preservationrestoration

Middletown's newest piece of public art is the Veteran's Memorial located in Woodside Cemetery. The large black granite wall bears the names of Middletown Veternans. Mort Kuntsler, a renowed civil war artist donated existing artwork and new designs to be included on the wall. <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures024.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> Once of the memorial markers <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures025.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> Up-close detail of artwork <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures026.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

In addition to the artwork at its entrance (show above in b&w), Miami University Middletown is also home to serveral other pieces: The Big Red Bird (at the entrance of the nature trail) <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures020.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> Light Rapid (near Levey Hall--newest piece on campus) I think it is ugly <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures018.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> Sylink <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures019.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> Don't remember the name of this piece located outside of Dave Finkleman Auditorium...it is a water sculpture <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures022.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> There is one other piece that I couldn't find

I'm pretty sure they have moved out of Troy. I know from Crain's that there are several interested in the property including Madison Marquette. I think those interested are more interested in the land than the building. The building will not survived....no need for that much additional vacant office space in Troy.

Fat Fish Blue closed because the food there was just nasty. I ate at the Bamboo Club there once and thought it was an over-priced PF Changs. Not surprised it has closed. Where's the closest mall to Newport? You would think that the population of Newport and Covington could support a mall, but the parking situation is just bad.

Damn...you know I purchased 100 shares of Delphi stock at 19.50 when it first went public.....not a lot of money, but i didn't have a lot to spend back then...probably a good thing LOL. Hmmm maybe I should buy more now that is under $2/share. *sigh* oh well.

OUCH!!! ... hey I'm from Middletown and can pronounce it right....must have been those 8 years of french...but, yeah it made me chuckle because my dad f**ks up the name. Beau Verry is how he says it. LOL

Actually its not white...it is more of antique white or cream color. My dad and I sure got a treat last weekend when I was in Middletown. We had gone downtown to Middfest and I suggested we try and see if Beau Verre / Riordan was open. It was..and we got an official tour from the company's owner....top to bottom. They really have done a nice job with the building and have put a lot of money into it. Only the ground/first floor is completed. The first floor contains the studio, showroom, space for classrooms and a small gallery for artists to show off their work. The basement will house a their retail business where they will sell stained glass supplies. The upper floors are also incomplete, but the brick walls are all exposed. I know they've talked about making apts/condos on the third floor. The second floor will house offices and a potentially a museum. Linda Mooreman is a very nice lady, and she spent a great deal of time with us talking about their business and what they've done to the building and what they've got planned. They also plan to replace the windows...major kudos to them for that one! If you are ever in Middletown...stop by :)

Yeah things aren't that great here in metro Detroit. Ann Arbor is surviving because of the U, medical center and Pfizer and I don't know if A2 is included as part of the Detroit numbers. As for Detroit.. Ford, GM, DCX, Visteon, Delphi, Kmart, Franks Nursey, Collins and Aikenman, Farmer Jacks...to just to name a few. The housing market is even scarier.

With all the recent postings on Hamilton's historic neighborhoods, I thought it would snap some shots while of Middletown's Historic South Main Street District to post. Due to time constraints, I wasn't able to get all the structures and some of the quality of the pictures aren't the best. About the district. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Contains more than 80 structures in a nine-block area. Structures built mid to late 19th century to early 20th century. The oldest home in the district (and also the second oldest home in Middletown), built in 1827, caught fire last Christmas and burned to the ground. Other promiment structures in the district include the Sorg Opera House and the old First Baptist Church, built by a world-renowed architect whose name is escaping me at the moment. Much to my surprise, this is the only area in Middletown listed on the Register. The biggest and most ornate home in the district belonged to Paul J. Sorg, Middletown's first millonaire and one of the 400 richest men in the U.S. while he was alive. Businessman and Congressman. 1887 with additions in 1902. <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures009.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> The John B. Tytus Mansion was built in 1868 by another individual, but purchased by Tytus. Tytus was the son of a prominent paper businessman who went to work for ARMCO and developed the continous method of rolling steel, which revolutionied teh steel industry thoughout the world. It is considered on the most important inventions of the 20th century. Front of house <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures051.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> Carriage house in back <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures054.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> Calvin Verity Home Calvin Verity was the son of George M. Verity, founder of ARMCO. Calvin's son, C. W. Verity, was raised in this home built in 1885 and remodeled in 1917. C. W. Verity went on to lead ARMCO and later served as Secretary of Commerce under President Reagan. George Verity is credited with having designed the fireplace in the home. <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures007.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> J. K. Thomas Home (Winchester House) J. K. Thomas was founder of the Thomas-Wardlow Paper company and one of the founders of Wooster College in Ohio. 1878 Front of House <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures011.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> Italianate Tower <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures012.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> Side of House <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures008.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> Daniel McCally House McCally was part of the Wilson-McCally Tobacco Company. House built in 1865 <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures013.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> Leibee Home Leibee was a prominent merchant in Middletown. This house, built in 1872, had been used as a nursing home for several of years, but is currently being converted back into a single family residence. <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/76b16a66.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> J. Iseminger Home The newest home built in the district (1927), Iseminger owned the Caldwell-Iseminger building company, which is responsible for building several structures in Ohio including the Lucas County Courthouse and one of the building's on The Ohio State University campus. This home is one of my favorites. <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures041.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> Theodore Martson / Phillip Reinartz Home--1878 <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures010.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> John Oglesby Home 1890s...Oglesby family involved with Oglesby/Barnitz Bank and Ogelsby Paper and Hydraulic Company <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures033.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> Thomas Woodward Home - 1892 <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures053.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures002.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> This next home belonged to a member of the Sabin's family, who operated a paper company in Middletown. <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures003.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> This home needs some work <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures050.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> Series of random homes <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures044.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures042.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures045.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures036.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures027.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures047.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures048.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> They've been working on this house forever, or so it seems. <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures038.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> Old South Park Fountain Old South Park is the site of Old South School, which was one of the first school building's in Middletown and later served as the home to Fenwick Catholic High School. It burned to the ground and a park was created in its place, including this fountain which I believe was once located at Woodside Cemetery. <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/SouthMainandSculptures039.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

B.A. Major in Public Relations and Minor in French Language and Marketing - Eastern Michigan University (1997) MBA Wayne State Universitiy 2001 Wayne State talk about an "urban" university ;)

What are Hamilton's three other districts? Is Lindenwald one of them?

Love those old churches. Thanks for the pics.

Looks like a big Cheerio ;-p

Middletown has some interesting works on the its Miami University campus. I'll have to take a couple of pics next time I'm in town. Until then, here is the piece of public art located at the University's entrance off of Breiel. It's called Guardians of the Path by Robert Gaston Sorry about the quality of the pic...I found it on a web site: <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/01038.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

Thanks for the all the photos of works in downtown Cleveland MayDay. I haven't spent much time in Cleveland, so I've not seen a lot of them. The Flat's bridge piece is really cool.

I know I've been through downtown Mason, I just cannot remember too much about it at the moment. Part of having a successfull downtown is having residential development close by to support it. I would imagine Mason has this. In addition, with all the tourist attractions and events in the Mason area, you would think downtown Mason could be a destination. But people have to know about it, and that's why marketing and promotion are so crucial.

Are you caving in Greymouth? I did the cave excursion when Greymouth back in Dec. 2003. Pretty awesome experience, having to trek through a Rain Forest first to get to the cave...which is a river cave...went tubing in it...

Well he could be trying to leave town since Quicken Loans has come under fire....

Some new pics taken this weekend...see what I mean about the upper windows..... <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/bvr1.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/bvr2.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y265/mdb751/brv3.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

I actually don't mind the Settler's Walk development. I like the design standards in place. If it's gonna be a shopping center, it might as well look like a nice one.

Yeah, West Chester is soooooooo "urban". Please. I have nothing against WC, but a glorified shopping complex made to look like a downtown, fancy townhouses and an public square hardly make it "urban."

LOL....I'm not sitting on a couch. I'm sitting inside the pyramid looking casino in vegas (can't remember the change)...I think its something concrete in the lobby.

Great pics.....I love Cincy :-D

This rendering is fugly. The last thing I want to see when I'm on a "lake" is a big ole freaking water tower.

I am happy to report that Beau Verre/Riordan Studios have moved into their new home. Sorry to report, I have no pics...yet! Perhaps this upcoming weekend. An interesting comment about the interior renovations. It appears that the studio's owners purchased several wood panels, shelving, doors and light fixtures from the recent demolished McKinley Elementary School, which was built in the early 1930s. McKinley was a beautiful looking school with top notch finishes, including two Tiffany chandliers. The Moorman's did not get these however. They will hang in the new McKinley school. They used the items purchased as part of their interior renovations.