Arch 101 Part III

Downtown Toledo Architecture 101 Part III

 

For the third installment in our Architecture 101 series, we’ve chosen another batch of five buildings. As an organization, we work throughout the greater downtown area – not just the central business district. You’ll see this reflected in our building selection, which includes downtown, the Old West End, Middlegrounds, and Warehouse District. As we did in Part I and Part II, we’ve noted features that help you understand historic use and style. We’ve also included brief histories because the people and stories together with the architecture is what make places special. We hope you learn something new on our virtual tour, and we hope to soon see you downtown checking these beauties out in person!

 

Oliver House

27 Broadway St.

Architectural style: Italianate

Year built: 1853-1859

Architect: Isaiah Rogers (various offices)

The Oliver House opened as a modern hotel in June 1859, designed by America’s foremost pre-Civil War hotel architect, Isaiah Rogers. Named for its investor, Major William Oliver, the hotel included modern amenities such as private rooms, limited indoor plumbing, steam heat, and gaslights – one of the first buildings to use them in Toledo. It offered over 160 guest rooms, a dining room, and ground floor commercial space.

 Features

1. Cylindrical bay and lobby at junction of two wings, creating an A-shaped floor plan
2. Sandstone trim
3. Wooden cornice with Greek detail

Roof

A central cupola with a lantern was planned but never built

Grounds

The hotel originally overlooked a park

 

 

Edward Libbey House

2008 Scottwood Ave.

Architectural style: Shingle

Year built: 1895

Architect: David L. Stine (Toledo)

In 1888, Edward Drummond Libbey moved his financially troubled New England Glass Company to Toledo, where he was given a free plant site, and renamed it the Libbey Glass Company. In addition to his successful Libbey Glass company, Edward Libbey also founded predecessor companies to Owens-Illinois and Libbey-Owens-Ford. In 1901, the Libbeys founded the Toledo Museum of Art. He lived at 2008 Scottwood from 1895 until his death in 1925. The architect of the home had previously designed the Libbey factory for the 1893 Columbian Exposition.

 Materials

1. Yellow painted wood shingles
2. Uncoursed rubble stone
3. Original black painted cast iron fence surrounds the property (not pictured)

 Features

4. Two flat roof porches with Doric columns
5. Two-story round tower with a conical roof pierced by corbeled inside end chimney
6. Rectangular sash windows

 Roof

7. Multi-gabled roof
8. Single gabled dormer

 

 

Historic St. Patrick’s Church

130 Avondale Ave.

Architectural style: late Victorian Gothic

Year built: 1892-1901

Architect: Adolphus Druiding (Chicago)

 The neighborhood around St. Patrick’s was known as “the Hill,” and was home to Irish immigrants. Construction of the original church and a school began in 1862, and the St. Patrick Institute, which included dormitories, a gym, and a library, was built in 1874. The original church was demolished in 1892 to make way for the present structure, and the school and institute were demolished in the early and late 20th century, respectively.

 Structure

1. Three-part façade centered by square tower
2. Canted buttresses
3. Hip-roofed dormers

 Steeple and Spire

4. A galvanized steel steeple was originally built, but multiple lightning strikes over the years have led to several replacements. The most recent steeple was added in 2007.
5. Prior to the 1980 steeple fire, the church featured a semi-rhomboidal spire.

 

 

Hotel Secor

425 Jefferson Ave.

Architectural style: Second Renaissance Revival

Year built: 1908

Architect: George S. Mills (Toledo)

The opening of the hotel marked the beginning of the modern era for Toledo’s hotels. Hotel Secor offered a high-ceilinged lobby, waiting rooms, dining rooms, billiard rooms, and large meeting rooms for conventions. 300 of the 400 guest rooms included a private bath. The hotel closed was renovated in 1934, which included removing the original skylight and lowering the ceilings in the lobby.

 Base

1. Stone lion heads above windows and entry

 Mid-Section

2. Keystones above windows interrupt fret band
3. Carved stone brackets support balcony
4. Rectangular stone blocks resemble quoins
5. Large stone cartouche on the ninth floor

 Capital

6. Cartouche stone designs in panels
7. Cornice supported by brackets with a band of small lion heads

 

 

Valentine Theatre

410 Adams St.

Architectural style: Commercial

Year built: 1892-1895

Architect: Edward O. Fallis (Toledo)

Named after Valentine Ketcham, the theater’s unique cantilevered balcony offered unobstructed views of the stage. In 1918, Lowe’s Circuit purchased it and installed a movie screen. In 1936, the office portion was remodeled into a hotel and is now used as residential space. The theater’s interior was completely remodeled in 1942. Today, the grand staircase is the only visible remnant of the original interior.

 Base

1. Brick piers with terra cotta capitals separate store fronts

 Mid-Section

2. Deep set windows with stone sills
3. Raised belt course consisting of three narrow bands featuring bead and reel, wave, and egg and dart patterns

 Capital (top segment)

4. Building capped by cornice that includes triglyph above scroll-like medallions