Irreplaceable Early House lost on North High Street new 7/26/04, revised 8/30/04

Lost in July was a unique building at 427 North High Street. Unfortunately I have not sent my "before" photos of the house for Kodachrome processing yet, but I hope to include those in the next revision. Here's a few snapshots.

The uncovered north wall dramatically shows the half-timbering of the house, and the timber framing.

...More soon...

Historian John Grabb had told me that this might have been an early tavern that he could not accurately locate on North High Street. Judging by its sturdiness, and the double access to the basement (for storage of foodstuffs and beverages), I am inclined to agree that it was a tavern. Research would have revealed more.

Other significant neighbors include, less than two blocks away at the corner of High and Arch, the 1828 "David's" building and across the street, the long-gone original "Cross Keys Tavern."

A corner of the second floor shows what was under the plaster.

I know of at least two other confirmed nogged buildings and two suspected nogged buildings in the city - and the two I know confirmed have both been demolished. Nogging (aka half-timbering) is usually attributed to ethnic Germans; of course, the English are Germanic, and so this rare construction method in Chillicothe may be an ethnic minority, or just a rare vernacular or regional expression.

The house appeared to have be structurally sound, except for the two places. The cottages on both sides are very close to the house, and I'm certain that was part of the argument to demolish it. At the time demolition began, the house otherwise seemed solid and would have be eminently usable after a thorough cleaning and repair.

I think the sturdy timber framing disagreed with this sign...though a failing structure is only one of several criteria that can qualify a building for condemnation.

I have photo-documented the interior and exterior before and during demolition, and made detailed measurements of the walls and beams. I have compiled some of the measurements into a three-dimensional computer model which I hope to include in my web site.

Perhaps my collected information will some day allow someone from a next generation to know what part of his cultural inheritance he was robbed of back in 2004.

This irreplaceable house will be replaced with a garage.

The front wall, after siding and some structure removal, shaded by trees.

 This is an obscene act of cultural dereliction - the loss of this building equally obscene as the vulgar graffiti spray-painted inside.

So who is to blame?

Well, instead, let's ask, "How can this be prevented in the future?"

Better communication. Better communication all around - city inspector, preservationists, residents, council members, and others.

But, better communication especially among departments within the city. Finding, acknowledging, and saving buildings like this are the proscribed legal responsibilities of the Design Review Board, and if any other group attempts to do it, that is because the city is neglecting its legal requirements as well as its cultural responsibilities.  

July 8th, 2004 Kevin, Somehow, saying "thanks" for your update is not in order, not given the news of another demolition. You may know OHPO does not have an OHI for 427 N. High, so other than the documentation you may have compiled, there is no record in our files for this early dwelling. I wonder if the construction of the canal brought Irish-German workers-builders to Chillicothe who may have also had a hand in building some of the smaller vernacular buildings? I associate nogging with German/Dutch building traditions. There is much more nogging in Ohio than most people realize. Learning of more demolitions is heartbreaking. Chillicothe has among the state's largest and most significant collections of pre-1850 buildings, right up there with Marietta. How this continued erosion continues baffles me. Thanks to you, Franklin and many others for working hard to raise the consciousness of HP in Ross County. It is a special place and the "heart" of Ohio's history, both historic and prehistoric. Keep up the good work, Steve Gordon Survey/National Register Manager Ohio Historic Preservation Office Columbus, Ohio

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