Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Drugs to Pub - Riverside Drive, East End

I came across this photo while looking through the wonderful collection at the University of Cincinnati's Digital Resource Commons.
Highway Dept. / 5-26-31 / Eastern Ave & Vance St. Nos 2062-64
Taken in 1931 as part of a street reconstruction project that lasted from the 1930's until the 1950's, the photos came from the City Engineer's office. I just had to know if these buildings were still standing and indeed, one (on the left) still is. However, let's start in the past...
1869 Titus Map
Source
This area is now called the East End, but in 1869, the land between Marivale Street and 2154 Riverside Drive was called Vanceville, in honor of the major landholder, James Vance. In 1870, at present day 2062 Riverside Drive, lived Charlotte Kline, a widow, M. Rigney, a laborer, George Snyder, a carpenter and John Whitehead, a laborer. In 1875, a pilor, most likely a steamboat pilot, lived here along with a clerk named Charles Tealen. 2021 Update - I had the wrong Front Street! Directories in 1870 and 1875 did not cover this section of Cincinnati.
1891 Sanborn Insurance Map - Source
In 1878, a druggist, Charles W. Phillips, began his store here. It continued past his death in 1908, with his wife Laura taking over the business until 1914. In 1916, Herbert Duval opened a grocery store, but that only lasted for a few years. William Henderson had a barber shop here in 1920, but by 1925 he was gone as well. In 1930, The Burke Grocery Company, a chain of stores, had a location here and that is what we see in the first photo. Look below to see the manager, Polly Gwynn, standing in the doorway, watching the photographer. You can also see some of the goods for sale, including Procter and Gamble products.
Close-up of photo above
Source
Another view with 2062 Eastern/Riverside on the far left with two gentlemen looking out the door
Looking east towards Vance Street - Source
Close-up the above
The grocery store closed sometime before 1935 and by 1940, Mrs. Bessie Sharpe opened a restaurant. Her daughter Carrie continued to run the place in 1947. Sometime between 1947 and 1958, the Du-Drop Inn opened, ran by Eva Slaughter. The name stuck until the early 2000's. However, the street name changed from Eastern Avenue to Riverside Drive.
Sanborn Insurance Maps from 1917, 1930, and 1950
Sources (1917, 1950); 1930
1999-2003 Hamilton County Auditor
By 2005, Maribelle's Tavern opened here and was very successful, to the point of needing to move to a new location in 2012 (now in Oakley).
Note the property to the right had been demolished.
In the summer of 2012, BrewRiver Gastropub opened to great reviews. According to their Facebook page, it seems that business is still going well for this East End building with a long history of serving the public.
Source

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