Building 31 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 of late nineteenth-century Army family-housing design. Description: Building 31 is a two-and-one-half story, Queen Anne style, single residential dwelling with a full-height, multi-sided bay extending from the northwest corner of the building and a gable-roof dormer containing two small arched windows on the roof above the fac;:ade elevation.
An additional multi-sided bay extends from the southeast corner of the building, and a squared extension is found on the southwest corner. The building is constructed of local red brick and is set on a slightly-raised mortared- stone foundation containing a full basement, which is visible at the rear elevation. The dwelling exhibits an asymmetrical fac;:ade and roof form, and the roof exhibits 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 southwest corner 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 on the fac;:ade and side elevations, six-over-six light wood sashes are found on the basement level on the rear elevation, and one-over-one double-hung arched wood- sash windows are found in the two larger dormers and in the location of a stairway 1Betty Maddox Daniels, "Fort Thomas Military Reservation District National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form" (Kentucky Heritage Council, FORT THOMAS MILITARY RESERVATION, BUILDING 31 HABS No. (page 2) on the west elevation. The arched windows exhibit stone stills and brick arches.
The roof of the entire building is sheathed in asphalt shingles, but the roofs over the porches are sheathed in tin panels. The east side elevation is similar in overall features to the fac;ade. A chimney near the northeast corner of the dwelling extends slightly out from the primary wall plane and exhibits corbelling at its base, which falls near the top of the first-floor windows, and a second chimney extending above the multi-sided bay at the southeast 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 from the first level is situated on the southwest corner of the dwelling; a hip-roof open porch shelters the entry and features poured concrete Tuscan columns and a simple wood balustrade. The porch deck is supported by concrete columns and provides shelter for a basement-level entry in this location. A second basement entry is found near the southeast corner of the building on the rear elevation. The west side elevation features two chimneys similar to those found on the east elevation, with the rear chimney on this side extending 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 and 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 levels 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 tbe 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 31 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 that 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 floral pattern near the top, small dentil molding, and a wood sphere on the top. Pendants extend down from the slightly simpler Newell posts on the second and third levels. The original fireplaces in the parlor, dining room, and kitchen have been 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. FORT THOMAS MILITARY RESERVATION, BUILDING 31 HABS No.
(page 3) removed; however, the fireplace in the living room remains. The living room retains the original fireplace with the original replacement tile hearth and the decorative metal trim piece around the firebox, possibly part of the original coal insert. The tile surround exhibits relief tile work in shades of greens and browns depicting decorative swags, wreaths, and torches. Though the particular design has not been identified, this tile work is most likely attributable to the Kensington Art Tile Company of Newport, Kentucky, whose similar tile work is found in Building 1. 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 decorative metal trim piece surrounds the firebox. 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. Both the recessed arches on the wall near the stairway and an additional arched opening leading into the small hall with the doorways to the dining room, kitchen, and rear stair exhibit wood trim pieces along the edges of the arch and small scrolled brackets serving as decorative supports at each end of the arches. The second floor of Building 31 features a central hallway with a supporting arch in the center.
The arch exhibits decorative scrolled brackets and edge trim pieces similar to those found on the first floor. 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 on the first floor, except that carved concentric circles are found in place of the sunbursts. The floor plans indicate three original fireplaces located in the bedrooms on the second level.3 All of these have been removed. 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 three 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. Building 31 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. Building 31 is situated at the south-southwest corner of The Loop (Alexander Circle), west of Building 7.
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 3 Floor plans and drawings. FORT THOMAS MILITARY RESERVATION, BillLDING 31 HABS No. (page 4) 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 31, 7, and 8-9 and provides access to the vehicular carport at the rear of Building 4 Building 31 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, and one of the chimneys is beginning to collapse. Aside from this, the roof and remaining three chimneys appear in moderate to good condition. 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 31 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 30, 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 evolution of a pantry into a bathroom and the loss of several original fireplaces.
On the second level, no variations from the earlier floor plans were noted except for the loss of the original fireplaces. 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 31 at Fort Thomas remains today nearly the same as it was according to the plans. In addition, upon referencing early site plans, it appears that little to no alteration to the layout, design, landscape, or setting 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 31 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 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, 4 Floor plans and drawings.
5 Ibid. 6 Ibid FORT THOMAS MILITARY RESERVATION, BUILDING 31 HABS No. (page 5) 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 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.
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