on the battle and the threats it now faces. Currently over 1,450 acres are protected in the area through various partnerships in the Cedar Creek Battlefield and Belle Grove National Historic Park, established in 2002.

The Cedar Creek Battlefield though continues to fight threats to its preservation and was listed as one the 10 most endangered Civil War battlefields in 2009 by the Civil War Preservation Trust. Read about the entire list here and how you can help.

Next:
Part VII: Conclusion

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

References:
The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center
Including the Dairy and Letters of Rutherford B. Hayes
Civil War Preservation Trust
National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program
Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation
Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation
Belle Grove Plantation

Raise the Rutherford!

2009-10-23T22:07:00.006-04:00

Rutherford B. Hayes Month

Hayes & the Civil War
Part V: The Battle of Third Winchester

Hayes called his years of military service during the Civil War the best years of his life. This now six-part series in honor of his birthday will visit four locations associated with Hayes service to the Union.

The Battle of Third Winchester or Opequon took place on September 19, 1864. It is called ‘Third Winchester’ because two previous battles had taken place around the Northern Virginian town of Winchester in 1862 and 1863.
After Kernstown, one of Lt. General Jubal Early’s brigades burns the town of Chambersburg, PA, on July 30, 1864. U.S. Major General Phillip Sheridan was then given command of all Union forces in the Valley, replacing Hunter, following the defeat at Kernstown and the burning Chambersburg. Union forces reenter the Shenandoah and at Third Winchester, approximately 39,000 Union men under Sheridan and 15,000 Confederates do battle on the north side of town. The Union was victorious and pushed the Confederates south through the town of Winchester.

Hayes describes the battle in a letter to his Uncle Sardis, again online at the Hayes Presidential Center. Here is an excerpt:

HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA, September 26, 1864.
“DEAR UNCLE:--You have heard enough about our great victories at Winchester and Fisher's Hill. I will say only a word. No one man can see or know what passes on all parts of a battle-field. Each one describes the doings of the corps, division, or what not, that he is with. Now, all the correspondents are with the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps and the cavalry command. General Crook has nobody to write him or his command up. They are of course lost sight of. At Winchester at noon, the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps had been worsted. In the afternoon, General Crook (who is the brains of the whole thing) with his command turned the Rebel left and gained the victory. The cavalry saved it from being lost after it was gained. My brigade led the attack on the Rebel left, but all parts of Crook's command did their duty. The Sixth Corps fought well, the Nineteenth failed somewhat, and the cavalry was splendid and efficient throughout. This is my say-so.
“My division entered the fight on the extreme right of the infantry, Merritt's splendid cavalry on our right, and Averell still further on our right. We ended the fight on the extreme left. The Rebels retreated from our right to our left, so that we went in at the rear and came out at the front, my flag being the first into and through Winchester. My division commander was wounded late in the fight and I commanded the division from that time. It is the Second, General Crook's old division . . .”
Sincerely, R.

Note: Hayes mentions the Battle of Fisher’s Hill. It is about 20 to 25 miles south-southwest from Winchester. I didn’t have enough time to visit.

Hayes is credited with leading his men south across a muddy creek called Red Bud Run. Crook’s Corp, the unit to which Hayes was attached, flanks the enemy’s left and the Confederates retreat. Hayes however is also credited with saying of the battle, "To stop was death. To go on was probably the same; but on we started again." Markers near Red Bud Run describe the action of Hayes and the 23rd Ohio.

For a more text-book description of the entire Battle of Third Winchester, click here for the Civil War Preservation Trust’s (CWPT) battle summary and here for link to the battlefield map. And click here for a further summary of the battle from the National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program.

I visited Third Winchester on a cloudy and cold Friday afternoon. It did not make for good photos. There are 5 miles of trails with interpretive signage describing the battle along the trail, all contained on land owned by the CWPT. Standing at the very creek Hayes crossed (although not in the same location) and trying to imagine what it was like was rather moving actually.

The Confederate Flank Trail – Hayes crossed this very land
Huntsberry Farm beyond
North bank of Red Bud Run
Red Bud Run
Hackwood House (c. 1777) – Hayes crossed Red Bud Run (far right) and progressed to the left, behind the house
Hackwood Lane – Old road but the trees were not here in 1864.
The Middle Field – There were over 3,000 casualties here and it is considered one of “most sanguinary fields of the Civil War.”
The Second Woods
To view more of my photos from the Battle of Third Winchester, click here. To view photos from the very charming town of Winchester, click here.

However, the site is fighting the encroachment of nearby development and the Civil War Preservation Trust just finished an effort to purchase 209 additional acres near land already owned by either the CWPT or the Shenandoah Valley Battlefield Foundation. They completed their goal of $3,350,000. Click here to join the Civil War Preservation Trust (and me!) in saving the Third Winchester and other at risk battlefields.

Next:
Part VI: The Battle of Cedar Creek

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

References:
The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center
Including the Dairy and Letters of Rutherford B. Hayes
Civil War Preservation Trust
National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program
Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation
Historical Marker Database

Raise the Rutherford!

2009-10-23T21:27:00.008-04:00

Rutherford B. Hayes Month

Hayes & the Civil War
Part IV: The Battle of Second Kernstown

Hayes called his years of military service during the Civil War the best years of his life. This now six-part series in honor of his birthday will visit four locations associated with Hayes service to the Union.

The Battle of Second Kernstown took place on July 24, 1864. It is called ‘Second Kernstown’ because a previous battle had taken place generally in the same area, over the same ground in 1862.
A bit of background . . . In early July 1864, Lt. General Jubal Early’s Confederate Corp invaded Maryland and threatened Washington, DC. The Army of West Virginia including the brigade to which Hayes is attached is called east from West Virginia. They become involved in a series of Campaigns in the Shenandoah Valley in 1864 under General David Hunter to find and defeat Lt. General Jubal Early’s Confederate Corp.

At Second Kernstown, approximately 10,000 Union men under Brigadier General George Crook and 13,000 Confederates under Jubal Early do battle near the town of Kernstown, Virginia, just south of Winchester. The Confederates were victorious and pushed the Union Corp across the Potomac River to Maryland. Hayes gives a concise description of the battle and retreat in his diary, online at the Hayes Presidential Center. It reads:
“ . . . Sunday (24th), defeated badly at Winchester near Kernstown by Early with a superior force. My brigade suffered severely. Rebels came in on my left. Poor cavalry allowed the general to be surprised. Seven miles. All [that] night marching, twenty-two miles, to Martinsburg. My brigade covered the retreat. Retreated from Martinsburg; turned on Rebels and drove them out. Monday night to Potomac at Williamsport, [Maryland], twelve miles, a severe, sleepy job. Camped on Antietam near battle-ground.”

Many histories make note of this battle because future President Rutherford B. Hayes, commanded a brigade that directly fought against a division commanded by Kentuckian John C. Breckinridge, a former senator (1861) and Vice President of the United States (1857 – 1861).

For a full summary of the battle from the National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program, click here. The battle is important as it is the last Confederate victory in the Shenandoah Valley.

I visited the Kernstown Battlefield Park on an overcast Saturday morning. Formerly the Pritchard-Grim Farm, it has been preserved by the non-profit Kernstown Battlefield Association. Fighting took place around this very farm and to the south around Opequon Church. A series of markers on the property describe all the battles fought on and near this site. On Pritchard’s Hill, north of the main house, there is a marker devoted to Hayes and Breckinridge. It is noted on the Hayes Presidential Center website that “. . . his stand at the stone wall saves Crook's army.” Part of the stone wall is still there. However Hayes was generally east of this particular location.

View from Pritchard’s Hill
View looking up Pritchard’s Hill
Pritchard House
Pritchard House
Cross-country runners at the Kernstown Battlefield Park
Along the wall
To view more of my photos from the Battle of Second Kernstown, click here.

Interesting Non-Hayes Fact: The Samuel & Helen Pritchard family was living in the home at the time of the battle. It became a hospital for the Union wounded and dead after the battle. Among the dead was Col. James Mulligan, shot near the wall by a sharpshooter under command of Major General Stephan R. Ramseur. It is said Mulligan died in Helen Pritchard’s arms two days after the battle. Ramseur, part of Early’s Army, will be killed at the Battle of Cedar Creek. Mulligan was buried in his home town. But many of the U. S. dead from this and other battles in the Shenandoah were buried in Winchester National Cemetery. To view photos from Winchester National Cemetery, click here.
If you are interested in helping preserve the Kernstown Battlefield, please visit their website.

Next:
Part V: The Battle of Third Winchester

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

References:
The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center
Including the Dairy and Letters of Rutherford B. Hayes
Civil War Preservation Trust
National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program
Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation
Kernstown Battlefield Association
Historical Marker Database

Raise the Rutherford!

2009-10-16T01:00:00.002-04:00

Rutherford B. Hayes Month

Hayes & the Civil War
Part III: The Battle of Buffington Island

Hayes called his years of military service during the Civil War the best years of his life. This now six-part series in honor of his birthday will visit four locations associated with Hayes’ service to the Union.

The Battle of Buffington Island, Ohio, took place on July 19, 1863, and is the only major battle of the Civil War fought in Ohio. Here three future Presidents: Hayes, Garfield, and McKinley were sent to capture John Morgan’s raiders. At the Battle of Buffington Island (not really an island but located on Ohio soil across from the island in the Ohio River), 3,000 Union men found and fought with 1,700 Morgan’s Raiders. It was a clear Union victory but as gunboats also patrolled the Ohio River, Morgan and about 400 men escaped during the night.

Hayes wrote in his diary, online at the Hayes Presidential Center, following the battle: “. . . We got over two hundred prisoners. Everybody got some. No fight in them. The most successful and jolly little campaign we ever had.” Hayes and his men went back to West Virginia after the battle while others pursued Morgan. Morgan was captured shortly after on July 26, 1863, in Salineville, Ohio.

For a full summary of the battle from the National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program, click here.

The Battle of Buffington Island State Memorial is a four acre park in Portland, Ohio commemorating the battle. It includes a stone monument and a series of markers, giving details of the battle. In the park is also an Indian mound. I was there on a rainy Labor Day.

South of the memorial is also a marker in honor of Major Daniel McCook, of the Fighting McCook’s from Carrolton, Ohio. The patriarch of one side of the McCook family (his brother John the other), Daniel was 65(!) when he died in the Battle of Buffington Island. This marker notes the approximate site where he was killed. He is buried in Spring Grove Cemetery along with other family members including sons and nephews.

McCook plaque at the Buffington Island State Memorial

McCook Monument looking north toward Portland, OH

Ohio River at Portland
A study was done by Gray & Pape for the State of Ohio to investigate the preservation of additional land and improvements to publicly held land around the Portland, OH area related to the battle. Read the report here.

Next:
Parts IV & V: The Battle of Second Kernstown and Battle of Third Winchester

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

References:
The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center
Including the Dairy and Letters of Rutherford B. Hayes
National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program
Ohio Historical Society - Battle of Buffington Island State Memorial
The Fighting McCook’s, Ohio History Central
The Battle of Buffington Island, Ohio History Central

We Will Not Be Moved!

2009-10-12T23:54:00.004-04:00

So according to this post, this home could be purchased and moved. Potentially out of the city, out of the state, or out of the country. This cannot happen.

3800 Reading Road is reported to have been designed by architect Matthew Burton for William O'Dell and completed in 1919. Burton's family was actually involved in the development of Avondale and in fact there is a street named 'Burton' for the family there. The Burton's were also related to the Mitchells (according to W. Langsam). Yes, 'Mitchell' of Mitchell Avenue fame. Members of the Mitchell family lived in Avondale and both the Rose Hill neighborhood and the Dakota neighborhoods in Avondale were deleveloped by them. Burton also designed the wonderful Frank Enger House at Dakota and Marion Avenues in Avondale (Langsam).

3800 Reading Road was eventually used as The Jewish Center for a time, beginning in 1935.

Oktoberfestivities

2009-10-11T14:29:00.003-04:00

I realized I never posted pictures from Oktoberfest weekend . . .

Walking Tour: Woodburn Avenue

2009-10-11T12:45:00.005-04:00

East Walnut Hills

Join ARCHITREKS for a walking tour of East Walnut Hills. From the website:

"Join us at the Parkside Cafe at 1026 E. McMillan Street on Saturday, October 31 at 10:00 a.m. for a tour of East Walnut Hills. This will be a presentation of a 'work in progress' and will be offered for a nominal fee of $5. HELP US DEVELOP THE TOUR. This tour may be as long as two hours because we want your design feedback. Sites will include parts of East McMillan Street, DeSales Corner & the Woodburn Neighborhood Business District, and the Uplands Local Historic District."

We did a preliminary walk around the neighborhood yesterday so here are a few pictures to get you excited to take the tour . . .

Raise the Rutherford!

2009-10-10T14:34:00.006-04:00

Rutherford B. Hayes Month

Hayes & the Civil War
Part II: The Battle of South Mountain

Hayes called his years of military service during the Civil War the best years of his life. This five-part series in honor of his birthday will visit four locations associated with Hayes’ service to the Union.

The Battle of South Mountain, Maryland, took place on September 14, 1862, and included fighting at Crampton Gap, Turners Gap and Fox Gap. Hayes’s Regiment was part of Brigadier General Jacob Cox’s Brigade under Union Maj. Gen. Jesse Reno’s Division.
Hayes was initially a Major of the 23rd Ohio Volunteers. Originally sent to what is now West Virginia, the division is then sent to Maryland in early September 1862 due to Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s invasion. As it relates to Hayes, an interesting thing happens before the Battle of South Mountain on September 6, 1862. There is an incident between Hayes and Major General Jesse Reno “involving men of the 23rd taking straw from wheat stacks for forage and bedding” as they move west through Maryland.

But Reno’s Divisions and in fact most of Major General George McClellan’s Army of the Potomac continued to move west from Frederick and then Middletown, MD and meet Confederate forces at Fox, Crampton and Turners Gap, Maryland between Middletown and Boonsboro. A total of 28,000 Union troops battle 18,000 Confederate troops during the Battle of South Mountain.

It is at this battle that Hayes receives his most serious injury during the war. Shot in the arm, he continues fighting and leading his men until he is eventually forced to stop. His brother in law Dr. Joe Webb, the 23rd attending physician tends to the wound on the battle field before Hayes is sent to the home of Jacob Rudy in nearby Middletown, MD, to recover. Reno is actually killed in battle. The Battle of South Mountain is a Union Victory and Confederate forces are forced west. General McClellan’s Army however does not pursue and it sets up the Battle of Antietam a few days later on September 17.

Hayes writes in his diary, online at the Hayes Presidential Center, on September 18 (four days after being injured) a lengthy description of the battle, his injury and the transport to Middletown. It is a fascinating account. Here are just a few small excerpts:

Here he discusses what happened shortly after he was first struck: “… a few moments after I first laid [lay] down, seeing something going wrong and feeling a little easier, I got up and began to give directions about things; but after a few moments, getting very weak, I again laid [lay] down. While I was lying down I had considerable talk with a wounded [Confederate] soldier lying near me. I gave him messages for my wife and friends in case I should not get up. We were right jolly and friendly; it was by no means an unpleasant experience.”

Then while lying on the ground injured and hearing the fighting subside, he recalls: “…I called out, ‘Hallo Twenty-third men, are you going to leave your colonel here for the enemy?’ In an instant a half dozen or more men sprang forward to me, saying, ‘Oh no, we will carry you wherever you want us to.’ The enemy immediately opened fire on them. Our men replied to them, and soon the battle was raging as hotly as ever. I ordered the men back to cover, telling them they would get me shot and themselves too.”

In his diary he also notes that he telegraphed a few people that day including Lucy. In the days that followed, he would write letters to his mother and Uncle Sardis for example. Some of those letters are also available at the online Dairy and Letters of Rutherford B. Hayes at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center. It should be noted that once Lucy found out he was injured she traveled to DC and then Maryland and couldn’t find her husband. It took a while for her to actually get to his bedside.

For a more text-book description of the entire Battle of South Mountain, click here for the Civil War Preservation Trust’s (CWPT) battle summary and here for link to Turners Gap and Fox Gap battlefield map. And click here for a further summary of the battle from the National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program.

I visited two Battle of South Mountain sites, Fox Gap and Turners Gap, in July. At Fox Gap there are historical markers and two monuments to Maj. Gen. Jesse Reno and Confederate General Samuel Garland, both killed in the battle. It was sort of moving to look down the mountain or across this field and imagine an advancing Union army at this now quite crossroads of rural Maryland. At Turners Gap there are a series of historical markers near the South Mountain Inn and the Dahlgren Chapel (erected 1881) describing the battle. The Inn, then called Mountain House, witnessed the battle that day nearly 150 years ago.

Reno Monument at Fox Gap
Field at Fox Gap
Appalachian Trail at Fox Gap
Markers at Turner Gap
Chapel at Turner Gap
South Mountain Inn at Turner Gap
The nearby Washington Monument was used after the battle as a look-out post for the Union Army. Check out my previous post on the Washington Monument here. And as I left, I drove through historic Middletown, MD and past the home where Hayes recuperated. There is a nice summary of Civil War sites in Middletown here at the Historical Marker Database.

Turners Gap looking East from Washington Monument
The South Mountain Battlefield, located along the Appalachian Trail, is in a new fight against nearby development. It was listed as one the 10 most endangered Civil War battlefields in 2009 by the Civil War Preservation Trust. Read about the entire list here and how you can help.

Hayes finishes his recuperation in Ohio but rejoins the 23rd Ohio Infantry Volunteers in late November, 1862, camped for the winter near what is now Charleston, WV. The 23rd, after fighting in Maryland, had been sent back to western Virginia. (West Virginia was not officially a state of the Union until 1863 but moves to succeed from Confederate Virginia began in 1861.)

Next:
Part III: The Battle of Buffington Island

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

References:
The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center
Including the Dairy and Letters of Rutherford B. Hayes
Civil War Preservation Trust
National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program
Central Maryland Heritage League
Historical Marker Database

Grizzell for the Home

2009-10-05T22:27:00.003-04:00

'Five Points' by Alan Grizzell

Raise the Rutherford!

2009-10-04T20:19:00.003-04:00

Rutherford B. Hayes Month
The Rutherford B. Hayes Birthday Celebration

Today is Rutherford B. Hayes’ birthday. But last night I hosted the 2nd Annual Rutherford B. Hayes Birthday Celebration. Well over twenty people attended. Hopefully a good time was had by all. I know I had a few too many beers and throw in a combination Un-Lucy Vodka Lemonade and Un-Lucy Lemonade Rum Slush and it made for a very sluggish morning. And the last guests didn’t leave until nearly 2:00 AM!

Birthday Cake!
Some of the festivities . . .
‘Pin the Beard on Rutherford’
Playing ‘Hayes on Horseback’ (The point was to ride the 'horse' and then shot at target with the play dart gun scoring the most points while dressed in Hayes Civil War gear.)
Kim got the Spiegel Grove plate for winning ‘Hayes on Horseback’
Raise the Rutherford! is a continuing, slightly humorous series to raise awareness of Rutherford B. Hayes and erect a statue of him in Cincinnati.

Raise the Rutherford!

2009-10-02T07:54:00.005-04:00

Rutherford B. Hayes Month

Hayes & the Civil War
Part I: Camp Chase

Hayes called his years of military service during the Civil War the best years of his life. This five part series in honor of his birthday will visit four locations associated with Hayes’ service to the Union.

Camp Dennison & Camp Chase were recruitment and training centers for the Union Army. Men usually only remained at the camp for only a short time. After receiving a little training, the men were sent off to the war. Hayes certainly passed through Camp Dennison, situated on 500 acres in Germany, Ohio on the Little Miami Railroad near Cincinnati. Named after Ohio Governor (1860 - 1862) and Cincinnatian William Dennison, its location near Cincinnati also provided protection for city. Eventually Germany, Ohio, became known as Camp Dennison.

Hayes however seems to have received his training at Camp Chase, outside Columbus. Camp Chase was named for former Ohio Governor (1856 - 1860), the then current US Secretary of the Treasury (1861 – 1864), and Cincinnatian Salmon P. Chase. During June and July of 1861, Hayes was here.

While here he writes in his diary and sends letters to his wife Lucy and his Uncle Sardis. He describes for instance their training and the search for a Regimental Colonel. My favorite passage though is this excerpt from a letter at the Hayes Presidential Center where he is writing to Lucy shortly before leaving for western Virginia:

CAMP CHASE, July 2, 1861.
DEAREST: . . . Love to Grandma and all. Kisses for the dear boys. They will mourn the loss of their Uncle Joe. I should not be much loss to them now; when they get older I will try to help in their education. Birch, if possible, should be a soldier; Webb will do for a sailor; Ruddy will do for either or 'most anything else. I am sorry you are to be left with so much responsibility; but, with your mother's advice, do what you both agree is best and it will perfectly satisfy me.
Affectionately, yours ever, RUTHERFORD

QCS Note: When Hayes mentions that the boys will mourn the loss of their Uncle, it is not because he has died. It is because Uncle Joe is to be the doctor for Hayes’ 23rd Ohio Regiment and will also be leaving for service shortly. Of the three Hayes children referenced above, Webb was the only one to serve in the military and he fought in the Spanish American War.

Camp Chase became a Confederate prison during the war and eventually a Confederate Cemetery was located there. All that remains today of Camp Chase is the cemetery, one of the largest Confederate cemeteries in the North. The Cemetery, located at 2900 Sullivant Avenue in the Hilltop area of Columbus, holds 2260 individual gravesites surrounded by a stone wall with a center monument erected in 1902. The camp was generally north of here to Broad Street, east to what is now Hague Avenue and west to about East Westgate Avenue.

For more on Camp Chase and its history, check out two fantastic websites: Camp Chase at Forgotten Ohio and Camp Chase at GeoCities.com

I visited the Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery early one Saturday morning.
Some held at the prison were Confederate citizens. Notice the inscription on the tombstone above.

Next:
Part II: The Battle of South Mountain

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

References:
The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center
Including the Dairy and Letters of Rutherford B. Hayes
Ohio History Central – Camp Chase
Ohio History Central – Camp Dennison

VisuaLingual for the Home

2009-10-01T23:02:00.003-04:00

Nordstrom, Fountain Square?

2009-10-01T22:46:00.003-04:00

I saw this billboard and I had to laugh a little. They are using Fountain Square in the advertisement. However it clearly says, "Now Open at Kenwood Towne Centre". And had Nordstrom's really wanted their customers to walk to their store from Fountain Square, they had the opportunity at 5th & Race!

Raise the Rutherford!

2009-10-01T07:44:00.005-04:00

Rutherford B. Hayes Month
Hayes Civil War Reenactment

For those looking for a ‘Rutherford B. Hayes Roadtrip’ in honor of the President’s birthday, the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center hosts the Hayes Civil War Reenactment this weekend.
The Hayes Civil War Reenactment re-creates the reunion of Hayes’ Regiment, the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry on the weekend closest to Hayes’ Oct. 4, 1822, birthdate. This year’s event, sponsored by Memorial Health Care System, takes place from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, October 3 & 4. More than 500 costumed Civil War reenactors will camp on the Center’s grounds and will participate in three reenactments of the Battle of Carnifex Ferry, a battle in which President Hayes took part, over the weekend.

Admission to the Civil War Reenactment is $3/adult and $1/children ages 6-12. Click here for a full schedule of events. Note the link is to a PDF.

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

Rutherford B. Hayes Month

2009-10-01T07:39:00.002-04:00

October 2009!

In honor of Rutherford B. Hayes’s birthday on October 4, 1822, Queen City Survey has again declared October as Rutherford B. Hayes Month. Throughout the month we will include a number of posts related to the 19th President and former Cincinnati resident.

I have a series of posts planned called ‘Hayes & the Civil War’ where I will visit locations in Ohio and beyond related to Hayes’ time fighting for the Union. There will also be the 2nd Annual Rutherford B. Hayes Birthday Celebration, complete with games, a birthday cake, and the Un-Lucy Lemonade Rum Slush and the Un-Lucy Lemonade Vodka Punch. Both proved quite intoxicating last year!

Yes on 6!

2009-09-23T19:42:00.005-04:00

I got an email today from the Museum Center that yard signs for the upcoming levy are available. Click here to get one. Click here for more information on the levy renewal itself. I have added a link to the sidebar that will remain up until Election Day.Honor the March(itecture) Maddness 2009 Winner by voting 'Yes on 6'!

Cincinnati’s Monday Sports Manager

2009-09-21T22:40:00.002-04:00

A good weekend for Cincinnati football

The Bearcats are now 3 – 0 after a huge 28 – 18 win at Oregon State. Then Saturday’s win propelled them even further; No. 14 in AP (up from #17) and No. 15 in Coaches’ (up from #21). A big game coming up this week at home against Fresno State. Fresno looked explosive at times in a 51 – 34 loss at home to Boise State last Friday. Their one running back had 234 rushing yards and three touchdowns. So the Bearcat defense will get another test. This Saturday’s game is at noon and is a ‘White Out’ game. It should be a sell-out.

And the Bengals won! Yes, the Bengals won at Green Bay. A friend on Facebook said he thought Palmer still looked “off”. But the defense played well and Cedric Benson ran well. And on this day, that equaled a win.

The Reds are continuing to play baseball. Big news last week I guess was the announcement of the 2010 schedule. And this Saturday has the very cool All-Access Baseball Experience. If I wasn’t going to the UC game, I’d be going to this.

In other local sports news, Cincinnati native Rich Franklin lost his UFC 103 headline match on Saturday by KO to Vitor Belfort in the first round.

See links in sidebar.

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati!

2009-09-18T21:15:00.004-04:00

September 19 & 20

One of my favorite weekends all year, come on down to 5th Street for all the fun, food, and beer. Check the Oktoberfest Zinzinnati website for all the details.

Fire Station Friday

2009-09-18T20:55:00.003-04:00

Engine Co. #43

2600 Spring Grove Avenue, Camp WashingtonCompleted in 1906, it was designed by Harry Hake. According to the Cincinnati Fire Department History website, it was disbanded in 1976.

Mynt Martini

2009-09-16T23:36:00.004-04:00

Just east of the passageway to 6th Street on Fountain Square . . .

Random West End - Part II

2009-09-16T22:56:00.002-04:00

Update: Old St. Joseph Church

Anne asked about what the old St. Joseph Church looked like in yesterday's post. Here is a nice image of the convent, school, rectory, and church as it looked from the Library's Cincinnati Memory Project.

Random West End

2009-09-15T20:30:00.004-04:00

Three of the historic St. Joseph's School Complex(The historic church was demolished to widen Linn Street in the early 1960s. The modern church was completed in 1965.)

Three of Hopkins Street

(You will remember that last one as the home of Frederick Alms.)

Second Sundays on Main

2009-09-15T19:56:00.003-04:00

I went to Second Sundays on Main this past weekend and spent more time taking photos of buildings than the actual event . . . or people . . . or the home tour.

Cincinnati’s Monday Sports Manager

2009-09-14T22:43:00.002-04:00

Football Has Begun!

The Bearcats have had two games in the past seven days. A huge 47 – 7 win at Rutgers and a 70 – 3 win at home versus Southeast Missouri State. The win at Rutgers propelled UC to No. 23 in the AP and Coaches’ poll. And the latest win propelled UC to No. 17 in the AP poll and No. 21 in the Coaches’.

The Bengals opened their season with a crazy but somehow typical loss against the Denver Broncos at Paul Brown Stadium. ‘Nuff said.

Oh, and the Reds are continuing to play baseball. They had a win streak going for a while then played the Jim Tracy (from Hamilton, OH) managed Rockies and got swept. For those interested Tuesday, September 15 is ‘Bark In The Park’ at Great American Ball Park. “A special seating area is reserved for dog owners and their pets, while the Fan Zone will turn into the ‘Dog Zone,’ with product samples and activities for both dogs and owners.” Check website for ticket prices and more information.

See links in sidebar.

Program Alert: Lantern Lighting Ceremony at Spring Grove!

2009-09-10T20:56:00.004-04:00

I forgot to mention over at BuyCincy that Spring Grove is hosting their 5th Annual Lantern Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, September 12 beginning at 5:00 PM. Lantern launch on Willow Water Lake begins at 7:30. Click here for all the details.

The above is the family marker for Peter G. Thomson and it is one of my new favorites.

Program Alert: No Celtic Festival!

2009-09-10T20:44:00.005-04:00

I was disappointed to hear that the Cincinnati Celtic Festival has been cancelled for 2009. It was originally scheduled for this coming weekend. They expect to be back in 2010. I had a great time last year. Here are some Irish dancers from last year . . .

Happy Labor Day

2009-09-07T16:51:00.004-04:00

Home now from a Rutherford B. Hayes roadtrip. And I decided to camp out last night. Here's the view about 20 feet from my tent at the Hocking Hills Riverside Campground.

Cincinnati’s Monday Sports Manager

2009-09-07T15:19:00.002-04:00

The reigning Big East Champion, UC Bearcats, begin their football season tonight at Rutgers. I of course have high hopes for the season and the game. But people like Brian Bennett, the ESPN.com Big East blogger (who I actually really like) have picked Rutgers to win, 24 – 21. It is a tough way to start the season but I am going to take UC, lead by starting senior quarterback Tony Pike.

By next Monday the Bengals too will have also kicked off their season with a home game vs. the Denver Broncos. With the off field issues and new quarterback in Denver, I think the Bengals should win . . . provided Carson Palmer plays.

QCS Quips

2009-09-01T23:42:00.002-04:00

Random thoughts . . . Cincinnati related and otherwise

So Flo’s Plate Full of Soul (or whatever it was called) on Vine Street is already gone.
Not sure if my fantasy football team is going to be any good.
The President’s Grove at Eden Park is all messed up with the construction of new paths and re-arranged brick piers. My Rutherford B. Hayes tree better be planted this fall!
UC football starts next Monday at Rutgers. And with it, the Cincinnati’s Monday Sports Manager blog posts begin again.
There is still a section of Fountain Square that is under construction. What the freakin’ hell are they doing?! (I asked Fountain Square PR but no response.)
This summer went fast. November elections will be upon us before you know it.

Eden Park Water Tower

2009-09-01T23:29:00.003-04:00

. . . on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.Completed in 1894 and designed by Samuel Hannaford and Sons

LPK Countdown

2009-08-31T21:26:00.004-04:00

LPK has some sort of countdown going in their storefront . . .

Baedeker: Columbus, OH

2009-08-30T14:15:00.003-04:00

Part II: Columbus Clipper’s Baseball

I spent a recent Saturday in Columbus and took in a few sites. Part II includes a bit of a Clipper’s game at the new ball park in the Arena District. I scalped a ticket watched part of the game before heading to the Grandview Café to see a band and drink more beers.
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.

Baedeker: Columbus, OH

2009-08-30T14:10:00.004-04:00

Part I: Columbus Zoo

I spent a Saturday in Columbus recently and took in a few sites. Part I includes a trip to the Columbus Zoo. I had never been and just wanted to see it. But I also wanted to compare it to Cincinnati’s historic zoo. A few facts: Cincinnati’s zoo is an urban zoo established in 1875. Columbus’s zoo is in the suburbs and opened in 1927. But then they get hard to compare because of size, location, and added amenities like a whole water (Zoombezi Bay) park at Columbus. For instance . . .

Size:
The Columbus Zoo feels huge and by all account is bigger than Cincinnati’s. I can’t find precise numbers though as for instance an article in Parent’s Magazine did a story of the top ten best zoos for kids and they describe the Columbus Zoo as having animals on 90 acres. But another article I read says a total of 340 acres and the Zoo’s 2007 Annual Report says the total complex approaches 600 acres. That last number though I think includes the huge parking lot, the water park and maybe even the Zoo owned golf course. For reference the parent’s magazine article has the Cincinnati Zoo at 75 acres.

Animals and Species:
I see a number of numbers for total species and total animals. Cincinnati I see by their website has over 500 species and by the parent’s Magazine article 1,733 animals. (That seems low.) Columbus Zoo numbers are anywhere from 5,804 animals (2007 Annual Report) to 11,773 animals (Parent’s Magazine). And the number of species for Columbus is actually listed as 600 in 2007 and now 700 on their current website.

Attendance & Visitors:
The Cincinnati Zoo website said there were 1.2 million visitors a year annually.
A recent newspaper article on the Columbus Zoo said they have nearly 2 million visitors (and Wikipedia says 1.8 million). I assume that counts the water park which opened in 2008. The 2007 Annual Report, prior to Zoombezi Bay, included visitors of over 1.5 million.

So what did I think?

Well, I liked the Columbus Zoo in a lot of ways but it is just spread out and if they have more animals than Cincinnati, it didn’t feel like it. I walked A LOT and I thought I walked a lot between some animal exhibits. Cincinnati is just so dense and charming by comparison. I personally like the older feel of Cincinnati’s Zoo but I also think the amount of land given for some of the animals at Columbus has to be nice for the animals. However, even as big as the Columbus Zoo is, it felt crowded attendance wise. I was there at a peak time I am sure. And it has been a while though since I’ve been to Cincinnati’s zoo in the middle of the day. I like going early and leaving around lunchtime. Finally, I really liked some of the species the Columbus Zoo had on display. I loved seeing things we don’t have here like kolas, kangaroos, moose, huge tortoises, and huge flying foxes to name a few. (I wanted to see the bison but they were not out.)

Ok, finally some pictures . . .
For the Record, in the 2009 Parent’s Magazine article “The Top Ten Best Zoos for Kids”, Cincinnati came in at No. 6 and Columbus came in at No. 10. A 2009 USA Travel Guide article has Columbus as the “No. 1 Zoo in America” while Cincinnati comes in as No. 7. Not too shabby for Ohio when you think about it. (Toledo Zoo get’s props in the polls as well.)

Next: Part II Columbus Clipper’s Baseball

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.

Ohio River Coal

2009-08-30T13:54:00.004-04:00

I walked to Newport last weekend and caught this barge on the Ohio as I was walking back north across the Taylor-Southgate Bridge.

Germania Oktoberfest

2009-08-30T09:18:00.003-04:00

Prost!

Just a few pics from an early evening at the Germania Oktoberfest. Had a fantastic time and it was crazy packed by nightfall.

QCS: Behind the Asphalt

2009-08-29T14:14:00.008-04:00

Alms Place
Walnut Hills Month Edition!

Behind the Asphalt is Queen City Survey’s periodic look (and rip-off of VH1’s Behind the Music) at the people behind the names of our city streets.

Frederick H. Alms, the namesake of Alms Place, is at a minimum a well known name in Cincinnati. But other than his association with the former Alms & Doepke Department Store that he started with his brother and a cousin and Alms Park, many may not know much about the man himself.

Frederick H. Alms was born in Cincinnati on February 26, 1839. His parents, Gerhard & Louise, came to Cincinnati in 1827 from Germany. His father was a cabinet maker and prior to opening his own shop at Race & Liberty Streets in Over the Rhine, Gerhard worked in a number of Cincinnati furniture companies including Mitchell & Rammelsberg. He had one younger brother to live to adulthood, William H. Alms (1842 – 1890), with whom he would later form a thriving business. He and his brother were educated in Cincinnati public schools and graduated from Woodward. After graduation Frederick began his career in the retail business including working for a time in his uncle August Alms’s dry goods store.

At the beginning of the Civil War in 1861, Frederick Alms enlisted in Company D of the 6th Ohio Volunteers. His brother would eventually join Company E and their cousin William Doepke enlisted in Company D of the 6th Ohio Volunteers as well. The 6th Ohio first saw action in the Virginia but after three months, Alms’s enlistment expired. However he re-enlisted back in to the 6th Ohio Volunteers and they moved to the Western Theatre. In 1863 Frederick Alms was mustered in as a Sergeant to the Signal Corps of the U.S. Regular Army. He had enlisted as a private. He served in the Western Theater with the Army of the Cumberland and battles included Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, and Chattanooga. Before Sherman’s March to the Sea, he was honorably discharged on June 17, 1864 as his three years of service ended. The entire 6th Ohio was mustered out a few days later on June 23, 1864.

Frederick H. Alms, in Signal Corp uniform.

In 1865 brother Frederick and William along with their cousin William Doepke formed the Alms & Doepke Department Store, each owning one-third of the business and each getting a loan from their parents. Their first store was at No. 470 Main Street (old numbering) in Over the Rhine. The business was a quick success and they soon were all able to repay their parental loans.

On November 9, 1870, Frederick Alms married Eleanora Unzicker, daughter of a prominent doctor.

In 1878, the Alms & Doepke Department Store relocated to the NE corner of Main Street and the Miami & Erie Canal. Growth continued with a number of expansions in 1886, 1890, 1897 and 1906. Samuel Hannaford and Sons designed the first building along with the early additions. Daniel Burnham of Chicago was the architect of the 1912 addition along Sycamore. It became one of the largest department stores in the Midwest.
Frederick Alms after the Civil War lived on Clark Street (as did Doepke). He would eventually settle though in Walnut Hills, erecting a home (designed by Hannaford) at the NE corner of East McMillan and what was then Elm or Elmwood Avenue. (More on that street and location later!) He was a founding member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1888 whose church, erected in 1891 and designed by Hannaford, still stands at the SE corner of Stanton and William Howard Taft. Frederick’s brother William and William Doepke would settle in Avondale.

Frederick Alms’s Clark Street Home

Besides Frederick’s business accomplishments, he was very active in the community. Very active. He served on boards as varied as the German Kindergarten Association, the College of Music in Over the Rhine, the Music Hall Association, and Cincinnati Hospital where he served as time as President of the board. He was a director of Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railroad and a trustee of Cincinnati Law School. He gave funds to the YMCA, the Bodman German Protestant Widows Home, and the German Old Men’s Home. He once gave $1000 to the 50th anniversary of the Sangerfest. He was a member of the Queen City Club, the Cuvier Club, the Lincoln Club, the Optimists, and the Young Men’s Blaine Club.

In 1891 he had the Alms Apartments was built on the NW corner of East McMillian and Elm, opposite his home, as a business venture. Like his house it was designed Samuel Hannaford & Sons. (The Legacy of Samuel Hannaford also mentions another apartment building built by Alms but I do not know the name.) The apartment building later became the Alms Hotel. (A still standing annex building, erected in 1925, was designed by Harry Hake.)Alms home visible on right!

A brief but fantastic biography of Frederick Alms in Cincinnati, The Queen City, 1788 – 1912 from which much of this history comes, mentions a 1894 – 1895 trip around the world he and his wife took his wife’s brother and his wife. Upon their return they were greeted by a who’s who of Cincinnati.

On July 25, 1898, Frederick Alms dies. His wife Eleanora becomes owner of the Alms Hotel and before her death in 1921 makes a number of donations to various Cincinnati institutions. She gave $100,000 to the College of Music in 1902. (She also suggested a plan for the College of Music to join UC which they wouldn’t do for another fifty years or so. However Alms Hall at DAAP is named for both she and her husband.) From about 1918 to 1922, she donated money again to the College of Music to erect Alms Hall, a new dormitory just south of Music Hall. She tried to donate $100,000 for a statue of Lincoln but there was controversy and she eventually withdrew her offer and Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Taft commissioned George Grey Barnard to design the statute "Lincoln - The Man" now in Lytle Park. (Mrs. Alms’ designer of choice was Gutzon Borglum and there is a whole JSTOR article on what happened.)

Her biggest donation however was to the Cincinnati Park Board in 1916 for Frederick H. Alms Park in Mt Tusculum. As a memorial to her husband, she donated about sixty acres of land plus money for the purchase of approximately another sixty acres of land which was once owned by Nicholas Longworth for his vineyards. As the value of the surrounding land increased, the park was never able to purchase all it had initially intended and Alms Park, as most know it, now includes 94 acres.
The Italian Renaissance style pavilion at Alms Park by architects Stanley Matthews and Charles Wilkins Short, Jr. completed in 1929.

Frederick Alms and his wife are buried on a prominent site in Spring Grove Cemetery in Section 20, Lot U.
So Alms Place . . . Well, shortly after Alms’s death in 1898 when I found a map with the new name, Elm or Elmwood Avenue in Walnut Hills was changed to Alms Place. Named for Frederick Alms who gave so much to Cincinnati and who had made his home in the neighborhood. Eventually though, part of Alms Place was then replaced with Victory Parkway. Construction of Victory Parkway began in 1911 and was ultimately completed in 1930. South of East McMillian the street is entirely new as no street existed there prior. The Park Avenue Bridge going over to Eden Park was rebuilt in 1917 to carry Victory Parkway. North of McMillan, however Victory Parkway used the right-of way of Alms Place until it veers northeast at Yale Avenue. And Alms Place remains as a street name from Yale north to just above Martin Luther King Boulevard. (Madison Road was extended west of Woodburn Avenue in 1929 to meet up with the new Victory Parkway. Ultimately a road was extended further west, all the way to Central Parkway and renamed after Martin Luther King.

Site of the home of Frederick Alms

Site of the original Alms Hotel. Alms Hotel in distance and below.

‘Walnut Hills Month’ is a multi-part series documenting Walnut Hills and ending with the ARCHITREKS walking tours of Walnut Hills on August 29 and 30.

References:
Cincinnati, The Queen City. 1788 - 1912

The History of Cincinnati & Hamilton County, 1894.
Painter, Sue Ann. Architecture of Cincinnati. Ohio University Press, Athens, OH: 2006
Federal Writers Project. Cincinnati, A Guide to the Queen City and Its Neighbors. City of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH. 1943
Historic images from Library’s Cincinnati Memory Project.
Photo of Frederick Alms from findagrave.com

The Queen’s Crown Jewels

2009-08-29T13:14:00.005-04:00

San Marco Apartment Building
Walnut Hills Month Edition!

The San Marco Apartment Building at 1601 Madison Road occupies a prominent spot at the southeast corner of Madison Road and Woodburn Avenue at the heart of the DeSales Corner in East Walnut Hills. This was the heart of the historic Village of Woodburn which was incorporated in 1866 but not long after annexed to Cincinnati in 1873. The San Marco Apartment Building is now, along with other neighborhood buildings, in the Woodburn & Madison Local Historic District. Many of the buildings in the business district are unique in that they were built specifically to cater to the German immigrants and parishioners of nearby St. Francis DeSales Catholic Church, completed in 1879.
The San Marco was designed by prominent, local architects John Boll and Charles Taylor and completed in 1893. The design is eclectic. Walter Langsam describes the style of the building as Richardsonian but seems to combine elements of Queen Anne, Chateauesque and Richardsonian Romanesque architecture. All of those styles were contemporary of each other and the building combines for instance roman arches, grouped colonnettes, and fanciful stone carvings.
Victorians in America suspected that apartment buildings “fostered an unhealthy moral climate”. It was not considered respectable for men and women from different families to live in the same building and only those who could not afford otherwise lived in multi-family buildings. Thus the apartment building was seen as “potentially dangerous to family life”. However by the 1890’s these prejudices towards apartment living for the middle and upper class abated and more began to appear across the United States.
The San Marco Apartment Building was built in this wave of upscale apartment construction in America and specifically Walnut Hills from the 1890’s through the turn of the century. Other luxury Walnut Hills apartments include The Verona (1900), The Alexandria (1904), The Navarre (c. 1905), and The Clermont (1907) all designed by Joseph Steinkamp & Brother and built by Thomas Emery & Sons. Other apartment buildings also include The Haydock (1903, now The Grandview) in East Walnut Hills and The Trevarren Building (c. 1895), The Hauck Building (c. 1895) and The Ransley (1895) all near Peebles Corner. The latter building was designed by the prominent architecture firm Samuel Hannaford & Sons.

An early advertisement reprinted in the Woodburn Avenue NBD Historic District Designation Report:
“The San Marco Apartment Building is located on the South-East corner of Woodburn and Madisonville Avenues, East Walnut Hills, City; twenty minutes ride on cable or electric cars from Fifth and Walnut Streets. The building is constructed of brick, with handsome carved stone trimmings. There are three flats on each floor, containing five rooms each, private halls, bath rooms fitted up with white marble floors and wainscoting, enameled tub, stationary wash-stand, open plumbing, nickel plated pipes; kitchen and gas range for same, butler’s pantry, dining room, two chambers, and parlor; each flat is provided with one room on top floor for servant. Speaking tubes and electric bells connected with same.”

Architects Boll and Taylor practiced architecture as a firm from about 1889 – 1907. Boll continued work on his own until near the time of his death in 1941. Boll was from Cincinnati and studied architecture with George W. Rapp. Taylor went to OMI and worked for William Aiken and Alfred Elzner before his partnership with Boll. Taylor eventually partnered briefly with Benjamin DeCamp. Boll and Taylor designed a number of buildings including diverse building types such as private residences, schools, churches, and large commercial buildings and factories. Their work includes for instance a number of buildings in Addyston, OH for the Addyston Company including factory buildings and a hotel. All of Boll and Taylor’s surviving buildings in Addyston are on the National Register of Historic Places. The most well known Boll & Taylor building is probably the Carnegie Library in Covington (1904).
Today, the San Marco is managed by CMHA as senior housing. It offers thirty, one bedroom apartments in one of CMHA’s smaller senior communities.

So while many of the grand apartment buildings of Walnut Hills could be considered for “Crown Jewel” status, I hope you agree with me that the San Marco is indeed special and worthy of recognition.

'Walnut Hills Month' is a multi-part series documenting Walnut Hills and ending with the ARCHITREKS walking tours of Walnut Hills on August 29 and 30.

References:
Langsam, Walter. Biographical Dictionary of Cincinnati Architects, 1788 – 1940. Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati: Cincinnati, OH. 2008
Federal Writers Project. Cincinnati, A Guide to the Queen City and Its Neighbors. City of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH. 1943
Woodburn Avenue NBD Historic District Designation Report
East Walnut Hills Assembly Historic Preservation Inventory, 1995
Historic image from Library’s Cincinnati Memory Project

Walnut Hills Christian Church: Then & Now

2009-08-29T13:03:00.003-04:00

Walnut Hills Month Edition!

Then
Now
All that remains is the wall.

Walnut Hills Christian Church was located between Kemper and Park on the north side of William Howard Taft, which was originally named Locust Street. It was demolished within the last 5 years. Walnut Hills Christian Church built a new church on East McMillan, completed in 1925 and designed by Samuel Hannaford & Sons. It still stands. After moving, the Seventh Day Adventists occupied the building for a time.

'Walnut Hills Month' is multi-part series documenting Walnut Hills and ending with the ARCHITREKS walking tours of Walnut Hills on August 29 and 30.

Historic photo from Library's Cincinnati Memory Project.

Homemade Cracklins are like Crack

2009-08-22T21:46:00.002-04:00

'Project Runway' and the Queen City

2009-08-21T12:02:00.003-04:00

Pop Culture Queen

So I don't know if you caught it, but on last night's premiere of 'Project Runway', a glimpse of Cincinnati was shown.

Althea Harper from Dayton, Ohio, is a recent graduate of DAAP and in her 'Audition Tape' clip they are up on the roof of the Emery Center Apartments. If you go online and look at all her videos they show her at DAAP as well in the 'Home Visit' video. To view all the videos including the 'Althea Harper Audition Tape', go here.

She made it through to the next episode so if there is important Althea news, I may post an update. Catch 'Project Runway' every Thursday at 10:00 PM on Lifetime and follow Althea's progress! The Queen City is representing.

Cincinnati Saturday Morning

2009-08-15T10:46:00.004-04:00

A stroll in Spring Grove Cemetery

And shopping at Findlay Market

The Dearly Departed

2009-08-12T20:44:00.002-04:00

As seen on a walk around Spring Grove Cemetery . . .

Tusculum Avenue

2009-08-12T20:33:00.002-04:00

QCS Quips

2009-08-10T19:25:00.004-04:00

Random thoughts . . . Cincinnati related and otherwise

The bands and musicians for the Mid-Point Music Festival have been announced. Check them out here.
VisuaLingual tagged me on a list on Facebook but I think I’d rather answer with my 15 favorite books. “Rutherford B. Hayes: Warrior & President” would be on it.
To all the Southwestern Ohio College students who smoke in the Ruth Lyon’s alley: Put your cigarette butts in the ash trays provided and not on the ground!
One day last week at lunchtime, Fountain Square had free Goetta dogs, ‘Cooking with Caitlin’, and a number of Cincinnati firemen passing out literature on layoffs.
Brian Bennett, the ESPN Big East Blogger, has a good summary of how he sees the Big East stacking up against other conferences including the WAC and Mountain West. This all in light of no Big East teams appearing in the pre-season Top 25 coach’s poll.
And speaking of Bearcat football, the first game is now less than a month away.

Avondale’s Reading Road Churches

2009-08-06T21:42:00.004-04:00

There are some really nice buildings along Reading Road in Avondale, particularly churches. This will attempt to highlight some. We will head north from Martin Luther King Drive to Paddock Road looking at various houses of worship. Many were built for one denomination but are now used by another as the nature of the neighborhood changed over the years.

New Friendship Baptist Church
Original Name: Sh’erith Ahabeth Achim Synagogue
3212 Reading Road
Completed: 1907; Rededicated, 1971
Architect: Unknown at this time
Style: Neo-Classical Revival

This building was built for the newly merged Sherith Israel Temple and Congregation Ahabeth Achim in 1906. Sherith Israel Temple was located downtown and their former building still exists on Ruth Lyons Lane. Based on some research, I believe though this building or a nearby (and now demolished building) may have been associated with Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church or St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church at one time. Those churches merged in 1945 and are now out in Finneytown. I’m still doing research on that one.

St. Andrew Catholic Church
3401 Reading Road
Dedicated: 1920
Architect: Samuel Hannaford & Sons
Style: Gothic Revival

Carmel Presbyterian Church
3549 Reading Road
Completed: Unknown at this time
Architect: Unknown at this time
Style: Gothic RevivalI'm still looking for more information on this one . . .

Southern Baptist Church
Original Name: Adath Israel Synagogue
3556 Reading Road

Completed: 1926; Rededicated, 1963

Architect: Oscar Schwartz

Style: Neo-Classical Revival

Episcopal Church of Saint Michael and All Angels
Original Name: Grace Church
3626 Reading Road

Completed: 1880 (Parish Hall only)

Architect: James W. McLaughlin and A.C. Nash

Style: English Gothic Revival
Closed 2008 Individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Zion Temple First Pentecostal Church
Original Name: Isaac M. Wise Temple
3771 Reading Road

Completed: 1927; Rededicated, 1973

Architect: A. Lincoln Fechheimer & Benjamin Ihorst

Style: Neo Romanesque Revival

Other churches of Reading Road include Church of the Lord Jesus Christ – 3136 Reading Road, Second Community Truth Missionary Baptist Church – 3662 Reading Road, and House of God of the Apostolic – 3863 Reading Road.

Walking Tour of Walnut Hills: Feedback

2009-08-06T21:33:00.003-04:00

Walnut Hills Month!

Beit Carr and I had about 10 people over two days for the ARCHITREKS Walking Tour of Walnut Hills in May. Both groups seemed enthusiastic about the tour and interested in the neighborhood. Which we think is ultimately the point. Highlights seemed to be the Public Comfort Station, the Swiss Chalet on Upland Place, the majestic Verona Apartment Building on Park Avenue, The Church of the Advent on Kemper Lane, and the Paramount Theatre Building at Peebles Corner.
Unless you live in Walnut Hills it seems that many do not get a chance to just walk the streets and see the beauty of the neighborhood.

I was struck by many questions and comments about the current status of neighborhood itself and the issues it is facing. These included for instance the amount of abandoned buildings, how to fix them, and what is the solution. Steve and I gave our opinions but it was a series of tough questions with no easy answers. And frankly I wasn’t expecting them to the extent that they came up. Honestly I think it is great that people were interested and asking those questions about the very complex neighborhood.

I will end though with one of the comments we got after the tour via email:
“Walnut Hills is a neighborhood I have never appreciated before, even had negative feelings about because of the blight and crime. I have to say that last weekend's tour completely changed my attitude and I came back not only more knowledgeable but also much more appreciative.”

You want to see for yourself? The next, and last, Walnut Hills tours of the summer will be August 29 and 30. Check out the ARCHITREKS website for details.

A multi-part series documenting Walnut Hills and ending with the ARCHITREKS walking tours of Walnut Hills on August 29 and 30.

Historic image of Park Avenue in Walnut Hills from Library’s Cincinnati Memory Project

Walnut Hills Month

2009-08-05T07:42:00.003-04:00

August 2009!

A multi-part series documenting Walnut Hills and ending with the ARCHITREKS walking tours of Walnut Hills on August 29 and 30.

August is ‘Walnut Hills Month’ at Queen City Survey. We hope to have a series of posts about Walnut Hills (both East & West) this month. The month ends with the last ARCHITREKS walking tours of Walnut Hills for 2009. The tour of Walnut Hills will be offered on Saturday, August 29, at 10:00 AM and on Sunday, August 30, at 11:00 AM. Both tours depart from the Parkside Café at 1026 East McMillan Street. The approximately 1.5 – 2 hour tour will take in sites generally around the Peebles Corner Business District along with points south and east including historic Park Avenue. These tours are ‘works in progress’ and ARCHITREKS hopes to get patron response as it continues to develop and finalize the tour content.
Historic image of Peebles Corner from Library’s Cincinnati Memory Project

Blog Alert: New Sidebar Section

2009-07-29T19:50:00.001-04:00

General Sites of Interests

I have a new section on the sidebar for links to various state and national websites and blogs that may be of interest to you. They basically are of interest to me so by posting them, I hope they will eventually be of interest to you (if not already). Check ‘em out.

General Sites of Interests
CEOs for Cities Blog
City Parks Blog
Civil War Preservation Trust
National Historic Landmarks Program
National Register of Historic Places
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Ohio Historic Preservation Office
Project for Public Spaces
Project for Public Spaces Blog
Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center
Save America’s Treasures
The Trust for Public Land
Urban Ohio

Oh, and I moved the Urban Ohio website and its fantastic forum from the Cincinnati Blog section to this new section since it really isn’t a blog and it isn’t just about Cincinnati.

The Queen Speaks

2009-07-29T19:32:00.003-04:00

Quotes from and about Cincinnati

“It's awfully tough to beat Cincinnati at Nippert, especially late in the season. I see the Bearcats winning a great game.” - Adam Rittenberg

ESPN.com's Big Ten blogger Adam Rittenberg during an interview with Big East blogger Brian Bennett discussing this year’s UC vs. Illinois football game on November 27.

QCS Quips

2009-07-27T20:27:00.004-04:00

Random thoughts . . . Cincinnati related and otherwise

My good friend Sherry Corbett was killed seven years ago today. Her killer was a person she knew but who was eventually found not guilty by reason of insanity. She was sentenced to Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare in Columbus, OH. I do not know if she is still serving time there or not.
The latest quarterly edition of the Cincinnati Preservation Association newsletter is available online. (Link to a PDF)
Jim Tarbell – The Mural? Really?
There is a new Arts blog on Cincinnati.com
The Morning Glory Ride has been cancelled this year. That’s very sad.
If people feel the need to hide behind anonymous comments, I will simply remove the comment section entirely. Thank you to Anonymous Commenter #2 though for I think trying to stick up for me.

Baedeker: 2009 Summer Vacation

2009-07-25T11:22:00.004-04:00

Rehoboth Beach and Cape Henlopen State Park, DE, and Annapolis, MD

Part IV – Bonus: The Washington Monument

A multipart series chronically sites of my 2009 summer vacation

So while on the way to Rehoboth, I actually stopped outside Boonsboro, Maryland and checked out a few sites in the area. I won’t tell you why but if you want a hint, I will tell you about all of the sites during Rutherford B. Hayes month!

One site I can tease you with though is the Washington Monument. On a mountain overlooking the surrounding valleys, the stone monument was erected in 1827 by residents of Boonsboro in honor of George Washington. It is the nation’s oldest monument to our first president.
Started on July 4, 1827, it was completed to its final 34’ height in the fall of that year. Originally it was constructed without mortar and fell in to disrepair at various times. It was finally preserved in to its current state after it and the surrounding land was made a state park in 1934. An internal stairway leads visitors to the observation deck. And to get to the monument, one climbs a portion of the Appalachian Trail as it follows the ridge of the mountain range and passes through the park. This was my first time hiking any portion of the Appalachian Trail!

That's it for Rehoboth Beach until next year!

Weekend Warm-Up: July 24 – 26

2009-07-24T07:53:00.001-04:00

My recommendations for something to do this weekend.

Queen City Survey is back from vacation but I am going to take it easy this weekend. So I am directing you to check out BuyCincy’s “Enjoy Your Weekend” post to get the lowdown on this weekend’s activities. Queen City Survey’s Weekend Picks include Free Fridays at the Cincinnati Museum Center, Fountain Square P&G Movie Night, and Spring Grove Weekend Walkabout. Again, go over to BuyCincy for all the details on those events and more.

This weekend’s Fountain Square line-up includes:
Friday
MidPoint Indie Summer at 7:00 PM and Singer Songwriter Night at 10:00 PM. Performers this week include Bad Veins. Check website for complete list of performers.
Saturday
Bigg’s Family Day from 1:00 – 2:30 PM. This week’s theme: Sister Cities
P&G Movie Night begins at 7:30 PM. This week’s movies: Beethoven and Best in Show
Sunday
Gospel Sunday begins at 5:00 PM and Smooth Sunday begins at 7:00 PM. Check website for complete list of performers.

One last thing . . .
If you are looking for a road trip this weekend or next, may I suggest a trip to the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center. Their exhibit 'First-Lady Style: White House Gowns' ends August 2. Check their website for details. Next up is an exhibit on Presidential Pets!

See sidebar for additional links.

Blog Alert: Sidebar Updates!

2009-07-23T23:06:00.003-04:00

Additions and Subtractions

Trying to clean up some things in the sidebar sections and stay current, I have made a few changes.

I have added CinStages and Spring Grove Cemetery to the 'Queen City Culture' roll and deleted the now disbanded New Stage Collective.
I have deleted the now defunct CinWeekly and Pulse from the 'Cincinnati Print Media' roll.
And I’ve deleted a few blogs from the rolls that seem to have little to no activity anymore.
Then finally I’ve added a few 'Cincinnati' and 'Sort of Cincinnati' blogs to the rolls in the sidebar. Some I’ve been visiting for awhile but most are basically brand new to me. They are: Blogging Isn’t Cool, Cincinnati Daily Photo, Cincinnati Modernation, Cincinnati’s Rich, Frothy Brewing History (aka Brewtiful Cincy which is how I’ll list it), A Dork and His Pork, Each Note Secure, Explore Cincinnati, Hoperatives, Local Architecture: Cincinnati, and The Phoney Coney.

Baedeker: 2009 Summer Vacation

2009-07-22T20:57:00.002-04:00

Rehoboth Beach and Cape Henlopen State Park, DE, and Annapolis, MD

Part III – Annapolis, MD

A multipart series chronically sites of my 2009 summer vacation

I stopped in Annapolis on the way home for a quick day trip. I regret I didn’t get to do more while I was there or stay longer. I love Annapolis and there is plenty to fill an entire day. This includes but not limited to visiting the U.S. Naval Academy, various house and city tours, boat cruises, shopping, and great eating. Here are just some shots from about 4 hours in Annapolis and the Naval Academy.

Main Street & Church Circle with Capitol in background
Main Street
West Street and St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in background
The State Capitol
Waterfront
Docked
The United States Naval Academy
The Naval Academy has a Visitor Center which includes a museum and exhibits along with a great gift shop and it is the starting point for walking tours of campus. I didn’t have time to take a guided tour but I think I missed out.
Officers’ Quarters
Chapel
Usually open to the public, it was closed for a wedding. You could only look in via the open door. (By the way, all the men of the wedding party were in full white dress uniform.)
Naval Academy’s Plebe Summer
At least that is what I think this is part of . . .
Group Push Ups!
Tug of War

To view all my Annapolis photos on flickr, click here.

Next: Part IV – Bonus!

QCS Quips

2009-07-22T07:18:00.001-04:00

Random thoughts . . . Cincinnati related and otherwise generally of news while I was on vacation.

One should never (accidentally) wear your iPod in to the ocean. It is toast.
The Enquirer continues to disappoint with an editorial against the streetcar. Look for a response in the next day or two . . .
Emmy nominations came out while I was gone. Yeah for Top Chef, Project Runway, Kathy Griffin, Hope Davis, and Tina Fey (for SNL, not 30 Rock. I don’t watch that for some reason . . .)
Rehoboth Beach was noticeably less crowded this year – at the beach and at the bars – and the crowd itself was generally older where I was hanging out. Many I talked to attributed this to the economy and that the younger folks in particular just were staying away.
Even though it was less crowded, I still managed to have a great time. Maybe even more so than last year.
There was one sort of sad event from vacation though. A person I met had a dog and it died on Friday morning.
Before I left for vacation I became a Cincinnati Symphony Season subscriber.
Utz Pretzels are fantastic. But I brought some bags home and I need to stop eating them.

Baedeker: 2009 Summer Vacation

2009-07-22T07:02:00.004-04:00

Rehoboth Beach and Cape Henlopen State Park, DE, and Annapolis, MD

Part II – Cape Henlopen State Park

A multipart series chronically sites of my 2009 summer vacation

Before my bike ride south along Route 1, I kicked off the morning with a bike trip in to Cape Henlopen State Park. The south entrance of park is a short bike ride from Rehoboth. Cape Henlopen is located at the tip of Delaware where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Delaware Bay.

The south end of the park is called Gordon’s Pond and includes a bike path and a beach. The path leads to an observation platform and from there; there is a hiking path to the north side of the park. (The bulk of the park lies north of Gordon’s Pond.) Between the ocean and the pond are two World War II observation towers. From the website:

"With the onset of World War II, the U.S. Army established a military base at Cape Henlopen in 1941. Bunkers and gun emplacements were camouflaged among the dunes, and concrete observation towers were built along the coast to spot enemy ships. In 1964, the Department of Defense declared 543 acres of the Cape lands as surplus property. The State of Delaware accepted the property and established Cape Henlopen State Park."

Again, the entire Delaware Shore has a number of these concrete silos. On the north part of Cape Henlopen State Park there is a restored silo that one can tour.

So, all of the below photos are of the Gordon’s Pond area of Cape Henlopen State Park around 8:00 in the morning.
To view all my Rehoboth and Cape Henlopen State Park photos on flickr, click here.

Next: Part III – Annapolis, MD

Baedeker: 2009 Summer Vacation

2009-07-21T07:16:00.003-04:00

Rehoboth Beach and Cape Henlopen State Park, DE, and Annapolis, MD

Part I – Rehoboth Beach

A multipart series chronically sites of my 2009 summer vacation

This was my second year vacationing in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Needless to say, I love it. Since I took some photos around town last year I didn’t do much of that. Here are just a handful of shots . . .

So last year I rented a bike for the day. I did that again but decided on a route along Route 1 through the town of Dewey Beach and into the Delaware Seashore State Park. The state park occupies the land between the Atlantic Ocean and Rehoboth Bay. I took a few pictures of a historic Indian River Life-Saving Station, first erected in 1876. (It got moved in 1877 and late modified)

Note: Much of the Delaware Shore is connected by either dedicated bike paths or dedicated hike and bike lanes adjacent to Route 1 and other main arteries. Here is a picture of the lane I’m talking about. The photo is from Atlantic Cycles, which is the rental store where I’ve rented my bike for the last two years. They are fantastic, affordable, and generous with their rental times. (For example a half-day rental goes until 7:00 PM!)

Next: Part II – Cape Henlopen State Park

Blog Alert: Back from Vacation

2009-07-19T18:17:00.004-04:00

Yes, I'm back from Rehoboth Beach and the Delaware Shore. Fantastic yet again.

Here is a picture of the beach (early in the morning) to hold you over. But there will be a series of vacation related posts to follow.

Weekend Warm-Up: July 17 – 19

2009-07-17T13:00:00.001-04:00

My recommendations for something to do this weekend.

Queen City Survey is still on vacation!

But I am directing you to check out BuyCincy’s “Enjoy Your Weekend” post to get the lowdown on this weekend’s activities. Queen City Survey’s Weekend Picks include: Cincinnati T-Shirt Fest, Kolping Society Schutzenfest & German Festival, and Big Hair Bingo! Again, go over to BuyCincy for the details.

This weekend’s Fountain Square line-up includes:
Friday
MidPoint Indie Summer at 7:00 PM and Singer Songwriter Night at 10:00 PM. Performers this week include Wussy. Check website for complete list of performers.
Saturday
Bigg’s Family Day from 1:00 – 2:30 PM. This week’s theme: Arts
P&G Movie Night begins at 7:30 PM. This week’s movies: Free Willy & Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
Sunday
Gospel Sunday begins at 5:00 PM and Smooth Sunday begins at 7:00 PM. Check website for complete list of performers.

See sidebar for additional links.

Queen City Survey on Vacation!

2009-07-09T21:06:00.003-04:00

I'm outta here for a week. I'll have a post next Thursday for the weekend activities but otherwise, you are on your own. Try not to wreck the 'Nati while I'm gone.

Here is where I'll be . . .

Weekend Warm-Up: July 10 – 12

2009-07-09T20:41:00.002-04:00

My recommendations for something to do this weekend.

Queen City Survey is on vacation!

So I am directing you to check out BuyCincy’s “Enjoy Your Weekend” post to get the lowdown on this weekend’s activities. Queen City Survey’s Weekend Picks include: Spring Grove Weekend Walkabout, the ARCHITREKS’ West Over the Rhine “Outside-In” Walking Tour, and the More Great Cincinnati Families Lecture. Again, go over to BuyCincy for the details.

This weekend’s Fountain Square line-up includes:
Friday
MidPoint Indie Summer at 7:00 PM and Singer Songwriter Night at 10:00 PM. Performers this week include the Pomegranates. Check website for complete list of performers.
Saturday
Bigg’s Family Day from 1:00 – 2:30 PM. This week’s theme: Transportation
P&G Movie Night begins at 7:30 PM. This week’s movies: Nanny McPhee & Peter Pan
Sunday
Gospel Sunday begins at 5:00 PM and Smooth Sunday begins at 7:00 PM. Check website for complete list of performers.

See sidebar for additional links.

This Day in Cincinnati History

2009-07-07T21:21:00.004-04:00

July 7, 1915 – Windstorm

From the Ohio History Central Online Encyclopedia:

“A vicious wind and rainstorm swept southwestern Ohio on the evening of Wednesday July 7, 1915. The death toll of 38 at Cincinnati is the greatest known in Ohio for a windstorm in which no tornadoes were involved. The wind caused extensive damage throughout Cincinnati and in nearby communities. There were no reports of tornadoes and the damage was all toward one direction, so the wind is presumed to have been the result of thunderstorm microbursts.

“Homes, apartment houses, and commercial buildings were demolished or unroofed by the winds. Wires, signs, trees, cars, and streetcars were blown over in downtown Cincinnati. Most of the deaths were in collapsed buildings although three men died when a train carrying racehorses was blown from the tracks at Terrace Park. An uncertain number of people drowned in overturned boats in the Ohio River. The greatest tragedies developed in the collapse of buildings along West Sixth Street and a house on West Eighth. Eighteen people died in the collapse of five buildings on Sixth Street and another 11 people died when two nearby houses collapsed. Outside of Cincinnati, there was extensive wind damage at Washington Court House and Wilmington, and floods washed out hundreds of bridges in Montgomery County.”

Click here for photos from the Ohio History Central Online Encyclopedia.

Images from the Library’s Cincinnati Memory Project.

For more images from the Cincinnati Memory Project of the damage from the July 7 ‘tornado’ (which is what they called it) and a tornado that struck on March 11, 1917, click here.

'South' Walnut Hills

2009-07-06T23:02:00.006-04:00

Seeing What's What

Beit Carr and I are working, along with some other folks, on the ARCHITREKS Walnut Hills Walking Tour that is currently being developed. We've been discussing going south from Peebles Corner more than we had before . . . along with some other changes. Friday I took a walk around seeing what we'd see. Here are a few photos. Check out more over at flickr. (Go to the Walnut Hills set and look for those saying 'South'.)

Lose by a lot on Sunday

2009-07-06T21:26:00.005-04:00

The overcast sky on Sunday kept me from going to the pool. So I went to the Red's game again. Sat right behind home plate. Then during the spankin' I walked around a bit.

Movin' Right Along

2009-07-06T21:07:00.003-04:00

Work is progressing at Trinty Flats at Vine Street and Mercer in the Gateway Quarter.

Walking Tour: Lincoln and Melrose

2009-07-06T20:44:00.004-04:00

Walnut Hills

One of my favorite corners in Walnut Hills is the intersection of Lincoln and Melrose Avenues. The north side of Lincoln and up Melrose to Beecher is part of the Lincoln Melrose Local Historic District. The south side of Lincoln though also has some nice houses near the corner. All the homes are Queen Anne or Richardsonian Romanesque in style and were built between 1880 and 1910.

841 Lincoln Avenue (SE Corner)

849 Lincoln Avenue

827 Lincoln Avenue (SW Corner)
A lodge of the Black Elks or, more formally, the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World (IBPOEW) which was actually founded in Cincinnati in 1898 by Benjamin Franklin Howard and Arthur J. Riggs, a former slave and Pullman porter. Riggs’ story and the establishment of the Black Elks is an interesting one that I really didn’t know until now!

820 Lincoln Avenue (NW Corner)

835 Beecher Street (SE Corner)

3017 Melrose Avenue

3014 & 3010 Melrose Avenue

836 – 852 Lincoln Avenue
Many of these are owned by the City of Cincinnati. Building Cincinnati did an article on these homes and the neighborhood in 2007.

As an aside, at one time, the Cincinnati Club had a location further south at 2840 Melrose for a time, now the location of the Melrose YMCA. (Link to Library’s Cincinnati Memory Project photo.)

Lose by 3 on the 3rd

2009-07-04T09:49:00.005-04:00

Went to the Red's game last night. It was an exciting game, even though the Reds lost. And there were a lot of people at the game with over 41,000 in attendance. I bought a ticket on the street and sat pretty close to the field . . .

What's Your Sign?

2009-07-03T08:09:00.002-04:00

A sweet sign on Walnut Street.

Weekend Warm-Up: July 3 – 4

2009-07-03T08:05:00.002-04:00

My recommendations for something to do this 4th of July weekend.

Go out, have fun, and be safe this holiday weekend. Check out some festivals including the Northside Rock-n-Roll Carnival and the Cincinnati Pops Red White and Boom. Get the details on those and a lot more at Queen City Survey’s Weekend Picks at BuyCincy’s “Enjoy Your Weekend” post.

Other events include the Equinox event at various locations all weekend, the Reds are in town, and Fountain Square has their normal line-up but also special music and movies (and fireworks!) on Saturday night.

See sidebar for links.

Lunchtime Tuesday

2009-06-29T22:07:00.004-04:00

Music at Piatt Park . . .

And Market on the Square

It really doesn't get much better at lunchtime in Downtown.

No, I don't notice the mechanical units at all.

2009-06-29T22:02:00.003-04:00

Linn & West 8th Streets

Weekend Warm-Up: June 26 – 28

2009-06-25T16:37:00.001-04:00

My recommendations for something to do this weekend.

It is a festival weekend . . .

Check out Queen City Survey’s Weekend Picks at BuyCincy’s “Enjoy Your Weekend” post where we give the basics on three big festivals this weekend:
Panegyri Festival, Paddlefest, and WestFest

However, if looking for something to combine a unique event and a unique location, check out Spring Grove Cemetery on Sunday, June 28.
Their first event is the Second Annual Dog Day of Summer Event from 10:30 AM - 3:00 PM. There is a special dog walk at 11:00 AM. From the Spring Grove website:
“For 364 days of the year, the cemetery does not permit dogs owners to share the beauty of Spring Grove with their pets. However, on this ONE day only, responsible pet owners are invited to come and spend the afternoon at the cemetery and enjoy this special day. Stroll with your canine friend along our Dogwood Trail during an organized 1.5 mile walk to benefit the SPCA of Cincinnati.”
The second event on Sunday at Spring Grove will include a walking tour at 1:00 PM entitled, "Captains Of Industry & The Arts". From the Spring Grove website:
“Walk with us and learn about the people who put Cincinnati on the business map, and then funded our city's culture . . . West, Longworth, Hauck, Peter Thompson, etc.”

Also, this Friday is Final Friday so check out Vine Street, Main Street, and the Pendleton Art Center.

Finally, this weekend’s Fountain Square line-up includes:
Friday
There will be Reds’ promotions at lunch followed by MidPoint Indie Summer at 7:00 PM and Singer Songwriter Night at 10:00 PM. Performers this week include Culture Queer. Check website for complete list of performers.
Saturday
Bigg’s Family Day from 1:00 – 2:30 PM. This week’s theme: Media
P&G Movie Night begins at 7:30 PM. This week’s movies: Sinbad Legend of the Seven Seas & Journey to the Center of the Earth
Sunday
Gospel Sunday begins at 5:00 PM and Smooth Sunday begins at 7:00 PM. Check website for complete list of performers.

See sidebar for additional links.

Over the Rhine is NOT what they said.

2009-06-22T19:14:00.004-04:00

Here is a press release issued by 3CDC and I completely agree with their take and not that of some AOL poll.

June 22, 2009

Statement from 3CDC in regard to the study by Location Inc, published today on AOL.com on the 25 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in America.

“The study released today regarding Over-the-Rhine (OTR) focuses on approximately 20 square blocks, some of them not even located in OTR and is based on data that is more than two and a half years old. In fact, reported crime through 2008 in the area of OTR south of Liberty Street, known as OTR Gateway, is down 37% since 2004.

“OTR is 110 square blocks and includes several neighborhood districts including OTR Gateway, centered at the corner of 12th and Vine streets. This area, and other OTR census tract areas, was not part of the study.

“It is unfortunate and intellectually dishonest that the entire neighborhood was labeled in such a negative way. The fact is, $84 million has been invested in OTR Gateway since 2004 and new home owners and business owners are investing in the neighborhood. This past Saturday, a 5K run and day-long Summer Celebration arts festival brought about 2,000 people to the corner of 12th and Vine to shop, eat and listen to music. The only problem was that some of our vendors didn’t anticipate such a large crowd and ran out of food.”

# # #

“The Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC) is a private, non-profit corporation. Its mission is to revitalize Cincinnati's Center City as a regional center of high value employment and real estate by developing a diverse mix of housing, culture and entertainment. It was formed in July 2003 as part of the overall system to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of development activities in the City as recommended by The Cincinnati Economic Development Task Force. 3CDC is funded privately through business contributions, foundations and other philanthropic sources. For more information, visit www.3cdc.org.”

Survey Says . . .

2009-06-21T21:09:00.009-04:00

Best places to experience Art Deco in Cincinnati (and nearby).

Top 6 answers on the board . . .

1. Union Terminal (1933)
Architect: Fellheimer & Wagner w/ Paul Cret

It goes without saying Union Terminal is No. 1.

2. Downtown (and Over the Rhine)
Downtown has a nice collection of Art Deco and Art Modern including the former Lazarus Department Store (1938, renovation), Carew Tower & Omni Netherlands Plaza Hotel (1932), Cincinnati Bell (1930), the Times Start Building (1933), and the America Building (1928) in Over the Rhine

3. Walnut Hills & East Walnut Hills
Start off at Krohn Conservatory (1933) and then head north in to Walnut Hills for some nice Art Deco and early modernism like the Paramount Theatre Building (1931), Apartment Complex at 2531 - 2521 Kemper Lane (1928 with later additions), Cleinview Apartments (1928), International Molders & Allied Workers Union Building (1950), Apartment Building at Salutarius Avenue & East McMillan Street, an old roller rink, and the United Way Community Chest, formerly Ohio National (1933, renovation)

4. 20th Century Movie Theatre (1941)
3021 Madison Road
Architect: Fred Stritzel

5. Xavier’s Coca Cola Bottling Plant (1938) & University of Cincinnati’s Wilson Auditorium (1931)
Architects: John H. Deekin (former); Fechheimer & Ihorst (later)

6. Old Municipal Building, Hamilton, Ohio (1935)
20 High Street, Hamilton, OH
Architects: George Barkman, R. E. Smith, Frederick G. Mueller and Walter R. Hair

This Father’s Day post is dedicated to my father who worked in the City of Hamilton Municipal Building from 1958 to his retirement in 1989. To a large degree I point to this building (and Season 2 of This Old House) as really fueling my interest in architecture as a child. It was probably the first public building I experienced in person (as opposed to just in photographs) on an ongoing basis that I had a strong reaction to and fell in love with. Call me a nerd, but yes, you can fall in love with a building.

Honorable mentions include Lunken Airport (1937) and Westwood including their cute library branch (1931 by Architect Stanley Matthews) and a number of nice apartment buildings.

References:
Painter, Sue Ann. Architecture of Cincinnati. Athens, OH: Ohio University Press, 2006

Weekend Warm-Up: June 19 – 21

2009-06-18T21:47:00.003-04:00

My recommendations for something to do this weekend.

It is a sports related weekend!

Cincinnati is hosting the MLB 2009 Civil Rights Game on Saturday, June 20 at 7:10 PM. There are however events downtown all weekend associated with the game including a free roundtable discussion on Friday at the Freedom Center. Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to speak at a SOLD OUT Saturday luncheon. Then from 2:00 to 7:00 there will be a youth event called Wanna Play? at Fountain Square. Kids will be able to test their baseball skills, take part in clinics and a youth summit, and meet Reds players. Check out the above link and this Red’s article for all the details.

Then on Father’s Day there is the “Father’s Day Catch”. The fourth-annual event is fundraiser benefiting the Reds Community Fund. “This event offers the unique opportunity to play "catch" on the field at Great American Ball Park, providing Mezzanine level game tickets to the June 21 Reds vs. White Sox home game, postgame field pass, authentic batting practice-used baseball and commemorative certificate. A two-person package is available for $175, with additional individual packages available for $75 each.”

Are you ready for some football? Even if it is the Bengals? The Bengals are having an open to the public minicamp on Saturday, June 20 from 10:00 – 11:30 AM at Paul Brown Stadium. In association, they are hosting their Select-A-Seat Event from 9:00 AM to noon where you will be able to see seats available for season ticket purchase. The event is free and enter stadium at Gate B. (That season ticket wait list didn’t last long.)

You say you want to go for a run?

Well Saturday, June 20th is also the GoOTR 5K and Summer Celebration in the Gateway Quarter. The GoOTR 5K starts at 10:00 AM from 12th & Vine Streets. It ends there too. Then stay for the Summer Celebration. There will be arts and crafts along with music, food, and beer. Festivities continue until 7:00 PM.

And while not related to sports, this is the final weekend of Butterfly Show at Krohn. Go here for hours of operation and admission prices.

As reminder, check out Queen City Survey’s Weekend Picks at BuyCincy’s “Enjoy Your Weekend” post. This week we highlight the Free Father’s Day at the Zoo and the exhibit “Neck Kisses are the Best” at Base Cooperative Gallery. Go to BuyCincy for more details.

Finally, this weekend’s Fountain Square line-up includes:
Red Hot Friday
There will be Reds’ promotions at lunch followed by MidPoint Indie Summer at 7:00 PM and Singer Songwriter Night at 10:00 PM. Performers this week include Hiders. Check website for complete list of performers.
Saturday
Bigg’s Family Day from 1:00 – 2:30 PM. This week’s theme: Sports
P&G Movie Night begins at 7:30 PM. This week’s movies: Rookie of the Year & Field of Dreams
Sunday
Gospel Sunday begins at 5:00 PM and Smooth Sunday begins at 7:00 PM. Check website for complete list of performers.

See sidebar for additional links.

Girls Gone Wild!

2009-06-17T20:41:00.003-04:00

At 5:00 PM in front of The Lodge Bar . . .

The Queen Speaks

2009-06-16T17:47:00.003-04:00

Quotes from and about Cincinnati

“There is a value to preserving the unique architecture of a community and a city, because it actually is part of our competitive advantage.” – Roxanne Qualls

In the June 12, 2009 issue of the Cincinnati Business Courier

Rash of Broken Windows?

2009-06-16T17:36:00.004-04:00

Is it me or is there a rash of broken windows Downtown and in Over the Rhine lately? CityKin relays hearing breaking glass here on this post. I’ve noticed broken windows at Grammer’s and at the Cincinnati Preservation Association Office. And I noticed this broken window at the former Diner on Sycamore. (Photo taken from my car.)What gives?

UC Architecture

2009-06-14T10:51:00.004-04:00

The Best Of?

I was at the University of Cincinnati yesterday for some blog research and it got me thinking: What is the best building, architecturally, on the UC Campus? Is it one of the old ones like McMicken or Wilson Halls? Or is it one of the new ones like University Pavilion or the Engineering Research Center? I know what I think. Let me know what you think. One of them may end up in 2010 March(itecture) Madness . . .

For more UC photos, check my Flickr account.

Blog Alert: Queen City Survey

2009-06-13T20:50:00.002-04:00

A Look Ahead

As we move in to summer here at Queen City Survey, I have a number of things planned to take us in to the fall. June will bring a special Father’s Day post on Art Deco architecture and we will finally end (one week late) our Historic Catholic Churches of Cincinnati series. July brings a mini-series on Avondale’s Reading Road and a much needed vacation for me. August is scheduled to be Walnut Hills Month with a series of posts about Walnut Hills, culminating with the Walnut Hills ARCHITREKS tours on August 29 and 30. September will have a series of posts in honor of Labor Day called Cincinnati Goes to Work documenting the history and architecture of Cincinnati industry. That all then leads to October which will again be Rutherford B. Hayes Month! This year’s theme is Hayes & the Civil War and there will be a series of posts related to Hayes’s service to the Union and hopefully will include some trips to historic battlefields where Hayes served and was wounded. And yes, there will be another Rutherford B. Hayes Birthday Party!

On a Clear Day

2009-06-11T20:22:00.003-04:00

Covenant First Presbyterian with St. Peter-in-Chains in background.

Weekend Warm-Up: June 12 – 14

2009-06-11T20:05:00.003-04:00

My recommendations for something to do this weekend.

The big announcement here is that beginning today BuyCincy is going to feature Queen City Survey’s Weekend Picks as part of their Enjoy Your Weekend post. I’ll have two or three events selected each week. At least one of them I hope will highlight some architectural or local history related event. But generally I will just try to spotlight random, cool events. Cool in my mind anyway. Go over to BuyCincy and check them out. (Thanks Sean & Maya!)

Well, it is Gay Pride Weekend in Cincinnati. If you are interested, City Beat has a handy insert on all the activities. The Pride Festival kicks off on Saturday afternoon at Hoffner Park in Northside and continues until 9:00 PM. Then the Pride Parade starts at 1:00 PM on Sunday and finishes at Hoffner Park where the festival continues until 7:00 PM. I am not fond of the theme or logo this year so there is no use in using them at all. Check the Pride website too for details.

In addition there are a number of other fun events going on.

Rivertown Breakdown benefiting River Sweep is at Southgate House on Saturday, June 13 at 8 PM. Catch the Comet Bluegrass Allstars, Jake Speed and the Freddies, the Sidecars, Lagniappe, Rumpke Mountain Boys and others. This is one show/event I will make it to some year! Check website for a complete list of performers. And there are a lot.

This Sunday brings the Second Sunday on Main event in Over the Rhine from noon to 4:00 PM. This month’s theme is ‘Dog Days’. Check the website for musical acts and full schedule including the dog parade!

Finally, this weekend’s Fountain Square line-up includes:
Friday
MidPoint Indie Summer begins at 7:00 PM and Singer Songwriter Night begins at 10:00 PM. Performers this week include Cari Clara. Check website for complete list of performers.
Saturday
Bigg’s Family Day from 1:00 – 2:30 PM. This week’s theme: Animals
P&G Movie Night begins at 7:30 PM. This week’s movies: Cheaper by the Dozen & Mr. Mom
Sunday
Gospel Sunday begins at 5:00 PM and Smooth Sunday begins at 7:00 PM. Check website for complete list of performers.

See sidebar for additional links.

Happy Anniversary

2009-06-11T01:00:00.002-04:00

Mom & Dad

Today would have been my parents' wedding anniversary. Cincinnati dating memories for them abound even though they were from Hamilton. They, and by that I mean mostly mom, would talk about dancing at Moonlight Gardens, going to Shuller’s Wigwam in College Hill, and coming downtown for shows and evening mass. Yes, Catholic dating of the 1950’s apparently included going to church. Or at least it did for my wild and crazy parents.

Image of Moonlight Gardens from CincinnatiViews.net

QCS Quips

2009-06-10T20:26:00.005-04:00

Random thoughts . . . Cincinnati related and otherwise.

I hate overhearing uninformed people talk about the streetcar.
I know it is only June but I’m kind of ready for football to start. And thankfully the NBA will be over soon.
Stacked has touched on the exact two points I walked away from the Complete Streets lecture.
A repeat of “The West Wing” the other week had a reference to Potter Stewart, Supreme Court Justice and namesake of the Federal Courthouse in Cincinnati.
Summer television is already boring me. I’m watching reruns of “The West Wing” a lot.
An interesting article in the USA Today about panhandlers and laws to restrict them . . .
How did this city go from one of the most progressive cities of the 19th century to the reactionary city of today? Conservative isn’t even the right word for it, reactionary is.

Last Week on Fountain Square

2009-06-10T20:17:00.002-04:00

Delayed Reaction!

Last Monday: All-Electric Car Incentive Program Pilot Project
An event to mark the All-Electric Car Incentive Program Pilot Project, which allows the owner of 100 percent electric-powered cars to park for free in the Fountain Square South Garage, Garfield Garage, Fifth and Race Parking Lot, Seventh Street Garage, and at any parking meter within the City limits.

Last Tuesday: Market on the Square
The first one of the summer!

Last Friday: MidPoint Indie Summer & Singer-Songwriter Night
Caught some music going on my way home from the Red’s game . . .

Sorry for the lack of posts last week. Just got busy and then was overindulgent in my leisure this past weekend.

Development II

2009-06-01T20:46:00.003-04:00

And what most have known for a week or so, Hamburger Mary's is coming back.

Development I

2009-06-01T20:39:00.004-04:00

There is some type of construction going on here at the space to the east of Probasco Market, er that alley next to Rock Bottom.

Historic Catholic Churches of Cincinnati

2009-05-31T16:33:00.008-04:00

Part VIII: Beyond Cincinnati, 1940 – 1969

A nine part Sunday series on the still remaining and architecturally significant Catholic churches of Cincinnati from 1840 - 1969.

This series is an attempt to document every historic Catholic Church remaining in Cincinnati. This is not a list of every church, nor is it a history of each Parish. It is simply to serve as a reference for the date of dedication, the architect and style of the church buildings themselves. Included are those that I find to have architectural or historical merit from the Catholic Church’s earliest beginnings in Cincinnati to those churches built just after Vatican II.

Again, the architecture of Cincinnati Catholic churches from about World War II takes a decidedly modern turn. But here we see the rise of new parishes beyond the city limits as people begin to move from the inner city out to the suburbs. The histories of many of these parishes are, in many cases, only from post World War II. Few I would define as historic or worthy of mention however there are a few examples that should be mentioned.

Here too are some church complexes that eventually were completed during this time period that in many cases were begun decades earlier. Entire master plans for a school, rectory, and church were completed and constructed as funds were available. A “temporary” church or multi-functional space was completed and eventually it was scheduled to be replaced by a much larger church. Or in the case of All Saints for example, it was simply added on to over the years to accommodate a growing parish.

It should be noted that the St. Louis firm Maguolo & Quick established a Cincinnati office in the 1950’s and eventually L. P. (Larry) Cotter became the managing partner. He would eventually form his own firm and continue to design a number of area churches.

St. Margaret – St. John
Original Name: St. John Vianney
Mariemont/Columbia Township – 4448 Berwick
Dedicated: 1950
Architect: George McDonald
Style: Colonial Revival
Closed in 2008; used as a chapel for St. Margaret – St. John

All Saints
Montgomery – 8939 Montgomery Road
Dedicated: 1952; Addition, 1962
Architect: Maguolo & Quick; Addition, Edward J. Schulte
Style: Modified Romanesque Revival - Modern

St. Dominic
Delhi – 4551 Delhi Pike

Dedicated: 1957
Architect: Albert V. Walters
Style: Modified Georgian Revival

St. Vivian
Finneytown – 7600 Winton Road
Dedicated: 1957
Architect: Maguolo & Quick
Style: Modern

Our Lady of the Rosary
Greenhills – 17 Farragut Road
Dedicated: 1958
Architect: A. J. Martina
Style: Modern

St. Margaret Mary
North College Hill – 1830 West Galbraith Road
Dedicated: 1960
Architect: Robert L. Holtmeier
Style: Modern

St. Therese the Little Flower
Mt. Airy – 5560 Kirby Avenue
Dedicated: 1961
Architect: Elmer Schmidt
Style: ModernThe Master Plan included current school, convent and auditorium, dedicated in 1929 by Edward J. Schulte & Robert Crowe, which served as the church until 1961.

Corpus Christi
New Burlington – 2014 Springdale Road
Dedicated: 1961
Architect: Gartner, Burdick, Bauer-Nilsen
Style: Modern

Our Lady of Visitation
Middle of Nowhere – 3172 South Road
Dedicated: 1962
Architect: Elmer Schmidt
Style: Modern

St. Saviour
Rossmoyne – 4136 Myrtle Avenue
Dedicated: 1963
Architect: Maguolo & Quick
Style: Modern

St. Aloysius Gonzaga
Bridgetown – 4366 Bridgetown Road
Dedicated: 1963
Architect: L. P. Cotter and Associates
Style: Modern

St. John the Evangelist
Deer Park – 7121 Plainfield Road
Dedicated: 1938-41, Old Church and addition, 1967, Current Church
Architect: Edward J. Schulte, Old Church; L. P. Cotter & Associates, Current Church
Style: Modern Master Plan included the current gymnasium completed in 1938 that served as the church until 1967.

St. James of the Valley
Wyoming – 411 Springfield Pike
Dedicated: 1969
Architect: Edward J. Schulte; L. P. Cotter & Associates (Robert Christian) after death of Schulte in 1967.
Style: Modified Romanesque Revival - Modern Master Plan included the current gymnasium completed in 1940 that served as temporary church until 1969.

St. Gertrude
Madeira – 6551 Miami Avenue
Dedicated: 1969
Architect: Edward J. Schulte
Style: Modern

St. Bartholomew
Springfield Township – 9375 Winton Road
Dedicated: 1969
Architect: Robert L. Holtmeier
Style: Modern

References and the map Historic Catholic Churches of Cincinnati of every church mentioned in this series will be included in Part IX.

Next Sunday, June 7
Part IX: Conclusion

Last Week: Part VII

Underground in the Light

2009-05-29T20:29:00.003-04:00

It was such a beautiful day with no rain in sight. So I took a walk down to the Underground Railroad Freedom Center during lunch.

Festival Month!

2009-05-29T19:15:00.003-04:00

Friday’s Festival Fact

A multi-part series highlighting the many festivals in Cincinnati in May.

Summerfair

For over 40 years, Summerfair has been supporting and promoting artists and the arts in Greater Cincinnati. The organization's activities include: supports for individual artists including grants and exhibitions; community-based art activities and events; and a nationally-recognized annual fine arts fair.

The fine arts fair, called ‘Summerfair’, is what is taking place this weekend.

A short history of the Fair from their website:
The first Summerfair was developed in 1967 to salute the opening of the Playhouse in the Park’s Robert S. Marx Theater. Since then, the Summerfair Fair has become a nationally recognized event featuring more than 400 visual and performing artists. During the last decade, it has consistently been identified as one of the 200 best shows in the United States by Sunshine Artist magazine and has received three Artists’ Choice Awards from the National Association of Independent Artists. Execution of the Festival depends upon the enthusiasm, cooperation and dedication of 400+ volunteers representing 8 counties in Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana.The event is held each year on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday following Memorial Day at historic Coney Island Park on the banks of the Ohio River.

So here are the 411 on all the details for Summerfair 2009:

Hours

May 29, Friday 2 pm – 8 pm

May 30, Saturday 10 am – 8 pm

May 31, Sunday 10 am – 5 pm

Avoid the lines at the gate - purchase your tickets now! Click here to take you to the Summerfair.org website and the ticket page.

Admission

Adults:$10.00 for 1 day ticket

$15.00 for 3-day ticket - Available only until Friday, May 29, 2009, 2:00 PM.

Children under 12 free

A list of 2009 Exhibitors can be found here.

A list of the 2009 Entertainment for this year’s festival can be found here.

And this year’s Summerfair poster, pictured above, was designed by Sharon Martin. (I loved last year’s poster.)

And with that Festival Month at Queen City Survey is nearly over!

Carew

2009-05-28T23:02:00.002-04:00

Festival Month!

2009-05-28T21:43:00.003-04:00

Taste of Cincinnati – A Review

As I did last year, I went to Taste of Cincinnati all three days and each day I decided to try something different and not get the same thing twice. In fact some days I even went for lunch and dinner. I did go to some chain restaurants but agree with many that there were fewer of them this year. Alas I did get some of the same things I had last year. But when you like them, you like them. Here is the rundown:

Saturday

Early
Behle Street Cafe – Crab Cakes

Burbank's – Fried Catfish Sandwich & Fries

Izzy’s – Pastrami & Swiss

Mac’s Pizza Pub – Mac-Over
Late
Keystone Bar & Grill – Green Day (Mac & Cheese)

Strasse Haus – Cheddar Mett Zoomer

Sunday

Early
Laszlo’s Iron Skillet – German Meatballs in Creamy Caper Sauce with Whipped PotatoesWertheim’s – Potato Cakes
Courtyard Cafe – Soft Pretzel with Beer Cheese
Thai Taste – Chicken Fried Rice

Late

Indigo – Cajun Cream Pasta
Pit to Plate – Pulled Pork Sandwich
United Dairy Farmers – Homemade Ice Cream Bar

Monday

Bella Luna – Chicken Ravioli

Eddie’s Barbeque - Pork Sandwich
Mecklenburg Gardens – Soft Pretzel with Beer Cheese

I pretty much liked everything I had. Only the Fried Rice was just OK. Anything that included a potato, seafood, or a pretzel were my favorites. It is too hard to choose.

Mixed in with the case or so of Michelob Ultras (and a random Hudy Delight) imbibed throughout the weekend, I also had the following beers:
Saturday: Christian Moerlein OTR
Sunday: Christian Moerlein Helles and Great Lakes Dortmunder.
Monday: Christian Moerlein Helles again and I think I had a Warsteiner, though that is now fuzzy.

Other local bloggers have also posted their Taste of Cincinnati reviews, reactions, and photos. Check out 5ch4r7z, Buy Cincinnati, and Wine Me, Dine Me (in Cincinnati). And Clark Street Blog has a fun post from before the activities started.

The thing that I think continues to bother me the most is the quarantine of the lawn at P&G World Headquarters. We must thank P&G for being a title sponsor this year. However I think it would be nice if people could sit on the lawn or even under the covered pergola which was also chained off in many instances. The grass would no doubt take a beating and I understand them doing what they do. But they did tear down many historic buildings and part of Bucktown to get that lawn*. It would be nice if the public could at least sit on it five days a year (I’m including Oktoberfest).

* Here is a sample of what was there:
Wesleyan M. E. Church, East 5th Street between Sycamore & Broadway Street
Allen Temple, SE Corner Broadway & 6th Streets
Sacred Heart Church and vicinity, Broadway Street north of 5th Street
The Fenwick Club including Annex and Chapel, generally at 432 East 5th Street

All images from the Library’s Cincinnati Memory Project except Allen Temple which is from the Cincinnati Historical Society’s African American Resources site.

Weekend Warm-Up: May 29 – 31

2009-05-28T20:06:00.003-04:00

My recommendations for something to do this weekend

There are a lot of miscellaneous events taking place this fifth weekend of the month . . .

First and foremost, we have the ARCHITREKS Walking Tour of Walnut Hills. Check Wednesday’s post for details.

The Gateway Expansion Tour in Over the Rhine is Saturday from noon – 4:00 PM. Check out this Tuesday post from Building Cincinnati.

Queen City Bike & Dine is Saturday, May 30 as it. Park + Vine has the information in this past post but you can also find out stuff from Queen City Bike. Cyclebration is also at Lunken Field this weekend. Check Queen City Bike for that too.

Summerfair is Friday through Sunday. Check their website for details.

And the Cincinnati Fringe Festival continues this weekend and in to next week. Check out all the stuff on the Fringe website.

QCS Quips

2009-05-27T17:56:00.003-04:00

Random thoughts . . . Cincinnati related and otherwise.

Ok, the article of me in CinWeekly is available online.
Walking down the street last week I think I passed by Father Schnippel who writes the Called by Name blog.
One of my favorite blogs is ESPN.com’s Big East Football Blog by Brian Bennett. He has been counting down the 30 best college football players in the Big East for like the last month. Finally through to No. 1, UC only has three players on the list: #23 Jeff Linkenbach, OT; #5: Mardy Gilyard, WR; and #2 Tony Pike, QB.
The season finale of “My Boys” was pretty good.
A nice article in the USA Today on building rail links from airports to downtowns across the United States. Don’t get me started on that idea here in Cincinnati . . .
If this city can get its act together (and it really has been pissing me off the last few weeks), I think it should host the 2020 National Convention of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). 2020 would mark the Chapter’s 150th Anniversary. It is the 4th oldest AIA Chapter in the country. Maybe by then we will have a completed Banks, Riverfront Park, streetcar, and maybe even some light rail. Though I will say the convention may be too large for us to accommodate.

Event Alert

2009-05-27T17:40:00.004-04:00

ARCHITREKS Walking Tour of Walnut Hills!

This weekend get a preview of the Walnut Hills Walking Tour that is currently in development by ARCHITREKS. The free tour is being offered twice: Saturday, May 30 at 10:00 AM and Sunday, May 31 at 11:00 AM. The tour will leave from the Parkside Café at 1026 East McMillan Street.

This approximately two mile tour will cover Walnut Hills and parts of East Walnut Hills. We will start and end in Peebles Corner Business District but will make our way through the residential streets of Upland Place National Register Historic District and skirt the Woodburn Business District. ARCHITREKS hopes to get patron response as it continues to develop and finalize the tour content.

I will be one of the co-tour guides (along with another fellow blogger) but don’t let that stop you from attending!

Just some of the interesting sites we will see and/or talk about include:
The birthplace of the modern Greater’s
The oldest still standing fire station in Cincinnati
The 2nd oldest still standing Cincinnati Public School
A bathhouse
A fantastic collection of turn of the century apartment buildings
Homes of local department store magnates Carew and Pogue
These fantastic faces!
A nearby roller rink
A fabulous Swiss Chalet
And churches built for all kinds of denominations including Catholic, Episcopal, Methodist Episcopal, Evangelical Lutheran, Baptist, and Presbyterian along with some you do not always see like New Thought and Christian Science.

If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment or email.

Memorial Day at Spring Grove

2009-05-26T19:38:00.003-04:00

I went to Spring Grove for the Spring Grove and the Civil War tour. There was a nice crowd and it was just one event taking place over the Memorial Day Weekend. The Enquirer actually had a nice article about the tour.

Festival Month!

2009-05-26T12:20:00.006-04:00

Taste of Cincinnati - Day 3

Rain sort of dampened the late afternoon of Day 3 of Taste of Cincinnati but let up for a pretty nice evening.

This dude was passed out.