"Empty Spaces", eh? Makes me kind of scared to go in the house...

 

just an updated article from cleveland.com with a lot of the same info as previous stories, but some good new pics and one snarky comment: "Who stays in Painesville?" c'mon "ExhaustedNihilist", be nice! :laugh:

 

Steele Mansion, Northeast Ohio's newest luxury inn, is one for the history books

 

 

http://www.cleveland.com/travel/index.ssf/2015/10/painesvilles_steele_mansion_no.html

 

PAINESVILLE, Ohio – They didn't have mattresses this comfortable back in the 1860s. Not glamour baths either, or luxury linens or flat-screen TVs.

 

"None of us really wants to go back in time," admitted innkeeper Carol Shamakian, whose new Steele Mansion in Painesville is a near-perfect example of historic renovation done right.

 

But even she draws the line at historical accuracy in the bedroom.

 

Nineteenth-century beds are small and uncomfortable, said Shamakian, who outfitted her 16 guestrooms with contemporary king and queen-sized beds purchased from local retailers.

 

"It's the best of the old and the new," she said.

 

just an updated article from cleveland.com with a lot of the same info as previous stories, but some good new pics and one snarky comment: "Who stays in Painesville?" c'mon "ExhaustedNihilist", be nice! :laugh:

 

I always enjoyed the updates posted to this thread. The final product looks great.

Steele Mansion is getting some good local media exposure lately, at least from Fox 8 Cleveland.  First a segment on their "Road Trip" series last week; and tomorrow sportscaster Kenny Crumpton will be broadcasting from there beginning at 6:55am (have no idea what the sports tie-in is. Maybe Lake Erie College across the street?)

 

http://fox8.com/2015/10/22/painesville-road-trip-steele-mansion/

Steele Mansion is getting some good local media exposure lately, at least from Fox 8 Cleveland.  First a segment on their "Road Trip" series last week; and tomorrow sportscaster Kenny Crumpton will be broadcasting from there beginning at 6:55am (have no idea what the sports tie-in is. Maybe Lake Erie College across the street?)

 

http://fox8.com/2015/10/22/painesville-road-trip-steele-mansion/

 

I don't know how I got the impression that Kenny Crumpton does sports (aside from my poor reading comprehension skills). He doesn't, right? It's not like someone couldn't have at least corrected me (Oops, forgot. No one watches Fox :wink:). Anyway, it looks as though Fox 8 is practically "partnering" with the Steele Mansion at this point--lol

 

 

This is kind of amusing (from Facebook), probably sent by some disgruntled "preservationist" who probably doesn't know what he or she is talking about ("burnt umber turkey"--I think I had that for Thanksgiving once):

 

We received an anonymous letter in the mail stating that we "ruined the woodwork" in the mansion by painting it.

 

The woodwork was finished with a solid stain, not painted for two reasons:

1. The original woodwork was in such deteriorated condition that a clear finish was not possible.

2. More importantly, it was our goal to return the mansion as closely as possible to its 1867 condition. We found a can of "burnt umber turkey" stain hidden in a wall which was the original color of the mansion woodwork. Sherwin Williams duplicated it for us. We didn't pick the finish, George Steele did!

 

We sometimes hear about folks who know just enough about a given topic to be dangerous. (mostly to themselves) In the Mid-Victorian era from about 1850-1870, it was common to faux grain less expensive woods to look like rich exotic grained mahogany, rosewood, or highly figured burls. The tradesmen who did this artistic work were really good at their work because to an untrained eye  the faux wood finish looks like the real thing. Staining with a darker stain was another method of finishing as noted in the Steele Mansion. Rosewood veneers were sometimes used for prominent public areas in a mansion (like the entry and formal parlor) as were other highly figured woods. But supplies of imported Rosewood dwindled by the late 1860's. By the mid-1870's a cottage industry of furnishing millwork primarily in American Black Walnut had developed as well as a domestic mass-produced furniture industry using Walnut and it's burls and veneers. By the mid-1880's the American Walnut forests were becoming depleted so increasingly Oak or Ash were being substituted as less expensive alternatives. By 1890, Oak dominated the American millwork and furniture markets and when finished with Orange flake shellac, it has the classic "Golden Oak" look. Often quarter-sawn, or informally called "Tiger Oak" due to the stripes appearing in the grain, was immensely popular from the mid-1890's going into the early 1900's. Increasingly after 1900 Oak lumber prices continued to increase as supply started declining and this gave rise to so called painted "Cottage furniture" in the teens and twenties with clear finished pieces usually clad in veneers over pine or poplar. Birch was also popular in those years because it easily takes a stain and can imitate other more expensive woods. In summary, it appears careful note was made during the renovation/restoration to replicate original finishes and I accept their findings as accurate. For what its worth, I worked quite a few years restoring antique furniture and have devoted a lot of time to study of the topic. I'm also a preservationist and an old house nut...er, "enthusiast" so that too has long been a topic of interest.

I found this great photo of the mansion. Just try to pretend the wedding party isn't there. Okay, just kidding! As a matter of fact, if you're getting married, what better place to do it than the Steele Mansion? (and I didn't get paid to say that) (sorry, forgot to credit this photo: Lindsey Yeagley Photography, Youngstown)

Steele Mansion update--

Steele Mansion owner reflects on first year running historic Painesville home as inn

By Betsy Scott, The News-Herald

POSTED: 03/05/16, 10:55 PM EST

 

http://www.news-herald.com/general-news/20160305/steele-mansion-owner-reflects-on-first-year-running-historic-painesville-home-as-inn

 

A positive public perception has proved beneficial not only for drawing patrons, but also the business community.

 

Large employers like Lubrizol and Progressive have held events there, and several small businesses rented space for Christmas parties.

 

The mansion also has entered partnerships with Rabbit Run Theater and Quail Hollow Country Club.

 

Jay Mulqueeny, owner of Spear-Mulqueeny Funeral Homes down the street, paid his first visit to the place during a recent happy hour. He said he and his wife meant to come sooner, but something always came up.

 

“It’s beautiful, absolutely beautiful,” he said. “Stunning.”

 

Mickey Scoville of Mentor said she plans to schedule her 50th wedding anniversary celebration there.

 

“We were here a month ago and we were so impressed we brought the whole crew,” she said.

 

Even home improvement professionals express their appreciation.

 

“I’ve had interior designers walking (up) to me in tears,” Carol said. “They say, ‘I can’t believe you did this.’ ”

this looks like it could be interesting, but I wonder what they mean by "heavy hors d'oeuvres" (I guess in lieu of dinner). And who knew there was an International Women's Air and Space Museum in Cleveland? (okay, I didn't :roll:)

 

July 9 - IWASM at Steele Mansion. Help IWASM celebrate its 40th anniversary with an evening Gala, July 9, 2016, from 6:30 to 10 p.m., at the newly renovated Steele Mansion located in Painesville, Ohio. It is also the 80th anniversary of Amelia Earhart staying at the mansion. Tickets are $80 a person and includes heavy hors d'oeuvres, entertainment and a silent auction. To purchase tickets, click here. For more information, please contact the museum directly at 216.623.1111. www.iwasm.org Steele Mansion. Historic Inn & Gathering Hub. 348 Mentor Avenue, Painesville, Ohio 44077

 

Earhart's reason for being there was for a lecture she delivered at Lake Erie College, across the street from the Steele Mansion--

Here's an aerial shot of the Steele Mansion (courtesy aerial agents) I thought interesting, showing it in relation to some of its next door neighbors. To the immediate left is the Pfabe (pronounced fobby) home which dates from 1927. The Pfabes are decades-long purveyors of musical instruments in Painesville (they basically had the market for school bands in the area sewn up). I don't know if any of the family still lives there (at least I think this is the same Pfabe family--once again I'm probably being a fount of misinformation). The Tudor Revival to its left is the Johnson Funeral Home--no idea when it was built (or who the original owners were), but guessing from the same era, 1920's/30's.  But probably most interesting is a home that unfortunately cannot be seen in the top photo, obscured by trees; the drive on the far right from the street leads to a bit of a beat up 19th C. Italianate called Grammercy Court that's been divided into apartments (as most of the old homes in the area are) but retains a Gothic charm. It would almost be a sacrilege to "restore" it. (sorry, terrible Google screen shot at bottom) (the long white building next to it is an example of the hideous "garden apartments" that popped up in the area in the 70's)--

Pfabe Home

Grammercy Court

Here's another great old house in Painesville, the 1820-built Denton-Powers house....

 

Cool Spaces: Painesville's Holiday Tour of Homes features 1820 home, other historical sites (photos, videos)

http://www.cleveland.com/insideout/index.ssf/2016/11/cool_spaces_painesvilles_holiday_tour_of_homes_features_1820_home_other_historical_sites_photos_videos.html

another great house that was part of this tour is the Mathews House (1829) by Jonathan Goldsmith. It was orginally located downtown and moved to Lake Erie College in 1950--

 

 

 

 

 

What a phenomenal and formal example of the Greek Revival style; thank you very much for sharing the photos. As Cleveland's Euclid Avenue (which led out towards Buffalo, NY) started developing in the early 1800's late Federal and Greek Revival homes (a few I believe were designed and built by Jonathan Goldsmith) set the tone for what was to become one of the premiere residential areas in the U.S.  Over time, these early mansions were razed and replaced mostly by commercial structures then a long period of decline set in so that Euclid eventually lost its fabled residential character. Without examples like this extant Greek Revival mansion, we wouldn't have a frame of reference for the lost Goldsmith designed and built Cleveland mansions.  I'm glad this one was saved even if it had to be moved to do so.

What a phenomenal and formal example of the Greek Revival style; thank you very much for sharing the photos. As Cleveland's Euclid Avenue (which led out towards Buffalo, NY) started developing in the early 1800's late Federal and Greek Revival homes (a few I believe were designed and built by Jonathan Goldsmith) set the tone for what was to become one of the premiere residential areas in the U.S.  Over time, these early mansions were razed and replaced mostly by commercial structures then a long period of decline set in so that Euclid eventually lost its fabled residential character. Without examples like this extant Greek Revival mansion, we wouldn't have a frame of reference for the lost Goldsmith designed and built Cleveland mansions.  I'm glad this one was saved even if it had to be moved to do so.

Mathews House was slated for demolition, and I don't know who had the foresight to save it so many years ago before the preservation movement became as vocal as it is today. I believe it had been occupied for its entire history by members of the Mathews family until the move. I guess even 6+ decades ago someone deemed this house to be a seminal example of Western Reserve architecture. Today it serves as the office of alumni relations for Lake Erie College. Below are some photos of the house on its original site from 1934. And the last one is the nearby Levi Shepard house--also by Jonathan Goldsmith--thankfully still standing--

 

 

Levi Shepard house

Thanks for sharing the Historic American Buildings Survey (H.A.B.S. archived in the Library of Congress and online accessible) photos of the Mathews House on its original site.  Indeed, saving this rare example of Jonathan Goldsmith's work was visionary in 1950 when the destructive forces of Urban Renewal were getting underway and razing homes of this caliber across the country. Almost equally amazing is the survival of the Levi Shepard house, also by Goldsmith, as noted.  The Ionic capital pilasters still provide the classic temple look without the need for massive columns.  These early Western Reserve Greek Revival mansions blazed the trail for the lavishly grand mansions to come in the second half of the 19th century, especially along Cleveland's fabled Euclid Avenue.  I've seen an 1840's panoramic photo (well known) of Cincinnati's waterfront  and the hillsides back then were dotted with Greek Revival temple houses. It's my understanding only two antebellum Greek Revivals remain in Cincinnati but they aren't seen in the historic panorama image which means all of those in the photo have since vanished. I was privileged to visit and dine with the owners in one of those two examples a few years ago in the Riverside area near Sedamsville. The few surviving examples of the Antebellum Greek Revival homes in Ohio should be considered in the national treasure category and preserved for future generations as these two have been. 

^thanks for the information about the Historic Buildings Survey. I didn't pay attention when I was downloading them. Hope I didn't do anything illegal :|. Just like to add one more Goldsmith structure, the Uri Seeley House (ca. 1819), outside of town in Painesville Township, considered one of his best examples. I always wanted to go inside, but it's in private hands :-(.

Thanks for the added Goldsmith example. It's obvious he was pretty fluent in the Greek Revival style. Although there are similarities with the other two examples shared in the four stylized pilasters across the facade the treatment of the details is different and distinctive. 1819 would have been early for the Greek Revival style because homes in the Federal style continued to be built until the 1840's. At points further to the west, like Iowa,  Federal style homes continued to be built until the early 1850's along with Greek Revivals gradually transitioning to newer Victorian styles like the Italianate and Gothic Revival.  The popularity of "Temple" houses never faded away completely; by the mid-1890's Classicism enjoyed a strong revival lasting well into the early 1900's.  Thus again appeared temple form houses superficially similar to the antebellum originals. However, they carried over many late Victorian details inside that the pre-Civil War originals never had as well as newer technology like indoor plumbing, electricity, and modern bathrooms. Instead of being re-branded as "Greek Revival-Revivals", they were labeled as Classical/Colonial Revival style homes.

As for the Historic American Buildings Survey, (H.A.B.S.) it originated in 1933 during the Depression era as a federal works program to document outstanding examples of older American architecture. It's now administered by the National Park Service with the Library of Congress as its archival repository. All HABS works are considered to be in the public domain so no violations occurred in your reposting of photos. Given that many of the faded structures documented decades ago have since been demolished or heavily altered, the HABS record is often the only evidence of what they once looked like.

 

nice article in Cleveland Magazine. A lot of the same info as has been posted already, except that I didn't know Carl Sandburg hung out there for a week back in the day. I don't know if that exactly puts Painesville on the literary map :|

 

Steele Mansion Thrives in Painesville

 

https://clevelandmagazine.com/cleader/lake-county/articles/steele-mansion-thrives-in-painesville

David Joyce visits the Steele Mansion (in between town hall meetings? :|)

Historic preservation tax credit instrumental in success of Steele Mansion in Painesville

 

http://www.news-herald.com/general-news/20170824/historic-preservation-tax-credit-instrumental-in-success-of-steele-mansion-in-painesville

 

another good article, and I was going to say nothing particularly new or revelatory, until I found out that abolitionist Harriet Tubman once stayed there. It's nice to see that the Steele Mansion continues to get good press :)

 

Cool Spaces: Steele Mansion in Painesville restored to its original glamour, romance

Updated 11:02 AM; Posted 11:00 AM

 

http://www.cleveland.com/insideout/index.ssf/2017/11/cool_spaces_steele_mansion_in.html

 

What a stunning interior.  Maybe I'll have to take a staycation here for a night with the wife.

^or maybe you should just go for "Happy Hour." They seem to have one of those every day. People in Painesville need that :'(--lol.

Happy Hour?  :)

Happy Hour?  :)

 

Dec 6--didn't see one for tomorrow :(

 

https://www.facebook.com/events/367458717026227/

here are a couple of stills from a movie being shot in and around Lake County and Cleveland called "Ghost Babe" (yes, you read the title correctly), scheduled for completion in March 2019. Don't know much about it yet, but who knows, it could be the next Citizen Kane :(