March 9, 200817 yr Here is a picture of the entrance of the building at 911 Race Street downtown, which is now residential (really nice condos, by the way). I found the following info in a 2003 article from the Enquirer website (http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2003/05/31/biz_fordtimeline.html): "In 1909, Cincinnati was one of the first cities in which Ford set up a branch sales-and-service office, using a four-story building at 911 Race St. downtown. The branch later became a regional office for Ford Credit and is on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1915, fueled by growing demand for the Model T, Ford opened one of its first regional assembly plants in a six-story, reinforced concrete building at 660 Lincoln Ave. in Walnut Hills. (The vacant building now is being converted into offices.)"
March 9, 200817 yr Jerome - Keep it up! "Boss Cox" ran the city from here in the early 1900's. I have been in here a few times, but conditions were rough. I hope 3CDC does have it now - it is beat up inside & out. The guy at the Wooden Nickel said they bought huge painted tapestries/wall coverings from in there years ago. They're long gone. A large open room in the center of the first floor and many small rooms upstairs. Interesting how the right side is held up by the I-beam and around back on the 2nd floor is a nearly collapsed wooden porch with a Star of David in the woodwork. Stay careful...
March 9, 200817 yr OTRFAN, it's great to see you back on the thread that you started 2 years ago - my favorite on Urbanohio! If you remember, I'd love to know where you took the shot showing the Paris and Berlin signs on the first page of the post. Thanks and take care!
March 13, 200817 yr Here is another building with an interesting history. This one is downtown, at the corner of Ninth & Plum Streets. According to a historical marker, this building (completed circa 1873) was an Irish meeting hall. It housed the Ancient Order of the Hibernians, an Irish-Catholic fraternal organization. 19th century St. Patrick's day parades started from this site. It is one of the oldest standing buildings in the United States to have housed the Hibernians.
March 13, 200817 yr This is the type of building that should be a bar. Something with this type of history should be more appreciated in the city.
March 17, 200817 yr This used to be the ad agency that my wife worked for. They were bought out and moved up to Blue Ash. I'm sure that new building is just as nice and full of history.
April 13, 200817 yr Here are a few pictures from the two tours I took today: Prohibition Resistance Tour & Subway Tour (both of which were awesome). It was so nice to see the flurry of activity and the crowds at Findlay Market and around OTR. Entrance to the sub-basement of Kauffman Brewery on Vine Street. Until a few years ago, the existence of the basement was unknown. The owner spent some time looking around the building and found signs of this basement, and he eventually punched a hole through the concrete floor. Kauffman Brewery sub-basement, which was used to brew the beer. Entrance to the Race Street subway station on Central Parkway. The plans included 2 additional stations within the 2-mile long tunnel: one on Liberty & Central Parkway (I heard today there is a metal plaque at the NE corner, but I haven't seen it yet) and another one on Brighton Street. This is the only picture I was able to take inside the subway (it's technically forbidden). Taking pictures used to be allowed, so there are much better shots available on Urbanohio and Flickr if you are interested in seeing more.
April 13, 200817 yr The sub basement picture is awesome :) Really have to wonder why it was covered over. Reminds me very much of the old breweries I have visited throughout Europe...
April 14, 200817 yr I was on that tour today as well! Kauffman Brewery was amazing! Someone needs to get a hold of those execs at Hoffbras and get them to move it to this place. It looks as if it was built for it.
April 14, 200817 yr i did the subway tour today too...talk about awesome. its amazing something so interesting as that sits just feet below central parkway. the tour took us about a quarter away from the station. simply a shame it sits down there empty. i had always been amazed at pictures i had seen on here and other websites but now that i have seen it in person they in no way do it justice. and incredible piece of history!
April 27, 200817 yr I wrote another story for the Pulse on the hidden history of buildings. This one is about the building where I work, Neyer Building, formerly known as the Crown Overall Manufacturing Building. Here is a link to the article: http://www.pulsedt.com/blogs/default.asp?Display=1936
April 29, 200817 yr I wonder how many of those signs are still standing. I didn't see one on Republic, but there is a large history marker at Findlay Market that lists many of the streets that were renamed. Here is the list of renamed streets that I know of: German Street to English Street, Bismark Street to Montreal Street, Berlin Street to Woodrow Street, Bremen Street to Republic Street, Brunswick Street to Edgecliff Point, Frankfort Street to Connecticut Avenue, Hamburg Street to Stonewall Street, Hanover Street to Yukon Street, Hapsburg Street to Merrimac Street, Schumann Street to Meredith Street, Vienna Street to Panama Street, and Humboldt Street to Taft Road. I know it would be a logistical pain, but I'd love to see Cincinnati restore these streets to their original names. The old names are so much more colorful and full of history. It would be great to see this done concurrently with the streetcar construction, signifying a new chapter in the history of OTR and a return to prominence.
June 8, 200817 yr There are already quite a few interesting shots that were taken in downtown alleys in this post (Felix Friedman Furrier and Burger Chef signs, Sherith Israel Temple, etc). I spent some more time last week exploring those downtown alleys and found a few new bits and pieces of hidden history. This one was on the east side of downtown - I think in Crow Alley. I am not sure what company this was for. There is another sign nearby that reads "Elgin Shipping & Receiving". Elgin is still in business at 810 Main Street. This one is in the alley behind 7th Street. Oskamp Nolting had a store at 26 West 7th Street, a site now occupied by Mill's End. Here is a bit more information I found in Google: "Oskamp-Nolting to Close Store Christmas Eve: The Texas parent company of Oskamp-Nolting Co. will close the jewelry and appliance store at 26 W. Seventh St. on Christmas Eve, one month short of the firm's 100th birthday. ....the downtown store was yielding a "less than desirable return". Oskamp-Nolting evolved from a wholesale jewelry store founded in January, 1881, by Clemens Oskamp. The company moved from 411 Elm St. to the five-story building on Seventh St. in 1911." (Source: http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/OHHAMILT/2005-07/1120338255) The former Fort Washington Hotel has been beautifully restored into condos. When I walked in the alley behind it, I ran into this nice ghost sign. Does anyone know the history of this hotel? I didn't find when it was built or when it stopped being a hotel. This is in the alley behind the Cincinnati Club. It's interesting that the sign reads "30 West 8th Street" because the address of the club is now "30 Garfield Place".
August 3, 200816 yr I have found many of these old markers around town. The name may be different, but the address of 13 McMicken Ave is always the same. <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/beachkbk/TheAdventuresOfCincinnatiFinn/photo?authkey=v-wv_QIE-xQ#5230167930400138626"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/beachkbk/SJVKBacj5YI/AAAAAAAAB30/qupPEDbpv8Q/s400/%27wisconsin%20070.jpg" /></a>
August 14, 200816 yr I am very impressed by the pieces you have found around OTR. I my self am very into history and am getting into the history of the Queen City more and more. I would really like to know how you have been graced with a tour of the old breweries and the Rapid Transit tunnel? I have searched lightly and have only came up with references of people and places that no longer exist. If you do not want it public then please private message me.
August 15, 200816 yr My understanding is that the tours are put on by the Cincinnati Museum Center's Heritage Program http://www.cincymuseum.org/information_center/programs_events/adult_programs/heritage.asp According to Wikipedia (for what that's worth) they have already done the one tour for 2008. Look for another in April 2009.
August 15, 200816 yr The brewery tours are put on by the Brewery District CURC. We haven't scheduled the next one, but you can check the website www.otrbrewerydistrict.org for details.
January 7, 200916 yr Hello and Happy New Year! I moved away from Cincinnati in August (currently living in Budapest). I hope some of you can keep this thread going. I'd love to discover more facets of hidden Cincinnati through your pictures and words!
March 6, 200916 yr This is a picture of St. Mary Baptist Church on 13th and Spring Streets in Over-the-Rhine. The church was originally a bathhouse. Notice the 2 separate entrances? One was for men and the other for women. Until the 20th century, outdoor privies were common in OTR. Also common were public baths, such as this bathhouse. Since I need a bath I'll return to this subject! There is a bathhouse on the south side of McMillan Street west of Gilbert Avenue in Walnut Hills.
March 8, 200916 yr The only other German language sign I have found. I think it's great that it has been painted around, I assume it means "Apothecary" .. please .. tell me where is this ... where I can find this .. ???? thank you
March 8, 200916 yr (currently living in Budapest). .... hiii .. nice .. beautiful .. what you are doing there .. PG ??? .. Budapest is one of the nicest City in European ..
March 8, 200916 yr This sign is at the corner of English and State streets in the West End, underneath the Waldvogel Viaduct. English Street was called German Street until 1918. it`s State AV and English St. .. sorry
March 9, 200916 yr And does anyone know what the significance of the stars are? Or are they purely decorative? I've seen them all over the place. Earthquake bolts. Believe it or not, the Ohio River Valley is in a mild seismic zone, and occasional tremors have been known to hit the area. The stars (or other decorative medallions) anchor the ends of metal rods that extend through the building, which are designed to keep the structure intact during an earthquake. I grew up just across the river in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, and a number of the old houses that were part of the original army base (adjacent to today's Tower Park) also feature earthquake bolts on the sides of the buildings. Great photos!
March 12, 200916 yr Hi Dan! Hi Cincinnatus! I moved to Budapest for my job. It's not P&G, though. I work for dunnhumby and I analyze customer data for Tesco in Hungary (European version of Kroger). Cincinnatus, was your question about the Deutsche Gegenseitige Versicherungs-Gesellschaft von Cincinnati sign? This sign is on the SW corner of Walnut and 13th Streets in OTR. If you were asking about the "Apotheke" sign, you can find it on Vine Street, just south of the intersection with McMicken Avenue. It's on the left side of Vine when going north (just a couple of blocks from Findlay Market). I'm glad to see this thread is becoming active again!
March 12, 200916 yr Hi Jerome .. thank you ... I lived in Wien (Austria)´we was working for P&G there .... so I know Budapest .. very very nice .. this Cities > Prag/Wien/Budapest are the nicest cities in European .. with nice old buildings .. .. .. so .. you know the different between an American City and an European City .... have a nice time in Budapest ... and .... make a lot of pictures there ... .. and then ... you can create a nice photobook ..
April 28, 200916 yr This is on the north side Hoffner just west of Hamilton in Northside. I never even noticed the sign up at the top til I saw it in an old illustration & realized it was still there. Wonder how many people have lived there not realizing it was a funeral parlor. :-) The second pic is a CG image I made trying to recreate the bldg. It shows the sign clearly. Wow, Although I have not been to Northside lately I recognized that picture. That is the house where my Mother grew up. Back in the 37' flood the water reached the second floor windows.
November 20, 201014 yr Time to revive the Cincy - Hidden History thread! I spotted this sign today on an abandoned building on Perry Street, the small alley behind 4th Street on the west side of downtown. A Google search leading to a Cincinnati Magazine article from 1983 revealed that the Cal Crim Detective Bureau was founded in 1913 by Cincinnati Chief Detective Calm Crim, along with partners Ora Slater, a former Secret Service agent, and Paul Ryan. It was the first private detective agency in Ohio. Here is the link to the Cincinnati Magazine article about Cal Crim: http://books.google.com/books?id=oB0DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA96&lpg=PA96&dq=%22cal+crim+detective+bureau%22&source=bl&ots=P8cgbcbND_&sig=EmybE-JFRHdgSBSNGdhPRMOBM-8&hl=en&ei=dD3nTO7RKMWqlAeprNjzCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCIQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22cal%20crim%20detective%20bureau%22&f=false
November 20, 201014 yr Yes, I came back from Budapest last May (and for good). It just took me a while to get back to Urban Ohio! Our little boy who was born in Hungary is keeping us busy! :-)
November 28, 201014 yr this is still the coolest thread on UO one of those "we renamed the street cause we wasn't feeling Germany at the time" is on the corner of stonewall and renner down the way by hoe roe off mcmicken. Be careful though, a smoker tried to rob me up there. He failed. great photos
February 6, 201312 yr Epic thread! I just found it during a random search. I put together a little post about the street name changes in OTR. You can find it here: http://www.blogotr.com/otr/over-the-rhine-streets-of-yesteryear/
February 6, 201312 yr Wish I could contribute more about hidden history this is a good thread. Here is a good topic, http://newporthighschool.org/gangsters.htm Gangsters In Our Own Back Yard 'Little Mexico' a.k.a. Newport, KY
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