Thursday, January 30, 2014

Why So Wide - Liberty Street

This of photo of Liberty Street looking west from Walnut Street in 1955 was recently posted on Facebook.

Here is the same view today.
Google Streetview
This big difference got me wondering when and why Liberty Street was widened. The great people at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County sent me many articles which helped to explain. But let's step back in time to find out how Liberty Street got its name.

When Cincinnati was incorporated in 1819, the northern edge of the city stopped at Liberty Street, then called Northern Row. Anything north of this line was not subject to the city laws, and became known as the Northern Liberties, where saloons, gambling and other institutions, such as Catholics (just as Brother Tim of St. Francis Seraph), found their freedom.
1838 Gest & Haviland Map
By 1838, Northern Row/Liberty Street (both names appear on the map above) ran from Freeman Avenue to Highland Avenue. Already this road was an important west to east thoroughfare.


In 1869, the street now ran from the Mill Creek to Highland Avenue, but a bridge over the creek was not constructed until 1891, after over 14 years of discussions. At the time, it was the largest bridge constructed by the county at the expense of $135,000 ($3,397,058 in 2012 dollars with inflation).
Cincinnati Enquirer; Oct 14, 1891; pg. 4
However the viaduct was only wide enough for wagon and foot traffic. Just two years later, complaints were lodged that the bridge was not able to accommodate streetcars, poorly maintained and unsafe. By 1908, calls were made for a new bridge but repairs were made instead. It is unclear from my research that photo below from 1927 is the same bridge. The bridge was demolished before 1949, possibly around 1929 with the increased rail traffic from Union Terminal.
Looking west over the Liberty Street Viaduct. Source
It was removed in 1929.
1929; Liberty Street looking west from Highland Avenue - Source
Liberty Street began most of its widening projects starting in 1937, when the automobile began its rise as a preferred method of transportation. The street was recognized as a direct route to Cincinnati Ball Park (not yet called Crosley Field). It was noted that Liberty Street was already being widened between John and Linn Streets with the construction of the Laurel Homes project. (Cincinnati Times-Star, 9/1/1937)

In 1942, maps were drawn to allow Liberty Street to become a six-lane road of 84 to 91 feet between John Street and Broadway however action was not taken until 14 years later.
Cincinnati Enquirer, 3/14/1956, pg. 1
In the map below, you can see where the old properties were located that were purchased and demolished to make room for this wider road, constructed at 70 feet. It took over 4 years for the project to be completed. It was noted in an article in the Cincinnati Enquirer on February 6, 1958 that Liberty Street was an important connector between the Millcreek Expressway (I-75) and the Northeast Expressway (I-71).

2014 CAGIS Map between Vine and Sycamore - Source
You can see the red outlines of the parcels demolished on the south side to make way for the wider Liberty Street. This occurred along the length of the whole street.
Liberty Street at center. Aerial comparision from rail yard to Sycamore Street
Top, 1949, Source mgsmith Flickr
Bottom - 2014 CAGIS
In 1968, complaints were lodged by residents of the Pendleton area, when Liberty was straightened in order to connect to Reading Road. Many north bound streets were blocked off between Sycamore and Reading Roads, leaving the neighborhood feeling disconnected and Liberty Street unsafe for school children to cross. Their pleas fell on deaf ears.
2014 CAGIS Map between Sycamore and Reading. Lower map shows the parcel outlines.
The following streets were disconnected
Cogswell Alley, Mansfield Street, Bunker Alley, Broadway, Spring Street (cut short), Pendleton Street, Dandridge Street, and Artist Alley
Liberty Street at center. Aerial comparison from John Street to Reading Road
Top - 1949; Bottom - 2004; Source mgsmith Flickr
As reported by Building Cincinnati, Liberty Street is now under consideration for a "road diet" which would reduce the with of the road. This would allow the northern and southern sections of Over-the-Rhine to feel connected once again, improve the streetscapes and add bike lanes. Everything old is new again!

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

The History and Names of 1313 Vine Street

This building has a long and interesting history. Some call it Tivoli, others Cosmopolitan Hall, still others remember it as the Warehouse.

1313 Vine Street in the center with the rounded windows and fire escape
Photo Credit - 3CDC
The history begins around 1850, when Peter Noll started the Cincinnati Brewery here. The building is estimated to have been constructed around 1855 and four years later, Jacob F. Flattich operated a "coffee house", which was a place to gather and partake of drinks of all kinds. In 1863, Peter Dilg took over operations and the next year, it was listed as a saloon in the city directories. From 1866 until 1870, Edward Koppe ran the saloon. In 1870, the following groups used the hall as a meeting place:
A.O. Good Fellows - Washington Lodge, No. 1. Meets every Thursday evening at 469 Vine
“ Humania Lodge, No. 8, Meets every Friday evening at 469 Vine
Seven Wise Men - Cincinnatus Conclave No. 1, Meets every Wednesday evening at 469 Vine street
“ Rueckert Conclave, No. 2. Meets every Sunday evening at 469 Vine street
“ Germania Encampment, No. 1. Meets every first and third Wednesday in each month, at 469 Vine

More operators over the year were:
1870-1874 - Albert Forster
1875 - Peter Brehm
1876 - now called Saenger Hall, Herman Heyne

In 1877, Frank Rottger named the building Tivoli and the name stuck, even through changes in management, until 1885. In 1880 William Riedlin was the manager and many more groups found it at great place to hold their meetings:
CINCINNATI LIEDERKRANZ. meets every Tuesday at 469 Vine
CINCINNATI SAENGERBUND. meets first and third Wednesdays in each month at 469 Vine
DRUIDEN SAENGERCHOR , meets every Thursday evening, at 469 Vine
GERMANIA MAENNERCHOR, meets Thursday evening at 469 Vine
GOODFELLOW SAENGERCHOR. meets every Monday at 469 Vine
KNIGHTS OF ST. MARTIN, meets every Monday evening at 469 Vine
KNIGHTS OF ST. THOMAS, meets every Friday evening at 469 Vine
MUTUAL AID SOCIETY No. 6, meets at 469 Vine
PLATTDEUTSCHE VOGELSCHIETEN GESELLSCHUP, meets first Monday in every month, at 469 Vine
SCHWEIZER MAENNERCHOR, meets at 469 Vine
A.O. Good Fellows - Humania Lodge No. 8. Meets second and fourth Wednesday evenings, at 469 Vine
A. O. U. W. - Herman Lodge No. 15. Meets second and fourth Thursday evenings at 469 Vine street
Heptasophs or Seven Wise Men - Cincinnatus Conclave No. 1. Meets first and third Wednesday evening at 469 Vine street
Independent Order Foresters - Court Cincinnati, No. 3. Meets first and third Fridays at 469 Vine
Knights of Honor - Herman Lodge No. 92. Meets first and third Friday evening at 469 Vine

1887 Sanborn Insurance Map - Source
Between 1884 and 1886, F. Schaepperle called it "Music Hall" but Fred Schaub changed it to Central Union Hall from 1887 until 1891 and rightfully so with the number of groups meeting there in 1890:
EMMET GUARDS, meet every Thursday at 469 Vine
GOODFELLOW SAENGERCHOR, meets every Tuesday at 469 Vine
HAUDEGEN UNTERSTUETZUNGS VEREIN, meets second and fourth Saturdays of each month at 469 Vine
HIBERNIAN RIFLES, meet every Monday at 469 Vine
INTERNATIONAL WORKINGMEN'S ASSOCIATION, meets second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 469 Vine
LIGA ZUR WAHRUNG DER BUERGERRECHTE, meets second and fourth Fridays of each month at 469 Vine
PRIVATE POLICE ASSOCIATION, meets first and third Fridays at 469 Vine
REGULAR ARMY UNION, meets first and third Thursdays of each month at 469 Vine
VICTORIA LODGE (WOMEN'S), meets the third Wednesday in each month, at 469 Vine
WASHINGTON (WOMEN'S) LODGE NO, 1, meets last Sunday in each month at 469 Vine
AMALGAMATED COUNCIL OF BUILDING TRADES, meets at 469 Vine
BRICKLAYERS' UNION No. 18, meets every Monday evening at 469 Vine
BROTHERHOOD OF PAINTERS AND DECORATORS, meets every Tuesday at 469 Vine
A.O. Goodfellows - Jefferson Lodge No. 4, Meets first and third Friday evenings at 469 Vine.
“ Humania Lodge No, 8. Meets first and third Monday evenings, at 469 Vine
“ Guttenberg Lodge No. 10. Meets second and fourth Wednesday evenings at 469 Vine
AOUW - Wm. Tell Lodge No. 7, Meets second and fourth Mondays at 469 vine.
“ Herman Lodge No. 15. Meets second and fourth Thursday evenings at 469 Vine
“ Security Lodge No. 31. Meets second and fourth Tuesday evenings at 469 Vine
American Legion of Honor - Banner Council No. 405. Meets first and third Wednesdays of each month at 469 Vine
Knights of Honor - Herman Lodge No, 92, Meets second and fourth Friday evenings at 469 Vine
“ Concordia Lodge, No, 865. Meets first and third Wednesday evenings at 469 Vine
“ Aurora Lodge No, 3213. Meets first and third Thursdays of each month at 469 Vine
Knights and Ladies of Honor - Security Lodge No. 1350. Meets, first and third Thursdays of each month at 469 Vine
Northern Legion of Honor - Cincinnati Council No, 57. Meets second and fourth Mondays of each month at 469 Vine

1887 Sanborn Insurance Map - Source
And yet another name not listed in the city directories - Germania Hall
1892 - 1893 - Charles Groshell called it New Lincoln Hall and advertised it for halls for balls and parties
1895 - 1896 - Christian Polster is listed as operating a saloon

Wendel Meyer took over operations in 1897 and named it Cosmopolitan Hall. He also had the building remodeled and added bowling alleys.
Cincinnati Enquirer; Apr. 25, 1897
Cincinnati Enquirer; June 12, 1897
In 1900, the city directory had the following listing:
MEYER WENDEL, Cosmopolitan Hall and Bowling Alleys, (Formerly Union Hall); Halls for Societies, Lodges, &c.; Connected with First-class Dancing Hall, 1313 Vine

And lots of groups were using the halls:
Ancient Order of United Workmen; Chairman Conference Committee meets first Monday of each month at 1313 Vine
Cincinnati Retail Grocers' Association meets first and third Tuesday of each month at 1313 Vine
EUTERPE CLUB, meets every Sunday at 1313 Vine
GARFIELD LADIES' VETERAN MUTUAL AID ASSOCIATION, meets second and fourth Thursdays of each month, at 1313 Vine
GRANT FRAUEN AND JUNG FRAUEN VEREIN, meets first Sunday of each month at 1313 Vine
LADIES OF THE RED CLOAK SOCIETY, meets third Wednesday of each month at 1313 Vine
LINCOLN FRAUEN UNTERSTUETZUNGS VEREIN, meets third Sunday afternoon of each month at 1313 Vine
SCHWESTERN BUND UNTERSTUETZUNGS VEREIN, meets fourth Sunday afternoon in each month at 1313 Vine.
WILLICH MUTUAL AID, meets second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 1313 Vine
BRASS MOLDERS' UNION No. 119, meets second and fourth Fridays of each month at 1313 Vine.
HORSE SHOERS' UNION No. 12, meets second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 1313 Vine
IRON MOLDERS' UNION No. 3, (Stove Molders), meets first and third Thursdays of each month at 1313 Vine.
METAL POLISHERS', BUFFERS', PLATERS' & BRASS WORKERS' UNION No. 68, meets first and third Thursdays of each month at 1313 Vine
POTTERS' UNION, meets first and third Wednesdays of each month at 1313 Vine
PRESSFEEDERS' AND HELPERS UNION No 17, meets first and third Fridays in each month at 1313 Vine
Ladies of the Union Veteran Legion, Auxiliary No. 12-Meets fourth Wednesday of each month at 2 p.m. at 1313 Vine
August Willich Camp No, 515—Meets first and third Fridays of each month at 1313 Vine
A. O. U. W.
“ Conference Committee meets first and third Monday evenings of each month at 1313 Vine.
“ Schiller Lodge No. 3-Meets second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 1313 Vine.
“ Wm. Tell Lodge No. 7—Meets first and third Tuesdays of each month at 1313 Vine
“ Cincinnati Lodge No. 19—Meets second and fourth Fridays of each month at 1313 Vine.
“ Webster Lodge No. 81—Meets second and fourth Saturdays of each month at 1313 Vine
Knights of Honor - Excelsior Lodge No. 4042—Meets first and third Mondays of each month at 1313 Vine
Knights and Ladies of Honor Ariadne Lodge No. 86—Meets second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 1313 Vine
Nation Union - W. T. Sherman Council No. 484—Meets first and third Fridays of each month at 1313 Vine
Knights of the Maccabees - Cincinnati Tent No. 365—Meets second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at 1313 Vine.
Order of Mutual Protection - Queen City Lodge No. 167—Meets second and fourth Sunday afternoons of each month at 1313 Vine
Foresters of America - Losantiville Court No, 62—Meets second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 1313 Vine

Even "Mother" Jones, Mary Harris Jones, well-know labor and community organizer made a visit here in 1902.
Cincinnati Enquirer; Oct. 16, 1902; pg. 12 
Wendel Meyer had his own tokens for his establishment, a common currency of the day and useful for advertising.

Source

Source
By 1910, Wendel Meyer had passed away and Frank Duttenhofer was the proprietor, but he kept the Cosmopolitan name. He did have his own tokens pressed as well.

Source
Duttenhofer ran the Cosmopolitan through the 1920's and it remained open through Prohibition as a successful meeting hall, but also a well-known speakeasy. Duttenhoffer ran into a bit of trouble with the liquor laws prior to Prohibition, as you can read in this article from the Cincinnati Post on April 22, 1918. (Thanks to the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County for the articles.)

By 1930, Joseph Rosenberger is the proprietor and installed the Coral Gables Indoor Golf inside 1313 Vine Street. In this year, 19 groups of various types were meeting here.
1904-1930 Sanborn Insurance Map - Source
Through at least 1944, this building remained Cosmopolitan Hall, retaining the same name for almost 50 years. In 1947, the building was no longer a place of recreation, and Bellonby Furniture Store, run by Ray E. Bellonby, took over. He is the one who added the marble name in the entry.
Source - Digging Cincinnati History
By 1956, furniture was replaced with Welsbach Sales Co, dealers in electrical equipment and supplies. There is a gap in my information from this time until about 1990, when Hollywood came to Cincinnati to film scenes for the movie, A Rage in Harlem inside the hall. Then around 1992 a nightclub, The Warehouse, opened here.
Cincinnati Enquirer; July 7, 1995; pg. 34, weekend
The Warehouse remained open for at least 10 years, lasting through the riots of 2002, but it closed in 2004. For approximately the last 10 years, the building has been vacant. 
The paint scheme on the walls are left over from the movie, A Rage In Harlem. Source - Digging Cincinnati History
Owned by 3CDC since 2006, the building was opened for tours and stories by American Legacy Tours from 2010 until 2012, including their Queen City Is Haunted Tour, where paranormal activity was observed. Renovations plans are now underway to convert the building into office space for Cintrifuse. Since the building has qualified for historic tax credits, care will be used to maintain the building's character while updating it for modern use. The following pictures by Nathan Hammitt were taken on a tour in 2012. Be sure to check out more on OTR Blog. They are amazing!
2nd Floor Ballroom/Dance Floor
Source - Nathan Hammitt, OTR Blog
View of one of the upper floors, looking toward the front of the building
Source - Nathan Hammitt, OTR Blog
Also, be sure to read this article from Soapbox, from 2009, which outline much of the same history shared here. They were also able to explore the two sub-basements, where beer was brewed and/or stored in the building's past.
Credit - Scott-Beseler for Soapbox

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Mt. Adams Pilgrim Chapel

Prior to 1886, Mt. Adams was primarily a Catholic community and Protestants had to go down the hill into the basin to worship at the first Pilgrim Chapel that was located near the corner of 5th and Lock Street (present day southbound I-471). In spring of that year, the members of the Pilgrim Chapel decided to construct a chapel on Mt. Adams. The cornerstone was laid on November 6, 1886:
Cincinnati Enquirer; Nov 6, 1886; pg. 16
The building was finished in 1887 and according the church history, some of the funds and services were provided by their Catholic neighbors.
1891 Sanborn Insurance Map - Source
2011 Google Streetview
In 1956, one of their own came back after being raised at this church to become the pastor.
Cincinnati Post; June 9, 1956; p5
Rev. Thomas Sizer did not remain stay long as pastor. By the church's 77th anniversary in 1963, the church's small but loyal congregation was served by visiting ministers. The dwindling members, down in 12 in 1979, caused the church to close. However, just 15 months later, Rev. Richard Sinclair, then interim executive presbyter, stirred up enough interest to re-open the church. Regarding the Mt. Adams' nightlife, he was quoted as saying, "I've met some of the bar owners. I tell them I'm going to save the ones who get drunk the night before." (Cincinnati Post; June 20, 1981; Pg. 6B)
1950 Sanborn Insurance Map - Source
In 1987, the church became financially independent from the Presbytery of Cincinnati, even though the congregation numbered only 35. The church shared their space with other groups, such as the non-denominational Christian All Saints Church and an Alcoholics Anonymous group. In 1999, the building was purchased from the Presbytery of Cincinnati and is now part of the United Church of Christ.

Today the Mt. Adams Pilgrim Chapel continues to offer services and it also a popular choice for weddings. The following pictures were obtained from their website.

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980