Fort Thomas Military Reservation Administrative Officers' Quarters, Building No. 6, 6 Alexander Circle, Fort Thomas

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS KY-301-D. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Building 6 is a contributing resource in the Fort Thomas Military Reservation National Register of Historic Places district nomination, which details the reservation's significance for its association with U.S. military history and with events and persons of significance in American history. 1 The building is also significant as part of a distinct group of administrative officers' quarters with an intact setting and landscape, and as an example oflate nineteenth-century Army family-housing design. Description: Building 6 is a one-and-one-half-story, Queen Anne style, single residential dwelling with a full-height corner turret. The building is constructed of local red brick and frame construction and is set on a stone and brick foundation containing a full basement.

The building exhibits a typical Queen Anne, asymmetrical fa<;:ade and roof form, with the roof exhibiting a flat central portion, several gable-roof extensions, and a conical roof over the turret. The fac,:ade elevation of the dwelling contains the all brick turret at its southerly corner and a forward gable-roof extension with a framed second level and curved brick wall above a raised-stone foundation on the first level at its easterly corner. The framed second level, which extends slightly outward from the wall plane of the curved brick wall, is supported by large wooden brackets. The primary entry bay is centered between the two sections on the fac,:ade elevation.

A single-story porch provides shelter for the primary entry bay and wraps around the southerly corner of the building with a rounded shape following the form of the corner turret. The porch is supported by square Tuscan columns and features a simple balustrade with rectangular wood balusters. The primary entry bay contains a replacement door but the original sidelights and transom window, with the transom exhibiting a number 6. Decorative bands of stone are found near the top of the turret and above and below the windows on both the turret and curved brick wall. A denticulated brick band also encircles the turret just below the wood cornice. The brick portions of the dwelling exhibit five-row common-bond coursing, while the frame portions of the upper level exhibit asbestos cladding.

The northeast side elevation features two basement-level entries accessible via a pathway between the house and a mortared stone retaining wall. As indicated on early floor plans for the dwelling, the northerly entry provided access into the basement-level kitchen, and the easterly entry provided access to a coal storage 1 Betty Maddox Daniels, "Fort Thomas Military Reservation District National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form" (Kentucky Heritage Council, FORT THOMAS MILITARY RESERVATION, BUILDING 6 HABS No. (page 2) cellar.2 Two recessed rectangular areas are found within the brickwork of the first level on the northeast elevation. The rear elevation of the dwelling features a rear entry door on the first level accessible by a wooden staircase.

The doorway features a replacement door and two-light transom window. Brick repair in this location indicates the original door may have been slightly wider. The entry is sheltered by a hip-roof porch supported by square wood posts. The southwest side elevation exhibits stone bands above and below the windows, a three-sided bay extending from the basement and first levels, and the rounded turret and main entry porch at the southerly comer. A basement-level entry is found within the three-sided bay; the stone band in this location comes to a point above the entryway. Above the basement entry on all three walls of the bay are decorative recessions within the brick, the two sidewalls featuring rectangles, and the central wall featuring a diamond-shaped pattern.

Above is an arched, stained-glass window featuring an abstract depiction of the letters U.S. A., which is found on the landing for the main staircase inside the building. The small roof overhang above the bay extension exhibits small, decorative, curved brackets. The majority of the windows throughout the building appear to contain original one- over-one double-hung wood sashes. All windows within the brick portions of the building exhibit rectangular stone lintels and sills or stone bands that have been painted white, whereas the windows within the frame portions feature simple wide wood surrounds. The basement exhibits small paired four-light wood sash windows, larger paired one-over-one sashes, and single two-over-two sashes.

The roof of the entire building is sheathed in asphalt shingles. A simple wood soffit and cornice boards are found throughout. Two chimneys pierce the roof of the building: one on the northeast side with slightly graduated brick bands at the top, and one on the southwest side with corbelling near the top. The roof of the porch is sheathed in tin panels. The main-floor interior of Building 6 originally featured an asymmetrical floor plan with a reception hall, parlor, alcove, library, hall, closet, and a chamber. 3 Currently, the former library in the northwest comer of the building houses a modem kitchen; the former chamber in the northeast corner functions as a dining room; and the former first-floor closet houses extended kitchen storage and a half bathroom.

The main staircase leads up from the reception hall to a landing where a seat is found in front of the "U.S.A." stained glass window; the enclosed second run of stairs then turns and continues to the second level. A series of arches, descending in size as the stairway ascends, is found between the stairway and the reception hall. The arches likely replaced the original ornamented rectangular openings, like those found in Building 7. A fireplace or wood stove in the corner of the reception hall depicted on the floor plans no longer remains. 4 The public rooms exhibit very simple wood trim around the doorways and openings, wide but simple baseboards, and pocket doors.

A wood molding applied on the lower portion of the wall within the alcove features 2 Floor plans and drawings, Files of the Facilities Management Department of the Fort Thomas facility of the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Fort Thomas, Kentucky. 3 Ibid 4 Ibid FORT THOMAS MILITARY RESERVATION, BUILDING 6 HABS No. (page 3) carved rectangular details. The front rooms exhibit narrow wood floors; the first- floor dining room has been carpeted; and the kitchen features modern vinyl flooring. The angled fireplace in the corner of the parlor features modem replacement tile on the hearth and surround; however, it retains the original decorative wood surround and mantel, which remain unpainted.

Above the mantel is a beaded molding piece, and the mantel is supported by curved brackets set on vertical supports that exhibit carved flowers. A horizontal strip of small panels with carved floral designs runs below the mantel. A metal, decorative trim piece surrounds the firebox. Additional details on the first floor include original transom windows above the doorways from the central hall into the kitchen and the back stairway, a lowered ceiling in the current dining room, and floor registers for a central heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. A closet, indicated in the back comer of the dining room on the floor plans, has since been converted into a built-in china cabinet.

5 The second floor features an L-shaped landing at the top of the main staircase, with a skylight above. Three chambers, two closets, and a bathroom are found off of the central landing. A doorway leads to a rear hallway containing an additional room, noted as the servant's room on the floor plans, and the rear stairway. 6 The main stairway has been carpeted. The remaining floors on the second level feature the same narrow flooring as the first level, though a slightly wider wood floor, perhaps the original flooring, is found in one of the bedroom closets. The area within the turret on the second level, situated off of one of the bedrooms, is noted on the floor plans as a dressing room.

7 The trims, moldings, and baseboards on the second level are simple, although a decorative Newell post with a sunburst carving is found at the top of the rear stair. Transom windows are found above the main entries into each chamber and the bathroom. No attic or third level is found in this building. Building 6 also features a full-basement level. The basement is accessible via a curving staircase that runs beneath the main stairway, curving within the three-sided bay where a landing and exterior entry are found. A cellar, featuring mortared stone walls, is accessed by an additional landing just a few steps down from the entry landing. The cellar contains a curved room at the base of the turret.

A passageway at the northeasterly end of the cellar leads to an additional cellar storage area and the original coal storage. Two more steps down from the landing for the cellar leads to the basement hall, off of which the original dining room and kitchen are located. The dining room, now carpeted, still retains an original fireplace. Though the tile hearth and surround exhibit replacement tiles, the wood surround and mantel, displaying carved floral patterns, remains. The original kitchen is now simply a basement storage area with a concrete floor and a laundry tub. With the exception of the finished dining room area, the basement exhibits stone and brick foundation walls.

Building 6 is situated near the south end of The Loop (Alexander Circle) between Buildings 30 and Named for the order in which it was constructed, this building, along with a number of the other administrative officers' quarters on Alexander Circle, was completed immediately after the commandant's quarters (Building 1). 5 Floor plans and drawings. 6 Ibid 7 Ibid FORT THOMAS MILITARY RESERVATION, BUILDING 6 HABS No. (page 4) These quarters were situated within one of the best areas on the military reservation, taking advantage not only of the private residential feel afforded by the natural landscape and the placement of the buildings but also sweeping views of the valley and the Ohio River below. A private drive, present on a site plan, passes to the rear of Buildings 1, 6, and 30.

A vehicular garage was at one point situated to the rear of Buildings 6 and 30; however, it is no longer extant, and only concrete parking pads remain. 8 Building 6 at the Fort Thomas Military Reservation is in moderate to good condition on the exterior and moderate to poor condition on the interior. Water infiltration, likely from the second-level bathroom, has caused damage to the walls, floors, and ceilings, primarily in the dining room on the first floor. It appears that the brickwork and mortar have been repaired in a number of locations on the exterior of the building, and some of the roofing material is deteriorating.

Though vacant, the building and surrounding grounds appear to be actively maintained by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the City of Fort Thomas (owner of Tower Park). The building remains locked and is regularly patrolled and inspected by the Department of Veterans Affairs security and maintenance staff. History: Building 6 was constructed by local contractor/builder Henry Schriver between and It was designed under the Office of the Quartermaster General. Constructed to serve as a single residence for administrative officers, this building is identical in plan to Building 7, though the two are reversed from one another.

Undated plans identified in the files of the facilities management department of the Fort Thomas facility indicate that the building has changed very little in plan since its original construction. The only variations of note on the first floor include the conversion of the library into a kitchen, a change in use for the first-floor chamber to a dining room, the loss of a fireplace or wood stove in the reception hall, and the alteration of the first-floor closet into a half bathroom. On the second level, there are no variations from the early floor plans apparent today. The only change in the basement is the change of use for the kitchen, now just an empty basement room.

9 With the exception of these changes and some updated finishes and fixtures, Building 6 at Fort Thomas remains nearly the same today as when it was originally designed. In addition, upon referencing early site plans, it appears little to no alteration to the layout, design, landscape, or setting has occurred within the area containing the ten administrative officers' quarters, with the exception of the construction of some stone landscaping elements, which likely were built during the though none of these elements are adjacent to Building 6. 10 Building 6 was originally under the ownership of the U.S. Army. This was the case until when the U.S.

Army Air Force assumed control of the post in order to utilize the barracks building as a hospital, which only lasted until when all of the buildings became the property of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It was shortly thereafter declared surplus by the War Department and in October 8 Floor plans and drawings. 9 Ibid. 10 Ibid. FORT THOMAS MILITARY RESERVATION, BUILDING 6 HABS No. (page 5) fell under the ownership of the Veterans Administration (later the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs), who again utilized the barracks building for a hospital as well as a nursing home care facility.

The remainder of the Fort Thomas Military Reservation has been used for a variety of purposes since the Department of Veterans Affairs assumed ownership of the site, including a military equipment storage site, an Induction Center during the Korean War, an Army Reserve Center, National Guard artillery unit headquarters, and Veterans Affairs personnel housing. 11 In and again in much of the acreage at the then deactivated Fort Thomas Military Reservation was divided off, although the ten administrative officers' quarters situated around Alexander Circle and along Cochran Avenue remained under the ownership of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and were utilized as housing.

The Department of Veterans Affairs still owns them today; however, all ten quarters were vacated sometime during the first decade of the twenty-first century.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS KY-301-D. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Daniels, Betty Maddox. "Fort Thomas Military Reservation District National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form." On file at Kentucky Heritage Council, Frankfort, Kentucky, - - - . "Fort Thomas Military Reservation." In The Enryclopedia of Northern Kentucf9, edited by Paul A. Tenkotte and James C. Claypool, Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky, Floor plans and drawings. Files of the Facilities Management Department of the Fort Thomas facility of the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Fort Thomas, Kentucky.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS KY-301-D. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Ann Marie P. Doyon/MHP, Architectural Historian, Cultural Resource Analysts, Inc., Lexington, Kentucky, July-August 11 Betty Maddox Daniels, "Fort Thomas Military Reservation," in The Encyclopedia of Northern Kentucky, ed. Paul A. Tenkotte and James C. Claypool (Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky, ADDENDUM TO: HABS FORT THOMAS MILITARY RESERVATION ADMINISTRATIVE HABS OFFICERS' QUARTERS, BUILDING NO. 6 (Married Officers' Quarters) Site Fort Thomas Military Reservation 6 Alexander Circle Fort Thomas Campbell County Kentucky PHOTOGRAPHS HISTORIC AMERICAN BUILDINGS SURVEY National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior C Street NW Washington, DC