In one of those interesting coincidences of history, we find that at least four historical homes are now on the real estate market in College Hill. They are 6013/6015 Cary Avenue, 1511 Groesbeck Road; 1422 Hillcrest Road and 5822 Belmont Avenue. In one of those interesting coincidences of history, we find that at least four historical homes are now on the real estate market in College Hill. They are 6013/6015 Cary Avenue, 1511 Groesbeck Road; 1422 Hillcrest Road and 5822 Belmont Avenue.

To be a steward of the stories of our community represented through a historical home can be a great joy to a homeowner as well as a gift to our neighborhood. This Sunday is your opportunity to explore this possibility, either for yourself or for and with your friends. The homeowners have been invited to participate in an Open House on Sunday, October 2, and at least three of the four owners have agreed to open their homes to visitors from noon to 2:00 PM.

As we grow as a community into a new millennium, valuing and understanding our roots is of the utmost importance. "From its founding, College Hill has been a place for culture, education and liberty,” says Gail Finke, author of the newly released book, Images of America: College Hill (2004). (Gail’s book is on sale at the College Hill Coffee Shop, Schwartz’ Jewelers and Visconti-Lechler Pharmacy, as well as at local booksellers and at amazon.com.)

Drew Asimus, owner of two such historical homes in College Hill, has a special regard for these sorts of dwellings, as home renovation is also his business. Drew says that the styling and character, the quality, the workmanship and materials used in historical homes cannot be found in new homes. “Carrying on the legacy of an older home is an honor. It is intriguing to consider how the previous owners experienced living in these spaces.”

Read on for some interesting facts about the unusual features found in these homes and the folks who lived in them.

A “cold box” to store refrigerated items is built into the wall of the kitchen under a window and a trap door hiding a galvanized tin shoe storage compartment is still intact at 6013 Cary. So is an art piece--a European “bas relief” fireplace mantel--and French and pocket doors. The house’s garage once contained a sort of metal circular plate that functioned like a giant ”lazy susan" allowing a second car to be easily moved to another side of the garage.

Albert T. Beck (1864-1927), who owned William Beck and Sons Company, which specialized in theatrical and masquerade costumes, was the first owner of 6013 Cary Ave. Long-time College Hill Presbyterian Church member, Carol Baker, lived here from 1944 to 1954. She recalls that part of the basement served as a dark room for her father, who was an amateur photographer. Jane and Larry Austing, parents of Cathy Herring, an art teacher for many years at St. Clare School in College Hill, lived there from 1954 to 1966. Kathy remembers she and her siblings and neighborhood children making a clover chain that went completely around the large house.

Above is an earlier view of the south side of 6013 Cary. Carol Baker (2nd from the left) is pictured with her family.

A magnificent carriage house in excellent condition accompanies the property at 1511 Groesbeck. Built in 1855, the home has three fireplaces, ten-foot ceilings, built-in cupboards and twelve-inch baseboards. Ancient trees shade the house.

Originally owned and built by Sarah B. Brooks in 1856, 1511 Groesbeck was a school for girls. Adjacent to the property was the Ohio Female College (now housing Children’s Hospital) where Sarah was a faculty member. 1511 Groesbeck was later purchased by Walter T. Gray in the 1890’s. Walter is recognized as being the first in Cincinnati to grow flowers under glass, which helps to explain the fine horticultural businesses that still run along Gray Rd.

Here is the carriage house at 1511 Groesbeck Road.

A wallpaper mural dating from the 1920’s complete with peacocks and gardens hangs in the dining room at 1422 Hillcrest. There is still a buzzer under the floor to call servants, a working elevator and an “enunciator system” which works like an intercom. The original front porch faced Hamilton Avenue and had a view of the Ohio River. The widow's walk at the very top of the home provides that view today.

The original owner of 1422 Hillcrest, Daniel Buell Pierson, founded a Cumminsville lumber company in the 1850’s and helped to provide the funds to build Grace Episcopal Church. Long before Hillcrest Rd. ever existed, the original house faced Hamilton Ave. Two major renovations of the home have been accomplished, the last one in 1924.

The home at 1422 Hillcrest was originally built in the 1860's. Here is a pre-1920's view. Can you figure out how to match this up with the way the house looks today?

An additional basement area at 5822 Belmont Avenue still contains a hiding place for slaves who made their way to freedom through the Underground Railroad.

Laura Chace, College Hill resident and librarian at the Cincinnati Historical Society, says that her father spoke of William Flamm and believed he once resided at 5822 Belmont Avenue. “Billy” as he was affectionately known, owned the grocery store a few doors down on the corner of Llanfair and Belmont Ave. The building sits up close to the sidewalk, and now houses apartments.

The information collected for this article was gathered from a variety of documents and interviews. To verify the validity of every detail however, would be impossible, as some information is “according to tradition” and may appear somewhat differently in written documents.

"Perhaps the saddest part of my research", Peggy adds, "in gathering information for this article, was discovering how many of College Hill's original magnificent homes and botanical gardens were torn down or black topped over to build apartment buildings and parking lots. Many gracious and wonderfully-built homes thankfully remain, giving us glimpses of the rich layers that make up our history."

Elizabeth Sherwood, President of the College Hill Forum, says that many present at a recent Forum meeting were in favor of creating a newly formed historical society. If you would be interested in this endeavor, email Kate Weldishofer at mklweld@fuse.net. If there is sufficient interest, look for a meeting announcement in the College Hill eNewsletter.

The original College Hill Historical Society, first established in 1979, had 200 members at one time. Betty Smiddy, former president of the society and past president of the College Hill Forum, says the historical society held house tours, presented lectures and slide shows, issued a newsletter and published two books, Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory (the Black History of College Hill) and A Little Piece of Paradise...College Hill, Ohio (a comprehensive book of the history of College Hill). Betty edited these books and plans are being made now to have them reprinted. You can see the text (but not the pictures) of the latter here or here.

We are pleased to report that the PNC Bank has graciously agreed to store the documents of College Hill History to prevent them from being irretrievably lost.