Major Bibliographical References (Cite the books, articles, and other sources used in preparing this form on one or more continuation sheets.) previously listed in the National Register previously determined eligible by the National Register designated a National Historic Landmark recorded by Historic American Buildings Survey # recorded by Historic American Engineering Record # Primary Location of Additional Data x State Historic Preservation Office x Other Name of repository: _Gray & Pape, Inc. 10. Geographical Data 1866-1948 University requested. Architect/Builder Zone Easting Northing Other State agency Federal agency See continuation sheet.
Period of Significance UTMReferences(Place additional UTMreferences on a continuation sheet) Narrative Statement of Significance(Explain the significance of the property on one or more continuation sheets.) Dixon\Globe Opera House\Robinson-Schwenn Building Local government Acreage of Property_Less than 1 acre Previous documentation on file (NPS) * preliminary determination of individual listing (36 CFR 67) has been NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-4018 (Rev. 10-90) U. S. Department of the Interior Dixon\Globe Opera HouselRobinson-Schwenn Building National Park Service Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio Verbal Boundary Description (Describe the boundaries of the property on a continuation sheet.) Boundary Justification (Explain why the boundaries were selected on a continuation sheet.) 11.
Form Prepared By name/title:_Rita Walsh/Principal Investigator Organization: __Gray & Pape, Inc._ street & number: 1318 Main Street telephone _(513) 287-7700 city ortown_Cincinnati Submit the following items with the completed form: Additional items (Check with the SHPO or FPO for any additional items) (Complete this item at the request of the SHPO or FPO.) Lawrence and Carla Fiehrer street & number_114 Laura Court telephone _(513) 863-3907 city or town Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: This information is being collected for applications to the National Register of Historic Places to nominate a benefit in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.). instructions, gathering and maintaining data, and completing and reviewing the form.
Direct comments regarding this burden estimate or any aspect of this form to the Chief, Administrative Services Division, National Park Service, P.0. Box 37127, Washington, DC 20013-7127; and the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reductions Project (1024-0018), Washington, DC 20503. Photographs Maps date_4/99 Additional Documentation Continuation Sheets Hamilton Property Owner state_OHzipcode45013 NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Register of Historic Places Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio CONTINUATION SHEET The Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn building is located on High Street at the southeast corner intersection with Journal (formerly Reilly) Square in the primary commercial center of the city of Hamilton in Butler County in southwestern Ohio. The building is located one block east of the Butler County Courthouse, a c.
1884 stone edifice on a landscaped square, and two blocks east of the Hamilton Civic Center Historic District (NR 1995), which is roughly bounded by Market, High, and Court streets and Monument Avenue on the east bank of the Great Miami River. Adjacent buildings include mainly three story structures, while the block to the west is dominated by the four- story Art Deco Second National Bank and the eight-story Second Renaissance Revival Rentschler Building. Directly across the street, on the north side of High Street, are several three-to four-story late nineteenth century buildings, which are mainly covered currently by mid-twentieth century flat commercial buildings in the vicinity is a three-story First Renaissance Revival with stone facade at 236-240 High Street.
Two blocks to the east, on the south side of High Street, are two new high rise office buildings that will house county and city government functions. A streetscape improvement sidewalk paving and other amenities. The building, originally built in 1866, was initially known as the Dixon Opera House and was named for its original owner, Walter Dixon. Mr. Dixon's ownership of the building was, however, short-lived, and during most of the building's 38 show business years it was known as the Globe Opera House. During the first half of the twentieth century, the building served retailing uses as the Robinson-Schwenn department store, succeeded in the 1960s by the Cincinnati-based Mabley-Carew the building's interior features mainly date to between 1907 and 1954, when the building served a department store operation.
The exterior was substantially changed between 1907-1913 when the storefront was altered, and in 1951-52 when a metal screen was applied to the front and the north end of the west elevation, which not only completely hid the magnificent front but also caused the Municipal Building. The screen was removed in 1997, and reconstruction of some of the original elements has been carried out since that time. The description which follows will outline the series of changes made to both the interior and exterior. removal or partial removal of some original architectural elements.
This screen appears to have been National Park Service Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building (8-86) House/Robinson-Schwenn Building.One of the few mainly intact late nineteenth century project is currently being carried out on High Street, which will result in new streetlights, benches, Department Store and finally by the Dollar General Store before it closed in 1992.The changes in facade screens, similar to the one which formerly hid the facade of the Dixon/Globe Opera one of the first in downtown Hamilton, based on a c. 1955 photograph that is located in Hamilton's NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No.
1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio CONTINUATION SHEET EXTERIOR (Photos 1-3) The Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building, built originally as a 3-1/2 story building (3 stories, a basement and an attic level), is now 4-1/2 stories after a floor was added in one-bay, three-story rear addition; a fourth story was added to this addition in the mid-twentieth Renaissance Revival elements. A large rose window in the center of the original third story's front facade remains one of the most distinctive elements of the building. The brick is of pale, multi- colored hues with sandstone trim for hoodmolds and beltcourse.
FRONT (NORTH) FACADE The front facade displays a 3-1/2 story appearance with the originally, much taller third story featured through the use of monumental windows and a distinctive rose window in the center of the third story. The facade is crowned by a brick pediment, outlined with a raking cornice ornamented with brackets and modillions. True to its Renaissance Revival influences, each story of the front facade displays a hierarchy of window types, mainly round and segmental arched openings. Each of the five bays of the front facade is defined by brick pilasters, while the facade is divided horizontally the interior cornice of the storefront (planned), stone and brick beltcourses above the second story level, and the cornice at the bottom of the pediment.
The first floor level originally featured a cast iron storefront with three storefronts flanked by large windows and a stairwell entrance on the east end which led to the third floor Opera House space. probably soon after the building became the Robinson-Schwenn Department Store. This second removed. The current plans call for a simple version of the early twentieth century storefront configuration, which as of February 2000 had not yet been installed The second story of the front facade features paired segmental arched windows in the three center paired windows had separate hoodmolds.
All of the transoms of the windows contain prismatic (8-86) Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building This storefront appears to have been replaced by another version in the early twentieth century, hoodmolds over the three central windows is an early twentieth century alteration; originally the century.Most of the building's stylistic elements are Italianate with Romanesque Revival and storefront version was likewise succeeded by one dating from c.1950,which has since been Section 7 Page. bays and single segmental arched window in each of the end bays. The three central bay windows have brick hoodmolds, while the single windows have stone hoodmolds with keystones. The brick 1913 within the tall third story Opera House space. The load bearing brick structure has a NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No.
1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Dixon/Globe Opera House/ Robinson-Schwenn Building Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio CONTINUATION SHEET glass, presumably a turn-of-the-century alteration, except for the central window which has a new is dominated by the round rose window with a circular sandstone frame accented by four keystones. arched transom above that contains radiating muntins. Single large oculus with sandstone surrounds are located in the end bays of the third floor. modillions. The tympanum within the pediment originally featured brick corbeling while the three small round-arched windows in the center were connected by stone or brick hoodmolds that formed a Palladian window configuration.
Severe water damage to this area during the latter half of the twentieth century resulted in the extreme deterioration of this brick. The deteriorating brick in the remain, the hoodmolds have been removed, presumably as part of the 1951-1952 louvered screen installation.. Atop the pediment there was a brick parapet wall with corner piers topped by finials terminated with spheres. The original construction date of 1866 was affixed with three-dimensional numerals in the center of the parapet. This parapet had been removed prior to the 1951-1952 remodeling. It was restored in the recent rehabilitation, approximating the original appearance of WEST ELEVATION (Photos 6-7;9) The west elevation faces on a small side street known as Journal Square which connects High Street with Court Street to the south.
Originally named Reilly Square, it presumably gained its name from the Reilly Block which formerly stood to the west at the southwest corner of High Street and this street. The west elevation was originally six bays deep, with horizontal and vertical divisions in the bays and floor levels similar to the five-bay front facade. The storefront extended to the south end of the second bay from High Street on this elevation, although originally it only extended to the first bay. A three story brick addition was made to the south end of the building between 1895 and 1898, resulting in a seventh bay that is quite similar to the original design of this elevation. It is presumed that this addition was done for the Frechtling Wholesale Grocery operation that was located here at sash. (8-86) tympanum was covered with a stucco coating in a reddish-brown color. While the window openings the time.
The window contains a larger circular pane in the center encircled by eight smaller circular panes this feature. A modillion course and plain stone beltcourse separate the second and third stories. The third story The pediment above the third floor is outlined by a raking cornice with large brackets and with stone hoodmolds and keystones. These windows have double hung wood sash with a round- Section 7 Page. of glass. The center bays flanking the rose window each have a single large round-arched window NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio CONTINUATION SHEET The first story originally only had large single round-arched windows in the third and fifth bays from Street at the original south end of the building.
The other bays contained a small corner of the front storefront in the first bay and two inset brick walls with no openings in the second and fourth bays. Currently, the storefront extends to the south end of the second bay, followed to the south by the original round-arched windows in the third and fifth bays although both have been shortened, with the bottom area infilled with brick. The fourth bay contains a louvered opening with a plain stone lintel above. The sixth, or former rear, bay still contains a round-arched entrance although the door is an anodized aluminum unit with glass panels with glass in the round-arched transom above. The second floor features paired, segmental arched windows with brick hoodmolds within each bay. This fenestration is repeated in the rear addition on both the second and third stories.
Like the second story windows on the front facade, prismatic glass is located in the upper sash of the 1/1 windows on the second story of the west elevation. The third bay from High Street contains a wood door and small flanking window. A stone modillion course defines the top of the second floor level, an element that is continued on the rear addition. The larger third floor windows are single round-arched openings with paired 1/1 double hung sash originally characterized this floor as the Opera House. The round-arched transoms have the same radiating muntins that are seen on the front facade's third floor windows. The first and second bays on the third floor contain taller openings with wood panels and another pair of windows above that. Above the sixth, or former rear, bay window at this level is a set of paired wood doors with glass panels in the upper half and wood panels below.
The scar of the former covered iron stairway can be seen leading from the second story up to this entrance. The rear brick addition, originally three stories in height, was built over 30 years after the original building, but the detailing is nearly identical to that seen on the original six bays of the west elevation. The third floor is defined by a brick corbel course similar to the stone beltcourse on the original west elevation. The interior cornice and end columns of a metal storefront are visible on the first floor of this addition. A brick wall currently fills in most of this storefront, with a small flush metal door in the south end. After 1927, and likely between 1948 and 1951-1952, a flat-roofed fourth story was added. It is covered with a brick veneer very similar to the brick used to infill the storefront on the first floor in this rear section.
The storefront, while it now has a single flush metal door on the south end of the opening, does retain the metal storefront columns and interior cornice. Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building the front (High Street). It appears that there was a round-arched door in the sixth bay from High (8-86) and brick hoodmolds with keystonesThese window openings indicate the taller space that NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio CONTINUATION SHEET Originally, seven brick chimneys extended above the roof line on the west elevation at the top of each of the pilasters. All of these chimneys, except for two in the rear to the south, have been removed.
Two newer elevator penthouses are located near the center of the west elevation roof Robinson-Schwenn store, a major remodeling effort that culminated in the installation of the metal louver screen between 1951-1952. EAST ELEVATION (Photo 2) The east elevation was always a blind brick wall that was mainly unexposed due to the presence of cornice on the front facade terminates on this elevation and features oversized corner brackets. SOUTH ELEVATION (Photo 4) The south elevation is no longer exposed to public view. The elevation was originally visible, prior to the construction of the two-story Democrat newspaper building at the northeast corner of Journal (then Reilly) Square and Court Street by 1892. By 1899, a three-story brick addition to the Opera House was built between the two buildings.
By 1927, a third story was added to the newspaper building, then known as the Journal Publishing Company. INTERIOR (Photos 10-22) commercial use. Significant changes to the building occurred with changes of the spatial demands new technology and the application of building codes. The first floor of the interior remains true in form to its traditional use of retail space from the early first floor space was divided into three storefronts in the late nineteenth century, according to the 1887, 1892, and 1899 Sanborn-Perris maps. The c. 1898 rear addition meshes extremely well with the broad openings in the southern wall of the building.
A stairway at the east end of the building (8-86) The interior of the building has gone through many changes over the structure's 132 years of of the various enterprises housed in the structure.Changes also occurred with the introduction of a much smaller three story building to the east.The topmost portion of the elevation is visible, exhibiting a painted surface that may have contained an advertising sign.The gable return of the twentieth century. The pressed tin ceiling and columns from this period remain (Photo 1l). The slope.The most southern elevator was probably added in 1948 during an expansion of the Section 7 Page 6 NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio CONTINUATION SHEET were part of the original construction.
The fourth flight may have been added during the 1913 renovation (Photo 22). The 1948 elevator remains, and is fully operable. The earlier elevator was abandoned most likely around 1948. This space is utilized as storage rooms and small sitting room offices. (Photos 10, 11). The second floor remains in use for office and storage space as the Butler County Law library. All the windows are original. The perimeter walls of the second floor retain the original plaster surface. Office cubicles and book shelves do not interrupt the high ceilings of this floor. The ceilings remain the ceilings and do not interrupt significant features (Photos 12, 13, 14, 15). rehabilitated to temporarily house the Public Utilities Department of the City of Hamilton.
Its use constructed with 3-1/2 stories (3 levels, basement, and attic), the 1887, 1892 and 1899 Sanborn- Perris maps indicate the building is 3 stories in height. The 1927 Sanborn map indicates the building is 3-1/2 stories. The fourth floor breaks at the bottom of the transom of the third floor windows. Little remains of the interior that would indicate it once housed a theater. The interior window openings and trim remain intact. The rose window of the central bay and the two side windows were previously covered by sheet rock. This material was removed during the recent rehabilitation and the windows are now exposed. The condition of the plaster is deteriorated on the interior walls of these two floors (Photos 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21) (8-86) at the north (front).
In 1913, the tall space was divided into two floors to accommodate the growing business of the Robinson-Schwenn Department Store. The interior third and fourth floors have been which led to the third floor performing space remains. At least the first three runs of these stairs Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building The third floor space was originally the Opera House space with a gallery at the south end and stage will be for law offices and other professional services.Although technically the building was utilized and the opening to this addition is original.New mechanical systems are suspended from at their original height and none of the window openings are obstructed.The1895 addition is also Section 7 Page 7 NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No.
1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio CONTINUATION SHEET The 1866 Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building, which housed entertainment and commercial uses during the nineteenth century and the Robinson-Schwenn Department Store from its establishment in 1907 until its closure in 1954, is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places under Criteria A and C. The property is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of the city of Hamilton's history.
Built originally as the city's leading places of entertainment in the nineteenth century and for its association with the history of Schwenn Department Store, founded in 1907 by two former employees of a dry goods store directly across High Street, was established at a time when department stores were on the rise across the century. The Robinson-Schwenn Department Store always stressed quality in their goods, in contrast to the trend of discount retailing that was evident in the proliferation of 5 and 10 cent stores in the national chains of Kresge, Woolworth, and McCrory's, proved to be enormously competitive, the Robinson-Schwenn Department Store survived and even prospered into the post-World War II years, outlasting all of the city's other earlier dry goods and department stores.
The building is also significant under Criterion C for its robust architecture that displays an unusual in the city of Hamilton. Most of Hamilton's sophisticated and architect-designed buildings date from the last two decades of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century, paralleling the city's state of Ohio. The building, originally built in 1866 and known as the Dixon Opera House, housed a variety of functions in the nineteenth century including the First National Bank, saloons, grocery and drug stores, a law office, and, until 1904, theatrical performances.
In 1907, the building became the first and only location of the Robinson-Schwenn Company, which quickly occupied all of the floors of the former Opera House, including the addition of a floor in the third floor space to accommodate their rapid and successful growth as one of the city's premier department stores throughout the first half of the twentieth century. By 1866, when the Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building was constructed by Walter Dixon, Hamilton was firmly established not only as a processing and shipping center for downtown Hamilton beginning in the early twentieth century.
While these stores, which included retailing in Hamilton's central business district in the early twentieth century.The Robinson- Opera House in 1866, the building derives its significance under Criterion A as one of the city's enormous prosperity and growth in this period as one of the most important industrial centers in the Section 8 Page 2 establishments, echoing a trend in one-stop shopping that became popular in the early twentieth combination of Italianate, First Renaissance Revival, and Romanesque Revival elements unequaled (8-86) NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Register of Historic Places Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio CONTINUATION SHEET regional produce, but also as a major Midwestern manufacturing center. The Opera House was sharing space with other functions that were usually of a civic and/or commercial enterprise.
Examples include Springfield, Ohio's former City Hall/Marketplace, which originally housed both an Opera House and the City Council Chambers on its upper floors, Lebanon, Ohio's Opera House which also housed commercial functions, and Lawrenceburg, Indiana, where the Opera House occupied the second floor of the International Order of Odd Fellow's Hall. The building likely was designed by an architect or perhaps an accomplished builder, due to the sophistication of the architectural elements and the eclectic use of the popular styles from the 1860s. The name of the architect or builder has not surfaced despite research in newspapers, city directories, and county and local histories. No other extant buildings display the bold scale of detailing seen on this structure, except for the much later Butler County Courthouse, which dates from 1884.
the Lane-Hooven House (1863) and the Lane Public Library (1866) at 319N. Third and 300 N. Third streets, respectively, about four blocks away (NR 1973 [Lane-Hooven House] and 1991 [library and house in German Village Historic District]). The architect has not been identified for either building. The building that could be identified as most similar in style from the same period was the Fourth Ward School, also known as the Jefferson School, which formerly stood on Ludlow Avenue. Built in 1874, the building was described as having "ten commodious, well-ventilated rooms" with Ohio 1882:200). The architect was paid $1,866.00 for the design, but the architect's name was not mentioned in the account. The Dixon Opera House's early years were promising as the city's first theater, but financial difficulties resulted in its sale in a lottery in 1870.
The lottery was conducted by Peter Schwab, a local industrialist and businessman, who also became the eventual winner. His main enterprise was the Cincinnati Brewing Company, maker of malt beverages. The success of this business, prominent in the region's economy, provided the capital and leverage to continue and expand the commercial position of the Globe Opera House as it was known in the late nineteenth century. Aside from continuing the operations of the Opera House, Mr. Schwab also attracted many were early tenants of the first floor storefronts. In 1870, the Opera House housed the law offices of Thomas Millikin and the First National Bank (of Hamilton) on the second floor. Millikin's law firm was one of the most successful of the day and Mr.
Millikin obtained recognition both in the business (8-86) typical of many such establishments in county seat communities in the late nineteenth century, Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building prominent businesses and trades to locate in the structure.A drug store, grocery store and saloon National Park Service "every thing... done in the best manner(Historical and Biographical Cyclopedia of Butler County, Section 8 Page 3 NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio CONTINUATION SHEET and political worlds state wide and nationally. Its offices continue today in Hamilton. The First National Bank of Hamilton was chartered in 1864. It was the twentieth chartered bank in the history of the United States.
In the late nineteenth century, the bank's deposits and resources exceeded any other bank in the State of Ohio. This was one of the reasons many companies, such as Mosler Safe Company, relocated to Hamilton at the end of the nineteenth century. The bank remains active today as well, located on the northeast corner of Third and High Streets, one block away. Mr. Schwab was also responsible for locating a roller skating rink in the third floor space in the 1880s, an extremely popular pastime for Hamiltonians at this time. In 1889, W. C. Frechtling became the building's third owner, as well as the manager of the Opera House. Frechtling's wholesale grocery store, owned by both W. C. and E. H. Frechtling, was located in one of the storefronts from 1892 until 1902 when it was moved to 429-431 High Street. A dry goods concern also owned by W. C.
Frechtling, and advertised as having been established in 1856, was located on the northeast corner of High and Second streets at 202 and 206 High Street for many years in the late nineteenth and the early twentieth centuries. When it closed in the mid-1930s, only Theater productions continued on the third floor space of the building until 1904, although by the late nineteenth century, it was not as up-to-date as newer theaters and could not be used for larger or more complicated productions. W. C. Frechtling was succeeded as the manager of the Globe corner storefront of the building, said to have been one of the most popular places in the city because it was both a saloon and a gambling house. Mr. Smith was also the manager of Lindenwald Park, an amusement resort at the south end of Benninghofen in Hamilton at this time.
The final chapter in the building's use as a theater was directly related to the closing of its operations by the city. After the tragic fire of the Iroquois Theater in Chicago in 1904, stricter building codes were the rule, and unable or unwilling to meet these codes, the managers of the Opera House did not continue theater production after this time. The building's multiple tenant and purpose character basically ended in March 1907 when the entire building was leased by the newly formed dry goods firm of the Robinson-Schwenn Company. The company was founded by two former employees of the T. V. Howell & Son dry goods and notions company, which was located across High Street at 232-234 until 1907. Philip Robinson, the former Hamilton. (8-86) Opera House around the turm of the century by Tom Connor and Tom Smith. Mr.
Connor was, the Robinson-Schwenn Company remained of the earlier dry goods companies in downtown Section 8 Page perhaps not coincidentally, also the proprietor of the Bank Sample Room at 227 High in the west NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Register of Historic Places Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio CONTINUATION SHEET manager of that company for 32 years, and Ferdinand Schwenn, the bookkeeper for 17 years, were the original president and secretary-treasurer of their eponymous store. The company was founded two months after the death of David Howell of the older firm, and although not the successor of T. employees" (Daily Republican News, March 14, 1907). The company was founded when many businesses were being established or succeeding older stores in the city of Hamilton.
Most of Hamilton's retail and wholesale dry goods, clothing, notions, furniture, and shoe stores were located in the two-block area of High Street between Front and Third Courthouse at High and Second streets was an important factor in their location here. Many of these By 1891, there were 18 dry goods stores in Hamilton, the majority of them located in the High Street Hamilton were incorporated including the Mathes-Sohngen Company in 1900, which purchased all of the stock of the T. V. Howell & Son Company in 1907 and relocated to their building at 232-234 High Street; the Red Trunk Company (1906); the Model Clothing Company (1907); and the Cook, Adams & Fortune Company (1901). Two earlier dry goods companies were the Holbrock Brothers, founded in 1888, and the George Krebs Company, established in 1893, which also sponsored the city's amateur baseball team.
The company's establishment in 1907 was at the beginning of the heyday of the department store which lasted from 1905 until 1930. Several factors contributed to this rise, including the improvement and increase of transportation, which allowed for more customers and the growth of increased wealth of the area that resulted from the intensified industrial production and number of The Robinson-Schwenn Company was able to occupy almost all of the Opera House building in the summer of 1907, although one of the first floor storefronts appears to have remained the location of the New York Racket Store, a notions store, for several years until their lease expired. A 1907 ad for this store stated that"we will say we have a six year's lease on our rooms and we are here to stay" (Daily Republican News, March 22, 1907).
Early work on the building by the Robinson-Schwenn first floor where the handsome entrance to the store is located" (Greater Hamilton Edition, The Republican News, Hamilton, Ohio 1909, page 88). The removal of the corner column of the west (8-86) businesses were fairly small-scale, often sharing space in the same building with other companies. National Park Service V.Howell & Son, the new company was"composed of the most trusted and valued of the Street from the early nineteenth century.Undoubtedly the proximity of the Butler County Company resulted in the second, third and fourth floors...all completely remodeled, as well as the district. In the early twentieth century, a number of new clothing and dry goods companies in Section 8 Page 5 such companies in this prosperous community in the early twentieth century.
the regional market.Hamilton's position as the county seat was always an advantage, as was the NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio CONTINUATION SHEET storefront in 1907 yielded a 41 year old whiskey bottle and a note signed by Peter Schwab and D. W. Brant that claimed they were the builders of the structure (Daily Republican News, June 19, while the prominent local architect, Frederick Mueller, was hired to re-design their space. Mueller's involvement included the redesign of the storefront to accommodate the single use of the first floor and the interior spaces on all floors.
While few exterior changes were made to the building, it was at the time of this remodeling that the central second floor windows of the front facade were altered By 1913 the company had expanded into all of the floors of the building. The company grew to floors and the installation of a fourth floor in the upper half of the third floor auditorium space. The basement was used to store duplicated stock. Superior stock and quality of presentation made, according to The Republican News of Hamilton, the store one of the handsomest of the country. The company handled a full line of dry goods, millinery, and suits. By the 1920s, the character of retailing on High Street had changed from smaller specialty stores to the appearance of national chains that stressed discounting, including S. S. Kresge's Variety Store Street; and F. W. Woolworth Co.
5 and 10 cent store at 237-241 High Street, all within the same block as the Robinson-Schwenn Company. By the mid-1930s, one of the oldest dry goods establishments in the city, W. C. Frechtling Co., had closed on High Street. The 1931-32 city directory, and for some years after that, showed the E. C. Denton Company Department Store sharing management, if not the ownership of the company had changed, with J. Walter Wack as the secretary while William F. Ely was the manager. After World War II, the store was able to modernize beginning in 1948. A new elevator and mechanical system was installed. In 1951-1952, a new metal and stone facade was placed over the original face of the building, exhibiting itself as one of the most successful retail operations in the area, and echoing a national trend of hiding the "old fashioned" appearance of the original building.
Ironically, the screen and presumed interior changes were the design of the successor firm to Frederick Mueller, the architect for the 1907 remodeling, known today as Steed, Hammond, Paul of according to a c. 1955 photograph at the Municipal Building. At this time, the retail operation (8-86) 1907). The contractor for this remodeling work was the local firm of Joseph Bender & Company, become one of the largest and best known stores in southern Ohio and the tri-state region. Spatial Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building demands during the lease and soon after its purchase required their expansion to the second and third space in the same building with Robinson-Schwenn Company.By this time as well, the Hamilton.The screen was one of the earliest to be installed on a downtown building in Hamilton, to their present appearance and the prismatic glass was installed.
directly across the street at 224-226 High Street; J. G. McCrory's Variety Store at 238-240 High OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio CONTINUATION SHEET occupied 30,000 square feet and employed 100 people. the vicinity. An ad for the Robinson-Schwenn Company in 1954 stated that it was "For Almost Half merchandise". The modernization campaign, however, did not result in long term success for their Company closed its doors. The downtown landmark was bought and soon occupied by Cincinnati- based Mabley & Carew Company. The store became Hamilton's most prestigious place for the consumer of household and clothing goods, although only for a brief 13 years.
In 1977, the Mabley &Carew store closed in Hamilton and three years later, was occupied by a Dollar General Store occupied the building. Remaining for approximately 12 years until it, too, closed in 1992, the Dallas- based discount retail occupation of the building only echoed the economic trends and history of the city. By the 1990s, Hamilton had lost its manufacturing prominence in the regional and national A substantial rehabilitation of the building has been carried out over the past three years and several new tenants, mainly governmental, now occupy the building. The most notable part of the rehabilitation of the building was the removal of the facade screen, one of the first in downtown economy. (8-86) operation.
Ten years later, in 1964, after nearly 57 years of business, the Robinson-Schwenn National Register of Historic Places in the near future, a Century,Hamilton's Dominant Style Store"and to"Rely on Robinson-Schwenn for quality Hamilton tobe applied,and the first to come off,hopefully sparking a popular trend in this direction the shopping district of Hamilton.In that same year, there were also seven 5 and 10 cent stores in NPS Form 10-900-a In 1954,there were nine department stores in the two-block area of High Street that had always been Section 8 Page 7 NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio CONTINUATION SHEET Blount, James. "Robinson-Schwenn Store Fixture in Downtown for Nearly 60 Years," Journal Cone, Stephen Decator.
Biographical and Historical Sketches: A Narrative of Hamilton and Its Residents from 1792 to 1896, Republican Publishing Co., Hamilton, Ohio, 1896. Daily Republican-News, Various articles in 1907 "City to Have New Dry-Goods Store", March 14, 1907 "New York Racket Stores Always at Your Service", March 22, 1907 "Bottle of Whiskey 41 Years Old Found", June 19, 1907 Heiser, Alta Harvey. Hamilton in the Making, Mississippi Valley Press, Oxford, Ohio, 1941. Illustrated Supplement to the Hamilton Daily News. Our 50th Year Featuring the Great Resources of Butler County, Dec. 20, 1928. McBride. McBride's Map of 1836 combined with the Atlases of 1875 and 1895 County of Butler. Ohio, Whipporwill Publications. McClung, D. W. The Centennial Anniversary of Hamilton. Ohio, Hamilton, Ohio, 1982, Whipporwill Publications, 1987. Preston, Daniel F.
Market and Milltown Hamilton, Ohio 1795-1860, UMI Dissertation Services, The Republic News. Greater Hamilton Edition, "The Robinson-Schwenn Building, One of the Greatest Stores in Southern Ohio". Sanborn Map Company, 1887, 1892, 1899 and 1927 maps (Hamilton, Ohio). 1987. (8-86) Bibliography Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building "New Company Is Incorporated", March 19, 1907 National Register of Historic Places Blount,James."Globe Opera House,Hamilton's Show Business Center for 38 Years,"Journal News, Nov. 15, 1995. "Announcement", March 14, 1907 Section 9 Page 1 NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio CONTINUATION SHEET Department, 1986. See, James W.
"Manufacturers of Hamilton" and "Cincinnati Brewing Company", The Centennial Anniversary of Hamilton, Ohio, The Lawrence Printing and Publishing Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, 1891. (8-86) Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building Bibliography (continued) Section 9 Page NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio CONTINUATION SHEET The Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building is located on the north 108 feet of Lot 101 in the Second Ward of Hamilton, Ohio. c.
1895 rear addition is located (8-86) Boundary Justification Verbal Boundary Description The building is on its original site, since its construction in 1866, and includes the area where the Section Page Butler County, Ohio Original stairwell 1895 ADDITION. 1948 ELEVATOR NORTH STAIRWELL COLUMN SUPPORT R.obinson-Schwenn FIRST FLOOR CURRENT FLOOR PLAN Butler County, Ohio 1895 ADDITION Robinson-Schwenn Unaltered Condition ELEVATOR SHAFTS APPROXIMATE LOCATION 4-NORTH 3rd Floor Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building, Butler County, Ohio This Ticket entitles the holder To take place at Hamilton.O.Dec.3l 187O. 30077 Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building, Butler County, Ohio View High St., East ot Reily St. Hamilton, O. Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building HAMILTON ADVERTISEMENT8. - 8100,000 JOHN B. CORNELL, Cashier Of Hamilton, Ohio. CAPITAL OPERA BUILDING.
SURPLUS P. HUGHES, PETER MURPHY. DIRECTORS: FIRST NATIONAL BANK J. W. SOHN, S. D. FITTON, Asst. Cashier. M. HUGHES, JAMES BEATTY, Capital Prize ! IN THE Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building HAMILTON OPERA HOUSE DRAWING Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building, Butler County, Ohio Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building, Butler County, Ohio Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building Ruins of cottage on Removing debris and spoiled wares from the business section. 188/ Sanborn-Perris Map of Hamilton, Ohio REILEY 1892 Sanborn-Perris Map of Hamilton, Ohio REILEY 230% 246250 JOURNAL HIGH 1927 Sanborn Map of Hamilton, Ohio 252 254 RENESCHLER BLDG 209 251 STEEL.
GARAGE 207B OGT Dixon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building, Butler Gounty, Ohio xon/Globe Opera House/Robinson-Schwenn Building NATIONAL PARK SERVICE EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET NAME : DATE OF 16TH DAY: DATE OF 45TH DAY: OTHER : N PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: COMMENT WAIVER: N ACCEPT ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: RECOM. /CRITERIA DOCUMENTATION see attached comments Y/N see attached SLR Y/N TELEPHONE DATE 7/31/00 MULTIPLE 6/16/00 REJECT RETURN DISCIPLINE 7/12/00 REVIEWER PERIOD: DATE RECEIVED: NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR REASONS FOR REVIEW: Entered in the DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: APPEAL: N PDIL: National Regleter 1866 Photo James MCDowell 20 High St., Hamilton OH Streetscape and east elevation Robinson Schwenn Building ( view looking wes+) Negatves: Hamithon Economic Dev.
Butler County of Photo James MCDowell Robinson Sehwenn Building Negatives: Hamilton Economic Dev. 2D High St, Hami ton OH Butler.County oH Streetscape (view looking east) Butler County Ohio James MeDowedl Back elevation (view looking east) Photo Ro binson Seh wenn Building Negatives: Hami lton Economic Dev. 20 High St. Hamilton OH FOR LEASE James=MCDowell Northwest corner Ist floor exterion Photo Robinson Schwenn Building Butler County OH 10/30 /48 Butter County Ohio James MCDowell Photo# 6 Robinson Sch wenn Building West elevation back third 189s addition 20 high St. Hamilton OH Hamil ton Economic Dev. Negatives:t West elevation back two thirds Ro binson Sehwenn Building Negatives: Hamilton Economic Dev. James Me Dowell 20 High S+. Hamiton OH Butler County Ohio Photo #y BROWN Butler County OH Photo #8 Robinson Sehwenn Building Negatives: Hamilton Economic Dev.
North elevation and bay window detall James Me Dowell 20 High st. Hamilton, OH Butler County of 20 High St., Hamitton OH West elevation brick corbell detail Robinson Sehwenn Building James Me Dowell Neg ativis: Hami Iton Economic Dev. Photo 10/30/98 James MCDowell Photo Negatives: Hamilton Economic Dev. Butler County OH Robinson Sehwenn Building Ist floor view looking north cast corner 20 High St.,Hamilton O H James MºDowell Ist floor interion view looking at southeast Robinson Schwenn Building Corner and tin ceiling detail. 20 high St., Hami Iton OH Butler County Ohio Photo Negatives: Hamilton Economic Dev. 20 High St., Hamilton, OH west elevation and elevator Bobinson Sehwenn Building James Me Dowell and floor interior looking to central Negatives: Hami Iton Economic Dev.
Robinson Sehwenn Building 20 High St., Hamilton, OH Window treatment, wall treatment, James Me Dowell Butler County of Photo Negahives: Hami hon Economic Dev. and floor Ist office exit and floor view to northwest conner Photo Robinson Sehwenn Building James Me Dowell 20 High St.Hamilton OH Butler County ohio Negatives: Hamilton Economic Dev. James MCDowell 20 High St., Hamitton OH Robinson Sehwenn Building Negatives: Hamilton Economic Dev. Butler County OH BROUN STDSI79J092 wall, and ceiling treatment Robinson Sehwenn Building 3d floor interior central office window, 20 high St.,Hami1ton, OH James MCDowell Negatines: ' Hamilton Economic Dev. Butler County of 20 tigh St. Hamilton, OH Robinson Sehwenn Building James Me Dowell Negatives:Hami Iton Economic Dev.
3rd floor central north interior rose window ROUN Photo 3rd Floor interior and ceiling window treutment Neg ati'ves: Hamilton Economic Dev. Bu+ler County OH Robinson- Sehwenn Building James Me Dowell 20 High St. Hami ton, OH 20 High St., Hamilton OH Shatt ared and ceiling. Negatives: Hami lton Economic Dev. Robinson- Sehwenn Building Butler County OH Yth floor view interior west elevator James Me Dowell 10/30/48 Butler County Ohio Negatives: Hamilton Economic Dept, 4th floor 2nd bay interion North Robinson. Sehwenn Building James Me Dowell 20 thigh St., Hamilton OH 4tfloor E elevation window treatment Robinson- Sehwenn Building Negafives: Hamilton Economic Dev. James Me Dowell Photo Negatives: Hamilton Economic Dev.
window Robinson Sehwean Building Tames ue Dowell Butter County ohio 1895 addition wall and Stairwell 75 MINUTE SERIES (TOPOGRAPHIC) HAMILTON QUADRANGLE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HAMILTON, OHIO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY UNITED STATES ROAD CLASSIFICATION 39084-D5-TF-024 OHIO-BUTLER CO.
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