Nomination for Downing, John, Jr., House

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

United States Department of the Interior and areas of significance, enter only the categories and subcategories listed in the instructions. For additional space use continuation sheets (Form 10-900a). Type all entries. Name of Property other names/site number street & number N/A not for publication city, town N/A vicinity State Teigs 3. Classification Ownership of Property Category of Property X private Jpublic-Federal Name of felated multiple property listing: Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register - 4. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966,as amended, I hereby certify that this Signature of certifying official Ohio Historic Preservation Office State or Federal agency and bureau Signature of commenting or other official 5.

National Park Service Certification 1, hereby, certify that this property is: Tentered in the National Register. determined eligible for the National determined not eligible for the removed from the National Register. other, (explain:) Date of Action 45760 Noncontributing Registration Form 105 MEG-267-14 Total structure county Middleport National Register of Historic Places Date public-State public-local district site National Register. 4-2-93 object historic name National Park Service 220-232 North Second Avenue Number of Resources within Property See continuation sheet. zip code Signature of the Keeper _buildings for Completing National Register Forms (National Register Bulletin 16). Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or by entering 2. Location National Register ofHistoric Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60.

Register. See continuation sheet. NPS Form 10-800 This form is for use in nominatingor requesting determinations of eligibility for individual properties or districts. See instructions in Guidelines nomination request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the John Downing Jr. House, Meigs Co. Ohio 6. Function or Use Historic Functions (enter categories from instructions) Current Functions (enter categories from instructions) 7. Description sandstone, brick foundation - asphalt, metal Describe present and historic physical appearance. [X See continuation sheet brick other Architectural Classification DOMESTIC/Single_dwelling Colonial Revival SEE ATTACHED.

(enter categories from instructions) COMMERCE/TRADE/business roof Materials (enter categories from instructions) walls National Park Service Natlonal Register of Historlc Places Section number _ John Downing Jr. House, Meigs Co., Ohio opened for business in 1868. Alterations in 1921 added Colonial Revival common bond pattern. Its five bay symmetrical facade features a central lintels and sills. The first floor facade windows are 9/9 double hung and a metal roof. All of the facade windows and the main entryway were changed to their present form in 192l, the same year that the dormers were added. At that same time a new wooden cornice was added on the facade with returns on the gable ends. ice delivery door is still visible in the kitchen wall although it is no County. elements (discussed below). the house to the two story former carriage house at the rear of the lot.

sash, all having an inset panel below the windows which have decorative entryway with paired doors, engaged pilasters, and an extended, columned A small, frame one story porch-like addition was added to the rear The Downing House and connecting office are located in the heart of which has been replaced with asphalt shingles. End chimneys are built of the downtown commercial district of Middleport, Ohio, a village of metal grills installed over them.The second floor windows are 6/9 brick and have decorative corbelling. The attached one story office still The two story four-over-four house is built of brick laid in a Until recently (l989) the house had a standing seam metal roof The Downing House was built in l859. The adjoining office was Contlnuatlon Sheet along the rear property line.

portico with a decorative metal balustrade.All windows have sandstone double hung sash.Two dormers face the street, each has 6/6 windows siding on this small addition(see photo).To the left of this addition the retains its standing seam metal roof. is attached to a 6' high masonry block wall that acts as a privacy fence United States Department of the Interlor The brick rear wing of the house has a brick addition which connects The brick carriage house, converted to a two-bay garage some years ago, door (kitchen area) with lattice around the doorway.There is aluminum Page United States Department of the Interlor National Park Service Natlonal Register of Historlc Places Continuation Sheet Section number - - John Downing Jr. House, Meigs Co., Ohio popular in that era. It also has corner pilasters and engaged pilasters between the windows on the side.

The windows are 4/4 with false panels flanking the paired entry doors. A decorative metal balustrade runs around three sides of the sunroom roof. The false panels beneath windows, paired entry doors, pilasters, decorative metal balustrades, and multi-paned windows repeat elements The exterior of the house was painted in I92l. Specifications by the that all of the iron balustrades and grills on the exterior be manufactured Hamilton, Ohio. Mr. Crowther, the architect, designed the balustrades for that took place at that time. A side porch from the kitchen was removed room and office was enclosed to become a den.

Bathrooms were added, one on each floor, while an outdated bathroom on the second floor was plans.) story, and has triple windows on the front in the Colonial Revival style old kitchen, and the kitchen and pantry were moved further back with the architect called for all exterior painted brickwork to be wire brushed and beneath, including smaller false panels on the narrow 2/2 windows to prepare for the addition of the sunroom.A rear porch behind the living spindles and brackets. The foundation, steps and curbs were removed and the building. longer used. In 192l an enclosed sleeping porch was constructed above the which the architect specified as "Bungalow Siding." by either The Newman Mfg. Co. of Cincinnati or Fred J. Meyers Co. of sleeping porch added above.(No measurements were included with the that were changed on the original house during the same l92l renovations.

The central entryway was changed to its present form in 192l painted with three coats of "Cabot's Old Virginia Cream No. 9" from In 192l a sunroom was added to the side of the house. It is brick, one Samuel Cabot, Inc.,of Boston, Ma. The 192l specifications also required - Page _z wood clapboards, Surviving l92l floor plans of the building indicate further changes kitchen. It is also frame construction, covered with removed.A"breakfast nook" and "servery" were created from part of the United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Natlonal Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number _ John Downing Jr. House, Meigs Co., Ohio iron balustrade above replaced the old porch in the same Colonial Revival replaced with paired French doors as on the new addition. The small short distance from the front of the house to the sidewalk. by the architect.

Birch and poplar were used for interior woodwork. On plaster and lath. Old bathroom fixtures were removed, and a new upstairs became a sewing room. A new wooden cornice was added to the exterior of the office to match that put on the house in 192l, but no other changes occured to the Colonial Revival elements include: Symetrically balanced windows and center door One-storied side wing addition with flat roof Dormers break roof line form entry porch Double hung sash windows with multi-pane glazing in both sasher bathroom installed with the sleeping porch. One of the former bedrooms the second floor, wooden walls with wainscoting were replaced with office. The original windows and doors remain. the bottom risers.

An additional stairway from the parlor was removed, paired doors leading to it from the living room.The sunroom also got a The new, shallow extended portico with columns, engaged pilasters, and Accentuated front door with pediment with pilasters and columns to type of house with classic Colonial Revival alterations done in l92l. The and the old parlor became the new living room. The new sunroom had altering the interior central stairway by adding elonged curved treads at plastered.

Plaster ceilings in the parlor, living room and dining room were style as the sunroom addition.The wooden front entry doors were Other changes that occured to the Downing House in 192l included the Wheeling Tile Company of West Virginia).The sunroom walls were Two-story end gabled roof former lawn area was partially bricked to make a patio extending the removed and redone on metal lath with detailed plaster cornices specified those bricks were saved for reuse on the front terrace and new driveway. new fireplace and tile floors (specified to be 6" x 6" red quary tiles from four-over-four The Downing House maintains its integrity as a Page Natlonal Register of Historlc Places - John Downing Jr. House, Meigs Co., Ohio Attached to the kitchen at the rear of the house by a one story to alterations it has received. It extends to the wall at the edge of the used for storage.

between the bathroom and back bedroom on the first floor and connects the first floor with the bedrooms on the second floor. are like the Downing House as it was before the 192l Colonial Revival changes. Another has Italianate details, indicating a possible later date the entire facade with roof of house extended over the portico, making it had Colonial Revival elements added to them. alterations have added rollup track type garage doors.Three windows are automobile garage many years ago (circa 1950s), and subsequent property line. The carriage house was converted to be used as a two bay passageway from the pantry is the former carriage house which is a two county.

Of the other similar building types identified in Middleport, two exhibits a definite Southern influence with a two-storied portico across The 1984 summer survey of Meigs County identified a total of five of construction.The last house at l9l Third Avenue is a similar type, but four over four end gable houses in Middleport (238-14, 243-14, 267-14, Continuatlon Sheet very unlike the Downing House with its flat facade and protruding entryway.None of the other houses of this type identified in Middleport story brick building which is no longer a contributing part of the house due National Park Service 275-14,and 278-14),one of these being the Downing House(267-14). In l96l an elevator was added.It is located off the rear hallway Unlted States Department of the Interior Section number _ There were a total of only 18 such house types identified for the entire Page John Downing Jr.

House, Meigs Co., Ohio Lstatewide Applicable National Register Criteria Criteria Considerations (Exceptions) Miller, R. A., Lumber Co., Contractor XX See continuation sheet COMMERCE ARCHITECTURE 1921 SEE ATTACHED. nationally Significant Dates Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

Period of Significance Certitying official has considered the significance of this property in relation to other properties: *locally Areas of Significance (enter categories from instructions) 1914-1942 State significance of property, and justify criteria, criteria considerations, and areas and periods of significance noted above. United States Department of the Interlor National Park Service Natlonal Register of Historlc Places John Downing Jr. House, Meigs Co., Ohio The Downing House is being nominated for its significance under Criterion B in the area of commerce becauseit was the home of John B. It is also significant under Criterion Cin the area of architecture for the changes that occurred in 192l making the Downing House a good example identified work of the prominent Charleston, West Virginia, architect insurance business in an addition to the house in 1868. His son, John B.

over the family insurance business. West Virginia and Kentucky following: Middleport at public schools, and at thirteen went to work in his father's to four generations of Downings. Rodney's son, John B. Downing, was a The "Major" retired to the family home in Middleport and opened an (the "Major's") insurance business. While he stayed with that business, Downing, Jr., a locally prominent businessman and founder of a local bank. Union fleet of gunboats past the beseiged city of Vicksburg (MS). He was Charles B. Galbreath wrote about John B. Downing, Jr.,in his History known as Mark Twain. Clemens wrote about Downing as "Aligator Jack" in he branched out into a wide scope of business enterprises, including the Life on the Mississippi. The Downing House, built in l859 for Rodney Downing, has been home wounded at this battle.

However, the "Major" was perhaps best known for President of The Downing Coal Co., brokerage for coal from Ohio, Meigs County than that of Downing (John B., Jr.)."John Jr. was educated in Contlnuatlon Sheet "Major" died in 19l4, John B., Jr., remained in the family home and took his association with a cub pilot on the rivers, Samuel Clemens, otherwise of the Colonial Revival style.lt is also significant as the only currently Development of Noble Summit coal mines in Meigs County Downing, Jr., was born in Middleport a few years later in l875. When the Frederick (Fred) Crowther on the Ohio side of the Ohio River Valley. Section number - represents a broader interest and richer contents of personal history in Page of Ohio, Vol. IV(1925),in which he stated:"Probably no one name Natlonal Park Service Natlonal Register of Historlc Places Continuation Sheet John Downing Jr.

House, Meigs Co., Ohio Developer of oil and gas wells and salt mines President of the Pomeroy Salt Association Owner of several gas franchises in Gallipolis and Middleport President and owner of water companies in Middleport and Pomeroy on real estate with no dollars lost Associated with the Middleport Brick Company Served as member of Middleport City Council for 22 years Served on the Republican State Executive Committee to update the family home to reflect his prominence in the community. He hired an architect, Fred Crowther of Charleston, West Virginia, who was from 1920 to 1927. While in Charleston, two of his best known house Charleston in 1927 and worked as a free-lance illustrator for many Detroit architects. Pencil Points described his work in the July, 1940 issue as Downing house in Middleport. John B. Downing, Jr., died in 1961.

follows: He financed the paving of Village of Middleport streets (with brick) Was an organizer of the (Middleport) Citizens National Bank floated onto tinted green or gray board, rendered in transparent John B. Downing, Jr., was a friend of Senator Robert Taft. Whenever Revival residences.

As a rule, his colored drawings are made on tracing paper well known in that city for his designs of English inspired and Colonial It is not surprising that the successful John B., Downing, Jr., decided larger Tudor-inspired "Briarwood"(l922).Both are listed on the National designs are the "English Cottage" Barnes-Wellford House (c.l923) and the which piped Ohio gas into Point Pleasant, WV Crowther, a native of Manchester, England, lived in Charleston (Wv) business brought Senator Taft to the Meigs County area, he stayed at the Served as representative of the Building and Loan Company of Bellaire (Belmont County), and made loans of $7,0o0,000 Organized the Cheshire Oil and Gas Company United States Department of the Intorlor Section number Register of Historic Places.Crowther moved to Detroit (Ml) from Page United States Department of the Interlor National Park Service Natlonal Register of Historlc Places John Downing Jr.

House, Meigs Co., Ohio accurate perspective layouts. specified by Crowther. business as well as his father's other business concerns. He also served as president of the Meigs Water Company and as president of the Citizens 1819, was named to honor former Ohio Governor Return Jonathan Meigs of River before the railroads arrived in Meigs County in the 1870s. communities on the Ohio River. Both villages had harbors for the river trade. modernizations to reflect John B. Downing, Jr.'s, prominence. A local coal producing counties in Ohio. The coal was easily shipped on the Ohio Architect Fred Crowther designed the changes that occurred to the Downing lived in the family home until his death in July, 1992, at age 94. National Bank, both businesses which were started by his father. Rodney "modern" Colonial Revival appearance, the interior was generally updated contractor, R. A.

Miller Lumber Company of Middleport, did the actual work with new bathrooms, sunroom, kitchen and breakfast nook, etc., all Detroit in Park View Memorial Cemetery. late 19th and early 20th centuries, Meigs County was one of the leading county were of New England descent, some having settled first in discovered in Meigs County, the first coal being mined in l8l9. During the Washington County to the north.Soon rich deposits of salt and coal were convalescent home. He died in August 1955 at age 75. He is buried in Downing residence in Middleport in l92l.The exterior was given the John B. Downing, Jr., had a son, Rodney, who took over the insurance Crowther spent his last years in Detroit ill and confined to a population of more than 5ooo).

The two largest villages have Meigs County, formed from parts of Gallia and Athens Counties in The first court in Meigs County was held in the unincorporated Marietta(elected Governor in l8lo).Most of the early settlers in the Continuation Sheet Section number - Sparsely settled, there are no cities in Meigs County (towns with a colors with tempera for sky and highlights.Believes in meticulously traditionally been and remain Pomeroy and Middleport, adjoining Page Natlonal Register of Historlc Places Continuation Sheet Section number _ John Downing Jr. House, Meigs Co., Ohio county seat, but that did not occur. (Today, Pomeroy is the county seat.) was incorporated June 7,1855, after the town was laid out by Philip Jones. Its boundaries were revised on December II, 1874, to incorporate Middleport have shared a common boundary since that time.

Middleport received its name for the geographic fact that it is located halfway between the two largest ports on the Ohio River, was the only natural means of transportation in the county.Middleport "Lower Pomeroy" into Middleport. The two communities of Pomeroy and Pittsburg and Cincinnati.In the early years of the county, the Ohio River village of Middleport in April, l8l9.Middleport expected to become the United States Department of the Interlor Natlonal Park Service Page John Downing Jr. House, Mleigs Co., Ohio 9.

Major Bibllographical Roferences [x See continuation sheet Previous documentation on file (NPS): N/A -preliminary determination of individual listing (36 CFR 67) Primary location of additional data: has been requested Jpreviously listed in the National Register previously determined eligible by the National Register Local government Jrecorded by Historic American Buildings Jrecorded by Historic American Engineering 10.

The rest of the file

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

Geographical Data Acreage of property - less than one acre Verbal Boundary Description House located on Lot 10, middle lot of three (9, 10,11). Each lot measures 50' x 113' deep. City of Middleport. The boundary includes the entire city lot 10 and the two adjoining lots, 9 and 11, that have been historically associated with the property. 11. Form Prepared By Mary Anne Peters, Regional Cooratnator organization Ohie Historic Preservation Office street & number Bentley Hall, History Dept., Ohio Univ. (614) 593-4342 University Attached. Zone Easting Other Boundary Justification Specify repository: designated a National Historic Landmark UTM References telephonght0 'Northing Lu [State historic preservation office Federal agency Survey * Record # August 31, 1992 city ortown- _ zip code Other State agency name/title LLL United States Department of the Interlor Sectlon number _ John Downing Jr.

House, Meigs Co., Ohio Volume XIX, No. 2, March-April, 199l House Journal, Volume XVIII, No. 2, March-April, 1990 S and D Reflector, Volume 27, No. I, March 1990, Marietta, Ohio, no author: 1983 Newspapers: Galbreath, Charles B.,History of Ohio, Volume IV, The American Historical District Housing Redevelopment and Renovation Program, Athens, Ohio, BIBLIOGRAPHY Reiser, David, and Associates, Architects; Middleport Central Business Knopf, New York, 1985 The Daily News, Pomeroy, March, 1914 Massey, James C., and Maxwell, Shirley; "The Formal Revivals, The McAlester, Virginia and Lee; A Field Guide to American Houses, Alfred A. The Athens Messenger, Athens, 19l4 (?) "Famous Pilot and Violinist Recalled" Ferris, Hugh; "Re Renderings," Pencil Points, Volume XXl, No.

7, July, 1940 Continuatlon Sheet Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925 Massey, James C.,and Maxwell, Shirley,"Early Colonial Revival," Old- Natlonal Register of Historlc Places Colonial and Georgian Stylesof the2Oth Century,"Old-House Journal, National Park Service Page United States Department of the Interlor Natlonal Register of Historlc Places John Downing Jr. House, Meigs Co., Ohio The Daily Sentinel, Pomeroy, August 20,1968 ("100 Year Old Firm Interview with Rodney Downing, Middleport, January I7, 1992 collection Primary Sources: Papers in Family Possession: Becomes Downing-Childs Insurance Agency") The Athens Messenger, July 7, 1992, obituary for Rodney Downing Record of Wills, Meigs County, Ohio, Vol.

I, will of Samuel Downing Interview with Martha Downing Johnson, Middleport, January 17, 1992 The Daily Sentinel, Pomeroy, January 26, 1977, reprint of photo of 1937 Family photo albums Sunday (Columbus) Dispatch Magazine, January 3, 1954 ("Mark Twain "The Downings of Meigs County," no author, no date, typescript in family Continuatlon Sheet flood in Middleport Railway Reflector according to attached notation) The (Pittsburgh) Gazette Times, Friday, April 22, 1910 "The Rodney F.

Downing Family," no author, no date, typescript in family Stole His Name") Natlonal Park Service "Major John B.Downing,"no author,1897 typescript for The Sectlon number Pag - Page John Downing House, Meigs Co., Ohio Waterways Journal with no date Information received from Rodney Collins, West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office, from research he has done on Fred Crowther, Information received by telephone from the Detroit Library (Michigan) Free Press, 1955) Architect (the library has clipping files, Crowther's obituary appeared in the Detroit author, typescript in family collection "Letters from Mark Twain," no author, no date, photocopied from Continuatlon Sheet "An Incomplete History of the Downing Family," February 22, l875, no Natlonal Register of Hlstoric Places Page Other Sources: Sectlon number which included Fred Crowther's obituary read to me over the telephone National Park Service John Downing Jr.

House, Meigs Co., Ohio Downing House,232 North Second Ave., Middleport, Meigs County, Ohio Photographer: Mary Anne Peters Location of Negatives: SE OHPO View: Facade and Northeast side (sunroom, part of 1921 addition) 3 of 6: View: Entryway, facade View: Streetscape from Nt corner of Downing House looking southwest 5 of 6: View: Rear, kitchen addition and rear sleeping porch, sunroom 6 of 6: View: Garage and block wall at rear of property (garage was former ,carriage house) Continuation Sheet Section number Photos Page Date:January,1992 National Register of Historic Places 2 of 6: Unlted States Department of the Interlor 4 of 6: 1.of 6: (building faces W-Nw from east side of N.Second St.) DONNIDG HOUSE, MIDDLEPORT, (MEIGS COUNTY) PORCH BUILDING REPLACED PORC.- REPLACE PORC..

SUU+ UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR N PDIL: COMMENT WAIVER: N REJECT 5 ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: DOCUMENTATION see attached comments Y/N see attached SLR Y/N DATE 4/07/93 REVIEWER PROPERTY RETURN DISCIPLINE MULTIPLE 5/22/93 OTHER: NAME: PERIOD: RECOM./CRITERIA EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: DATE RECEIVED: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES NOMINATOR: STATE REASONS FOR REVIEW: LESS THAN 5O YEARS: DATE OF 45TH DAY: Downing, John, Jr., House N SLR DRAFT: N 5/06/93 4/20/93 APPEAL: NATIONAL: ACCEPT DATE OF PENDING LIST: DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: ntered in tha agsm dotexe STATE/FEDERAL AGENCY CERTIFICATION _historic -current _architectural classification _descriptive text _summary paragraph _completeness _clarity _applicable criteria _justification of areas checked _relating significance to the resource _context _relationship of integrity to significance _justification of exception _other _verbal boundary description _boundary justification ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTATION/PRESENTATION _presentation - Phone FUNCTION DESCRIPTION acreage materials CLASSIFICATION Builder/Architect Signed BIBLIOGRAPHY SIGNIFICANCE Date Specific dates Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to _count OTHER COMMENTS GEOGRAPHICAL DATA Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) _resource type UTMS _sketch maps Period _photographs Areas of Significance--Check and justify below DOWNIDG HOUSE, MIDDLEPORT DOWNING HOUSE, MIDDLEPORT, OH 232 DOWNINGHOUSE, MIDDLEPORT, OH SHOE PLACE .O MINUTE SERIES (TOPOGRAPHIC) POMEROY, OHIO-W.

VA. AND OTHER STATE AGENCIES ROAD CLASSIFICATION DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 4317440 DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS POMEROY QUADRANGLE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA STATE OF OHIO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OHIO-WEST VIRGINIA 17 409260 RIVER DIVISION OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY N3900 - W8200/7.5 Ohio Historic Preservation Office Ohio Historical Center 1982 Velma Avenue APR 7 1993 Columbus, Ohio 43211-2497 Fax: 297-2411 April 5, 1993 SINCE 1885 Carol Shull, Chief of Registration National Register of Historic Places P. O. Box 37127 Washington, DC Dear Ms. Shull: NEW SUBMISSION Cherry Valley Coke Ovens Central Building of the John Downing Jr. House Charles W. Seiberling House W.

Ray Luce State Historic Preservation Officer SOCIETY 20013-7127 COUNTY 614/297-2470 Ashland HISTORICAL Enclosures Hamilton Sincerely Portage District Columbiana NATIONAL Franklin Delaware Lucas Meigs RECEIVED REGISTER Clinton Summit National Park Service Columbus YMCA Sameul Cooper Farmhouse Cottage Hill Farm Yost Tavern Inverness Club South South Street Historic Center Street Historic Enclosed are ten (lo) new National Register nominations.All appropriate notifi- District (Boundary Increase) If you have questions or comments about these documents contact this office. OHIO cation procedures have been followed for these new submissions.