Nomination for Oliver, John G., House

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

1. Name Oliver, John G., House "Wildwood" Estate and/or common 2. Location street & number - not for publication city, town - vicinity of - state - county X public . unoccupied - agriculture - museum * building(s) - private . commercial - park _ structure .both work in progress _ educational - private residence _ site .entertainment . object : in process - yes: unrestricted - government . scientific X other: recreation 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. has this property been determined elegible? _ federal depository for survey records 039 code Painesville Category transportation Mentor Accessible date Ownership historic religious industrial Status district Ohio Lake Public Acquisition being considered Inventory-Nomination Form Type all entries-complete applicable sections 7645 Little Mountain Road 6.

Representation in Existing Surveys Lake County Recorder's Office For HCRS use only Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service 3. Classification National Register of Historic Places Present Use See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms City of Mentor 105 Main Street title United States Department of the Interior received SEP 4 8500 Civic Center Boulevard military 1 1981 - yes - local Ohio 44060 FHR-8-300 (11-78) date enterecOCT 7. Description X excellent - unaltered X original site X altered _ moved The wings' gabled roofs are hipped, accentuating a longer, lower effect that chimneys in the structure, all with corbelled bands at the top. The structural rafters at the eaves, and leaded windows with diamond panes. Interior: On the main floor, the central block houses an entry hall, 10' wide and dining room; on the other, a great hall or living room.

These rooms are 1935-1940, to the original south wing, for the purpose of expanding servants' compatible with the original house. A flat-roofed, frame construction, one-story kitchen were modernized, and therefore greatly altered in appearance, in 1956-1957. Condition ruins unexposed fair Check one brickwork is carried up to the second floor.The exterior wall treatment is paneled or wainscoted with flat panels of oak.Both the dining room and the house architecture, characterized by exposed timbers and beam ends, exposed three stories, with a gabled roof running in an east-west direction. This living room have a fireplace of dressed stone. Beyond the dining room to the Additions and alterations:The structure has been modified by an addition, ca.

-deteriorated forms are derivative of the late Medieval and early Renaissance English manor running the full width of the building.On one side of the hall is a formal Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

south is the kitchen and service area. quarters and service area.This addition was made with great care and is dormers in the structure; of these, two on the east side extend to form bays. the south wings (both the original and the addition),the service areas and in shape.It is 108' long and 37'at its greatest width.The foundation is of red brick laid in English bond.In the south wing (approx.21'by 24') the One of the latter is extended ll'4"and is 12'wide.There are four brick stucco, broken with non-structural exposed timbers. -good belies the height and mass of the structure. There are thirteen gabled wall garage was later added (1948), also to the south side. On the main floor, in date The main block is of . archeology-historic . sculpture . theater X 1900- -other (specify) industrialist.

"Wildwood, " as the family called it, remains an excellent example of the elaborate country residences of prominent Cleveland gentlemen, estates that were common in the early twentieth century in Mentor, Kirtland Hills, Kirt- land, and Waite Hill in Lake County.It was designed by the important Cleveland there drafted the plans for the Lick Telescope, then the largest in the world. In 1891, he was co-founder of Bardons & Oliver, a machine tool firm. Visits to Abram Garfield (1872-1958), a son of President James A. Garfield, studied public housing projects.

Also in the early 1930s, Garfield was President of the commerce 1908 1800-1899 1400-1499 1700-1799 1500-1599 engineering transportation education exploration/settlement humanitarian industry Period agriculture prehistoric conservation social/ politics/government _communications philosophy law literature preference for English manor house architecture of the late Middle Ages and early late fall.The estate remained in the family until Oliver's granddaughters sold Meade and Garfield were among the most important residential architects in Cleve- both long and distinguished.For several years he was President of the Cleveland architect Abram Garfield. of Garfield's early residential commissions. Specific dates Cleveland City Plan Commission at the time of the completion of Daniel Burnham's at M.I.T.and began his architectural practice in 1898 with Frank B.Meade.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Garfield was familiar with the Medieval-Renaissance Revival and was to become invention John G.Oliver came to Cleveland in 1882 after his graduation from Worces- tive of the English manor house, and he hired Abram Garfield as architect. After Areas of Significance-Check and justify below music one of the foremost eclectic architects of the Cleveland area. His career was land at that time of substantial suburban development to the east of the city.In military Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

(in one paragraph) Chapter of the A.I.A.In 1925 he was appointed to the Fine Arts Commission of 1905,Garfield became the head of his own firm until his retirement in 1950. This residence was the home of John G.Oliver (186l-l939),a prominent Cleveland Renaissance.He commissioned a seasonal residence to be built in a style evoca- the house's completion in 1908,the Olivers lived in it from early spring until _economics - art _ archeology-prehistoric - community planning X architecture the property to the City of Mentor for use as a park in 1980. Cleveland Group Plan (N.R.). The Oliver house is one of the most representative 1600-1699 science the United States.In the 1930s his firm was active in planning some of the first England to meet with sales agents for the firm whetted his appreciation of and ter Polytehnic Institute.He was employed by Warner & while 9.

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

Major Bibliographical References Zephaniah and Silence Alden Hathaway (Mentor, OH: 1961). Oliver-Collacott Family Collection, Lake County Historical Society Library. 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property - Quadrangle name - Tract 2, Lot 4, Mentor, Ohio. 11. Form Prepared By Eric J. Cardinal street & number The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: _ national As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89 665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service.

GPO 938 835 216-255-8722 code Mentor date county organization Northing Zone Easting name/title telephone Chief of Registration Ohio Entered in the local Attest: 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification November 1980 Verbal boundary description and justification List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries UMT References The property consists of one acre immediately surrounding the house in Lake County Historical Society 8095 Mentor Avenue State Historic Preservation Officer signature National Register For HCRS use only city or town SHPO X state M. O. Collacott and R. T. Grandin, The Ancestors and Descendants of Ie Reeper of the National Register I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register . 2.82 _ Determination of Eligiblity - Multiple Resource Area _ On Nomination Form Maps Photos 5 _ 2nd Return _ Other I.

Evaluation of Resource (cont. on back if necessary) II. Evaluation of Nomination 1. Descriptive Statement Short Format - 2. Significance Statement _Yes _ No 3. Concepts/Integrity 4. Concepts/Criteria 5. Concepts/Boundaries 6. Contextual Evaluation U.S.

Department of the Interior Good Comments REJECT Nomination Name dnr-3 Adequate Local Within: Reviewer/Date Structure See Attached State Staff Nomination prepared by: Site Poor Thematic Group Entered in the National Park Service Federal Register Date Keeper's Decision to Review Fed Nom or Request-Agency Object State Request for Review General Comments(cont.on back if necessary): Bldg(s) Action:National Begister District Check if Appropriate: Oliver, John G., House, Mentor, Lake Co., Photo: Len Zito, May 1981 ern end SEP 1 1981 Mentor View of facade looking east showing south- Negatives: Wildwood Cultural Center Ohio FRont OCT Oliver, John G., House, Mentor, Lake County Photo: Len Zito, May 1981 ern end 1 1981 Mentor OCT Ohio Negatives: Wildwood Cultural Center, View of facade looking east showing north- SEP 4 West Oliver, John G., House, Mentor, Lake Co., Photo: Len Zito, May 1981 1 1981 Mentor Ohio Negatives: Wildwood Cultural Center View of facade looking east west SEP 4 Photo: Len Zito, May 1981 South - FAsh SEP 4 1 1981 Mentor Oliver, John G., House, Mentor, Lake Co., Ohio Negatives: Wildwood Cultural Center View of rear from southeast corner SEP 4 Photo: Len Zito, May 1981 North - Eash 1 1981 Mentor Negatives:Wildwood Cultural Center OCT Ohio Oliver, John G., House, Mentor, Lake Co., View rear from northeast corner Pirec GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MENTOR QUADRANGLE 4612/000 North UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Mentor, Lake County MENTOR, OHIO RESOLUTION NO.

80-R-131 WILDWOOD PARK AS A HISTORIC BUILDING AND DESIGNATION OF SAID BUILDING IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. WHEREAS, as a result of an analysis of the large estate Manor House Lake County Historical Society and the Western Reserve Historical Society, it NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MENTOR, COUNTY OF LAKE, STATE OF OHIO: SECTION 1. That the Council of the City of Mentor hereby designates the to make application to the United States Department of the Interior, Heritage SECTION 3. That it is found and determined that all formal actions of adopted in an open meeting of this Council, and that all deliberations of this Council and of any of its committees that resulted in such formal action, were cluding Section 121.22 of the Ohio Revised Code. SECTION 4. That this resolution shall take effect and be in force from 1980 /s/ Joseph P.

Tiefenbach /s/ Lois C. Lunsford City of Mentor, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and exact copy of 10/21/80 Acting ATTEST: building having historical significance. ADOPTED: COUNCIL CHAMBER Public Lands Director historic building. Places provides eligibility for federal building preservation and humanities state and federal designation in the National Register of Historic Places this Council concerning and relating to the adoption of this resolution were October 21 Conservation and Recreation Service, for the purpose of acquiring designation of grants to augment the facility as a cultural center.

in meetings open to the public, in compliance with all legal requirements in- register; and WHEREAS, designation of a structure in the National Register of Historic located within Wildwood Park and numerous discussions with officials of the Manor House within Wildwood Park located at 7645 Little Mountain Road as a A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE MANOR HOUSE IN City of Mentor the Manor House in the National Register of Historic Places as a historical AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO APPLY FOR Clerk of Council has been collectively determined that the Manor House may be eligible to receive SECTION 2. That the City Manager, or his designee, is hereby authorized and after its adoption at the earliest period allowed by law. REGISTER SEP 4 NATIONAL MENTOR, OHIO 44060 PHONE 216 - 255-1100 - - . -- CLEVELAND NO.

942-8796 November 12, 1980 Columbus, Ohio 44211 On Tuesday, October 21, 1980, the Mentor City Council desig- nated the former John G. Oliver House ("Wildwood"), 7645 Little Mountain Road, Mentor, Ohio, as a historic building and authorized OF HISTORIC PLACES, United States Department of the Interior, Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service. Please find attached, a copy of Resolution 80-R-131, pertaining to same.

appropriately readied for a prospective December 18, 1980, public given to the proper selection of furnishings, floor coverings and ated in 1981, relative to the restoration of the formal estate As an Adult Cultural Center, the manor house will serve as the lecture series, fine arts instructional programs, a cultural arts Lake County Creative Artists Guild, Mentor Library and other applicable organizations, the Cultural Center will also serve as COUNCIL - MANAGER GOVERNMENT architectural integrity of the manor house through systematic and focal point for adult cultural enrichment in our fine community. operation and assistance of the Lake County Historical Society, Ohio Historical Society State Historical Officer gardens to their apparent original grandeur. as a municipal park.

large and stately English manor house and contiguous 34.5 acre parcel The City of Mentor intends to protect the exterior and interior a central resource and program catalyst for the general public. of the house.A formal ornamental landscaping program will be initi- worthy public attention due to the evident charm of the manor house. 8500 CIVIC CENTER BLVD. Dear Sirs: the City Manager to apply for designation in the NATIONAL REGISTER In April,1980,the City of Mentor was fortunate to acquire the CITY Of MENTOR thorough preservation programs. At present, the manor house is being The gift/purchase acquisition has and continues to receive note- opening as an Adult Cultural Center.Careful consideration has been interior decorations so as not to compromise the existing personality research library and special passive activities.

Through the co- Plans are being formulated to offer art exhibits and exhibitions, November 12, 1980 1ooks forward to accepting the varied challenges and opportunities Att (2) Sincerely, potential. EJP/dt City Manager present and future generations. The City of Mentor is extremely proud of the manor house and State Historical Officer the house will offer as a public facility for the enjoyment of Edward J.Podojil HISTORIC PLACES would provide a wonderful foundation for existing Designation of the manor house in the NATIONAL REGISTER OF SEP REGISTER Oliver, John Ges House Colunbus, Ohio 43211 Location Eady/ts/10.7.81 OCT STATE Name Date Entered 272-3504 Jefferson County Also Notified Midwest Region, NPS For further information, please call the National Register at (202)343-640l. Cuyahoga County Honorable Howard M.

Metzenbaum ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER Mentor Honorable Douglas Applegate Wintersville vicinity Lake County State Historic Preservation Officer Honorable Ronald M. Mottl Bantam Ridge School Honorable J. William Stanton Interstate 71 at 17th Avenue DE- W. Ray lace The Ohio Historical Society Honorable John Glenn Steazns, Lyman, Farm Pazna