Fort Thomas Military Reservation Administrative Officers' Quarters, Building No. 30, 30 Alexander Circle, Fort Thomas

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

Building 30 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 30 is a two-and-one-half story, Queen Anne style, single residential dwelling with a full-height, multi-sided bay extending from the southwest corner of the building and a gable-roof dormer containing two small, arched windows on the roof above the fa<;:ade elevation.

An additional multi-sided bay extends from the northeast corner of the building, and a squared extension is found on the northwest corner. The building is constructed of local red brick and is set on a slightly raised mortared stone foundation containing a full basement. The dwelling exhibits an asymmetrical fac,:ade and roof form, with the roof exhibiting a flat, central portion, several gable- roof extensions, and a hip roof over the multi-sided bays. An additional gable-roof wall dormer is found above the cornice line on the northwest comer above the west side elevation, small jerkinhead dormers with vents are on the roof above both the west and east side elevations, and a larger jerkinhead dormer exhibiting two arched windows is found above the rear elevation.

The primary entry bay is centered on the fac,:ade elevation and is sheltered by a single-story, hip-roof porch. The porch is supported by square Tuscan columns and features a simple balustrade with rectangular balusters. The primary entry bay contains a replacement door with the original transom window. A cornice exhibiting crown molding and box gutters wraps around the entire building, and a wood or stone stringcourse is found slightly below the cornice line around the entire building. Sawtooth molding is found beneath the cornice on the fac,:ade dormer. The majority of windows on the basement, first, and second levels of the dwelling exhibit rectangular stone stills and lintels that have been painted white.

Two-over-two and one-over-one double-hung wood-sash windows are found in the second-level openings, two- and three-light wood sash windows are found on the basement level, and one-over-one double-hung arched wood-sash windows are found in the two larger dormers and in the location of a stairway on the west elevation. The arched windows exhibit stone stills and brick arches. The roof of 1 Betty Maddox Daniels, ''Fort Thomas Military Reservation District National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form" (Kentucky Heritage Council, FORT THOMAS MILITARY RESERVATION, BUILDING 30 HABS No. (page 2) the entire building is sheathed in asphalt shingles, and the roofs over the porches are sheathed in tin panels. The east side elevation is similar in overall features to the fa<;:ade.

A chimney near the southeast corner of the dwelling extends slightly out from the primary wall plane and exhibits corbelling at its base near the top of the first-floor windows, and a second chimney extending above the multi-sided bay at the northeast corner of the building exhibits corbelling near the top. Both chimneys feature stone or poured-concrete shoulders just above the roof of the building. It appears that the brick along the exterior of the bay has been repaired in the location of the chimney. The rear elevation of the dwelling features a single-story, hip-roof enclosure extending from the center of the building.

A rear entry is situated on the northwest corner of the dwelling; a hip-roof open porch shelters the entry and features poured-concrete Tuscan columns and a simple wood balustrade. A metal fire escape is found outside the arched windows of the rear dormer with steep metal stairs leading down near the east end of the rear elevation. A bulkhead entry with small double-leaf doors, provides basement access on the rear elevation. The west side elevation features two chimneys similar to those found on the east elevation, but the rear chimney on this side extends above the gable-roof wall dormer. The forward chimney extends further down the exterior wall than the chimney on the opposite elevation.

It exhibits similar corbelling at its base as well as a recessed arch running nearly its entire height. The windows in the location of the main interior staircase in this building are slightly different than the remaining windows throughout the structure. On the first floor are paired one-over-one windows displaying a similar stone lintel and sill; however, these windows are slightly shorter in height than the others found on the building. Between the first and second level are paired one-over-one windows within arched openings, and on the third level are three small, slightly recessed, arched wood-sash windows within brick arches. Near the top of the squared bay on the northwest corner of the building are two quarter-round windows flanking the chimney in that location.

The main-floor interior of Building 30 currently features an asymmetrical floor plan with a parlor, living room, hall, storage closets, a dining room, kitchen, bathroom, pantry, and both a rear and main stairway. The earliest plans located for this building were drawn in indicating the current bathroom at the rear of the first level was formerly a second pantry.2 The public rooms feature original wood floors, fluted moldings and bull's eyes around all of the openings, wide baseboard moldings, and decorative edges along the bottom of the stringboard beneath each stair. The main staircase winds around several landings, creating an open stairwell visible from the first to the third floors.

The Newell post at the base of the staircase is set at an angle to the staircase and exhibits a substantial base, carved corners in the central portion, a carved sunburst near the top, small <lentil molding, and a flat cap on the top. Pendants extend down from the slightly simpler Newell posts on the second and third levels. Neither the parlor nor living rooms retain the original fireplaces; the floors have been patched in both locations where even the hearths have been 2Floor plans and drawings, Files of the Facilities Management Department of the Fort Thomas facility of the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Fort Thomas, Kentucky. FORT THOMAS MILITARY RESERVATION, BUILDING 30 HABS No. (page 3) removed.

Valance boxes have been added to the front windows in both the parlor and living room, obscuring the bull's-eye detailing. A recessed arch extending nearly the full height of the wall is found in the central entry hall across from the main stairway, and a small closet is found on the first floor beneath the first landing on the main staircase. Above the single-leaf doorways on the first-floor interior are original transom windows. The second floor of Building 30 features a central hallway with a supporting arch in the center. Off of the hallway are doorways to four bedrooms and one full bathroom. Each doorway features molding and bull's eyes similar to the first floor as well as transom windows.

The Newell posts on the second floor are similar to those of the first floor, except that wooden spheres are found on the top, and carved concentric circles are found in place of the sunbursts. The floor plans depict three original fireplaces located in the bedrooms on the second level. All of these have been removed, though two of the original tile hearths remain. Both remaining hearths exhibit tile work nearly identical to that found in several of the other buildings; therefore, it is likely the work of the Kensington Art Tile Company of Newport, Kentucky. The original second-floor bathroom remains, though it has been updated and reduced in size.

The remainder of this space has been merged with the smallest bedroom, found at the northwest comer of the second story, and together this space has been converted to an additional, much larger bathroom. 3 From the second level, the main staircase continues upward to the third level, with an additional landing in between. Three small, arched, wood-sash windows are found at the landing. The third floor contains a small central hall providing access to two bedrooms and a bathroom. Two unfinished attic spaces are also found on the third floor, one of which is accessed through one of the bedrooms. The openings on the third floor exhibit fluted surround moldings with bull's eyes at the upper comers.

Wood floors and unadorned baseboards are found on the third floor along with Newell posts resembling those on the second floor, except that they lack the wooden spheres on top. Building 30 also features a full basement level. The basement exhibits stone foundation walls, brick foundation walls, some pargeted walls, and brick piers. The various support walls create a series of small and large rooms in the basement. The passageway between the room directly at the base of the steps and the adjacent room features a paneled reveal around the interior of the door frame. Two-light and three- light wood-sash windows are found in the basement. Building 30 is situated at the southwest comer of The Loop (Alexander Circle), southwest of Building 6.

Named for the order in which it was constructed, this building was completed shortly after the commandant's quarters (Building 1) and a number of other administrative officers' quarters also situated around The Loop. 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 3 Floor plans and drawings. FORT THOMAS MILITARY RESERVATION, BUILDING 30 HABS No. (page4) 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. 4 Building 30 at the Fort Thomas Military Reservation is in moderate to good condition on both the exterior and interior. It appears that the brickwork and mortar have been repaired in a few isolated locations on the exterior of the building; however, the roof and all four chimneys appear to remain in good condition. The remnants of an animal nest were found in the third-floor bathroom, although no lasting damage appears to have resulted, and no visible sign of an animal entry into the building was discovered.

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 30 was constructed by local contractor/builder Henry Schriver in 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 31, though the two are reversed from one another.

Plans dated for Buildings 30 and 31 identified in the files of the facilities management department of the Fort Thomas facility indicate that the building has changed very little since this time. The only variations of note on the first floor include the conversion of a pantry into a bathroom and the loss of the original fireplaces. On the second level, the only variations from the earlier floor plans include the reduction in size of the original bathroom and the conversion of a small original bedroom and the other part of the original bathroom into a larger modern bathroom. The third-floor and basement levels do not appear to have been altered.

5 With the exception of these changes and some updated finishes and fixtures, Building 30 at Fort Thomas remains nearly the same today as it was according to the plans. 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 6 Building 30 was originally under the ownership of the U.S. Army. This remained 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 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 4 Floor plans and drawings. 5 Ibid. 6 Ibid FORT THOMAS MILITARY RESERVATION, BUILDING 30 HABS No. (page 5) 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.

7 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 A venue 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-G. 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 Kentuck:y, 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-G. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Ann Marie P. Doyon/MHP, Architectural Historian, Cultural Resource Analysts, Inc., Lexington, Kentucky, July-August 7 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: HASS FORT THOMAS MILITARY RESERVATION ADMINISTRATIVE HABS OFFICERS' QUARTERS, BUILDING NO. 30 (Single Officers' Quarters) Site Fort Thomas Military Reservation 30 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