Piatt's Landing, Upper East Bend Bottoms, Burlington

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS KY,8-BURL.V,1A-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

House was built ca. by' Robert Piatt, the grandfather of Major General Edward Richard Sprigg canby, and is an interesting example of an Ohio River house. PAR!' I. HIS'IORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical Histo:ry: 1. Date of erection: ca. 2. Architect: Unknown. 3. Original and subsequent owners: The following is a chain of ti tie to the land on which the structure stands. Reference is the office of the County Clerk, Boone County Court House, Burlington, Kentucky. Deed March 19, recorded in Deed Book page 173 wherein James Coleman acting for himself and as adminis- trator for 'Ihamas carneal deceased conveys interest in 200 acres of the original 700 acre tract to Robert Piatt. Deed June 18, recorded in Deed Book "D" page 31 James D. Breckenridge to Robert Piatt.

Deed March 5, recorded in Deed Book "D" page 60 '::i.i.0m3.s Carneal to Robert Piatt. Deed January 17, recorded in Deed Book "O" page Robert Piatt to Benjamin F. Crutchfield. 157 acres. Deed September 12, recorded in Deed Book page Crutchfield to H. and c. Yeiser. Deed October 9, recorded in Deed Book page H. and c. Yeiser to Parry. PIA'IT'S I.ANDING - WINNFIEI.D CO'ITAGE HA.BS No. O?age 2) Deed Janua,ry 9, recorded in Deed Book page Parry to Harris. Deed April 14, recorded in Deed Book page Harris to O.J. Harris. Deed July 17, recorded in Deed Book page 4, O.J. Harris to B.E. Harris. Deed Februaty 28, recorded to Deed Book page O.E. Harris to J.E. Mullins. Deed Octobfil- 19, recorded in Deed Book page J.E. Mullins to the Cincinnati Gas & Electric Canpany. 4.

Alterations and additions: There is physical evidence which indicates that the house was built in three :rrajor stages, with other minor alter- ations. The original structure is the central area. It is a one-and.-a- half sto:ry stI:ucture containing seven rooms. Four are on the ground floor with a central hall running from front to back dividing the rooms into two areas. The second floor or attic sto:ry contains three rooms, each roan having a dm::ner front and back. It has a gambrel roof origi- nally covered with cedar shakes. There is evidence that the end walls "Were at least two-stepped parapet walls that were partially rerroved dur- ing the construction of the second addition which contained the portico and the east and west wing rooms.

During this addition the donners were closed off and converted to closets. The third stage was the addition of the northeast stI:ucture. This addi- tion is a brick single sto:ry structure with a sheet metal roof contain- ing two rooms on the gromrl floor over a full cellar. This unit differs f:rom the other two units in that the exterior brick wall extends fran the cellar floor to the roof, whereas the other units have a squared field stone foundation. It is here where one can detennine that unit three was added to unit one. The brick line of unit three, at the con- nection to unit one, follCMS the contours of unit one's stone founda- tion. The stone foundation of unit two butts against the stone founda- tion of unit one.

other alterations can be noted in both the cellar in unit one and in unit three. The window areas, in both of these cellars, were much larger than the metal casenent windows that presently exist. The opening that once existed indicates that the finished grade then must have been at least two to three feet lower than at present. The original door in t~e cellar of unit one was blocked up and relocated to its present side. The orig- inal location was directly below the back Cbor of the main structure. There is evidence that the major additions were corrpleted before and that in the house was undergoing sane repairs. PIA'IT'S LANDING - WINNFIELD CO'ITAGE HAB.S No. (Page 3) B.

Historical Events and Persons Connected with the Structure: Ibbert Piatt was the father of Elizabeth Piatt who becane the wife of Dr. Israel T. ca.nby and the rrother of Edward Richard Sprigg ca.nby, a Major General in the United States Aney'. He was killed by captain Jack, the leader of the M:>docs Tribe, on April 11, in Siskiyoo County, califomia. E.R.S. Canby, even after his parents rroved to Madison, Indiana, in often visited and stayed at his grandparents' hone in Boone County. An article appearing in the Indianapolis Sentinel in May of shortly after the death of General ca.nby, entitled "ca.nby in Indiana", rrakes nention, arrong other things, to a particular visit that E.R.S.

ca.nby made to his grand- parents' hone in 'lllis article written by John Jam:s Piatt, the Poet, also refers to a log cabin where General ca.nby was oom. c. Sources of Infonration 1.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS KY,8-BURL.V,1A-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Hawkins, John P., Hawk.ins Family and Connections, Indianapolis, p. Heyrran, Max. Prudent Soldier, A Biography of Major General E.R.S. Canby, Glendale, California: Arthur H. Clark., Indianapolis Sentinel, May 20, p. 1, Piatt, Elizabeth and caroline, Merrorial Biography of Benjamin H. Piatt and Elizabeth, His Wife, Gray & Clarkson Printers, 2. Deeds: Boone County Court House, Burlington, Kentucky. Deed Book "C" page October 10, acres J.J .Marshall to I.T. Canby. PARI' II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMA.TION A. General Statarent: 1. Architectural character; 'lllis house is an interesting exarrple of an Ohio River type that utilizes broad and deep recessed porches to catch the river breezes and fonn virtually an extra room facing the river view. 2.

Condition of house: Interior and exterior is in extrenely poor con- dition due to the eleirents, neglect and severe vandalism. PJ.ATI''S I.ANDING - WINNFIELD OYI'TAGE BABS No. (Page 4) B. Description of Exterior: 1. Overall dimensions: The main structure or central area measures 50 feet across the front by 36 feet de_ep. With the addition of the portico and east and west wing rooms the front measurem:mt increased to 86 feet in width with an addition of 10 feet-8 inches to its depth. The northeast addition is 17 feet-9 inches wide by 39 feet-6 inches long and it abutts the central unit. 2. Foundations: The foundations of the central area and second unit are squared field stone. Brick is used for the foundation of the northeast wing. 3.

Wall construction, finish and color; Rust color bricks are coated with an ash color wash that is worn. Brick coursing is camon header bond (bond course every 6th 4. Structural system: Solid brick walls 12 inches thick. 5. Porches: There is a portico at the front of the house. It has wood plank flooring supported by wood beams. At the front of the portico there are four Tuscan style columns of stucco-covered brick. The porch is closed at the sides by the east and west wing rooms making the columns appear to be "in antis". Note: The dimensions of the columns conform to the proportions for Tuscan style columns. 6. Chimneys: There are four chimneys on the central area, one each for the east and west wing rooms and bNo for the northeast addition. 7. Openings: a.

Doo:rways and doors: All major doo:rways into this structure are full- length openings, with the exceptions of the doo:rways that lead to the courtyard from the east wing room and the northeast addition. All these major doo:rways have four-light transoms. b. Windows and shutters: Wooden full-length double-hung windows on the ground floor of the central area on the south elevations have four over four- light sash. It should be noted that the bottan section of the shutters for these windows has adjustable slats. These same type win- dows and shutters ar~ present on the north elevation off the dining room. All other windows are wooden double-hung having six over six-light sash. These are all of a standard type. All shutters for these windows have fixed slats. 8. Roof: a.

Shape, covering: The central area has a shingle covered gambrel roof, originally covered with cedar shakes. The northeast addition has a sheet metal hipped roof. PIATT'S LANDING-WINNFIELD COTTAGE HABS NO . (Page 5) b. Dormers: There were three dormers each on the south and north faces which were closed off during the addition of the portico and the east and west wing rooms. C. Description of Interior: 1. Floor Plans: a. Basement: There is a cellar under the north half of the central area. The west area of this cellar has a face brick herringbone pattern floor. A large field stone cooking fireplace is situated at the end wall. The other section has a dirt floor. Also there is a cellar under the northeast structure. This cellar also has a dirt floor.

A blocked-up fireplace is evident only at the south end. b. First floor: The entrance opens to a hall that extends the full depth of the central area. There are two rooms to the left of the hall and two rooms to the right. It appears that the rooms to the left were for formal use, the front room being the parlor and the back room the dining room. Between these two rooms there is a huge 9 foot opening that had a pair of 4 foot- 6 inch wide doors opening into the dining room. An opening through the floor in the dining room appears to have been for service from the basement area that housed the large cooking fireplace. The two rooms to the right appear to have been a parlor in the front and a kitchen in the back.

An entrance to the enclosed stairwell to the second floor is through this latter room as well as an entrance from the hall. All four rooms have their own fireplace with the most noticeable one being in the parlor on the left. This one has a curved brick firebox. c. Second floor: The second floor or attic story as referred to in the newspaper article of consists of three rooms. The main interest would be in the central room which has the stairwell, and the pull-down stair that leads to an opening through the roof. 2. Stairway: The main stair is an enclosed stairway with a door located on the sixth tread. There is evidence that railing once existed. PIATT'S LANDING-WINNFIELD COTTAGE HABS NO. ()?age 6) 3. Flooring: Flooring in the central area consists of 5 inch, T&G hardwood planks.

Each plank was hand tooled on the bottom to fit the supporting beams below. 4. Wall and ceiling finish: Eight inch interior brick walls have approximately 3/4 inch thick plaster applied directly. Plaster is applied to wood lath on the ceiling. All rooms have a wallpaper covering. 5. Doorways and doors: All interior doors are missing. 6. Trim: All baseboards and door trim are painted. Baseboards in the main block are 9 3/8 inches high. All mantels and woodwork are of a simple wood design but yet have a discreetly Grecian effect. 7. Hardware: All of the basic hardware is missing. 8. Lighting: All lighting fixtures are missing. 9. Heating: All ground floor rooms have their own fireplace. D. Site: 1.

General setting and orientation: The house is situated on the Ohio River on a tract of land known as the Upper East Bend Bottoms, just downriver a few miles from the community of Rabbit Hash, Kentucky, which is approximately 37 miles downriver from Cincinnati, Ohio .. It overlooks the Ohio River which lies to the south approximately 150 yards. Piatt's Landing which is associated with this house is located on the river downstream approximately 7/8 of a mile. This information is found on Chart of the Ohio River survey made by the Ohio River Board of Engineers, Louisville, datea revised It should be noted that the name Piatt, which is the correct spelling, is spelled Pyatt on the Chart. 2. Outbuildings: Many outbuildings were associated with this house.

In the house was offered for sale, and a listing was made in the Cincinnati Gazette describing the farm. It reads: PIATT'S LANDING-WINNFIELD COTTAGE HABS NO. (Page 7) 'Winnfield Cottage' For Sale THE FARM OF THE LATE BENJAMIN F. CRUTCHFIELD, on the Ohio River, in Boone County, Kentucky, (known as 'Winnfield Cottage'), is offered for sale. The Farm contains 154 acres - one hundred in cultivation, the remainder well timbered. The improvements are a large, Brick Cottage, with eleven rooms, good cellars, bath room and store room, kitchen, wash house, servants' room, ice house, carriage, and smoke house; a well of excellent water and large cistern. The yard is ornamented with fine Trees and choice Shrubbery.

On the place are 400 Apple Trees and other select Fruits, a fine Barn with good Stables, Corn Cribs, a good Horse Mill, Corn and Cob Crusher with Threshing Machine attached. Also, Wood Shed and Cow House, and an abundant supply of never failing stockwater. In short, it is one of the best improved Farms in the State." Most of these buildings are destroyed or on the ground. PART III. PROJECT INFORMATION The Project was undertaken by The Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company under a memorandum of agreement executed by the Louisville District Corps of Engineers, Kentucky State Historic Preservation Officer and the National Advisory Council on Historic Preservation in accordance with Executive l~rder prior to the disposition of the house for the East Bend Power Plant Project.

The data was obtained under the direction of James F. Shaffer, Chief Draftsman, General Engineering Department, The Cincinnati Gas and Electric Company, and by Jerome R. Siemer, Drafting Supervisor, and by Donald E. Velten, Designer, in November The records were edited by HABS historian Patricia L. Rowse and were prepared for transmittal to the Library of Congress by HABS architect John A. Burns, AIA.