Chauncey Murch House, 846 Dayton Street, Cincinnati

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS OHIO,31-CINT,57-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

This is a relatively large, elegant house, typical of more costly later nineteenth century houses "built in Cincinnati. It is one of several such houses "built at ahout the same time in what is now designated the Dayton Street Historic Interest Area, and is important as part of the architectural context of its time and place. PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1. The house stands on a parcel of land originally sold on October 13, to Jonathan Dayton of Elizabethtown, New Jersey, for "by John Cleves Symmes, who obtained the original patent for the Miami Purchase from the United States Congress.

William Henry Harrison, ninth President of the United States, on October 1, as an executor of the estate of Symmes, and as then Governor of the Indiana Territory, re-negotiated the sale, inasmuch as the original deed was said to have been lost. Because of the riots and fire of the records contained in the Hamil. ton County Court House were either partially or totally destroyed, thus making the present records an incomplete source of information. It is known from the remaining records that Chauncey Murch owned the property from February 20, to March 20, during which time it is assumed that he built the house. There are no known records of a house existing on the land previous to the earlier date.

It is known that the property was purchased by Stephen Almy from Emily Avery for on December 5, Her father had originally subdivided land in the immediate area. Between and the present, there have been numerous owners, of whom Joseph Earnshaw and John Hilberg, Sr. are the most notable. Joseph Earnshaw purchased the property for on May 20, John Hilberg purchased the property for on March 20, CHAUNCEY MURCH HOUSE HABS No. OH-2200-K (Page-2) 2. Date of erection: According to the sale prices as recorded in the Hamilton gounty Court House Deed Books, Chauncey Murch purchased the land on February 20, for and sold it on March 20, for Thus it is reasonable to deduce that the house was erected "between those dates. 3 Architect: Unknown. k. Alterations and additions: None of apparent significance.

B. Historical Events and Persons Connected with the House: There is no known "biography of Chauncey Murch. Joseph Sarnshaw was born in England on September 16, In the Cincinnati City Directory of he is listed as a City Surveyor; by he is listed as a civil engineer. For some U5 years he was in the employ of Spring Grove Cemetery of Cincinnati. His main contribution to the development of that cemetery was to lay out the winding roads. He died on January 13, John Hilberg, Sr, was born on October 22, He was the founder, in of John Hilberg and Sons Wholesale Meats, which is still in operation at 5*^ West Liberty St. in Cincinnati. He died on January 6, C. Sources of Information: 1. Old views: None known. 2.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS OHIO,31-CINT,57-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Purchase by Chauncey Murch: Deed Book and Deed Book Purchase by Eleanor Earnshaw (wife of Joseph Earnshaw): Deed Book Purchase by John Hilberg: Deed Book A Centennial History of the Cemetery of Spring Grove , by James A Green; published by the Directors of the Cemetery, Cincinnati City Directories, in the Cincinnati Historical Society. Verbal history of John Hilberg given by the descendants in July of ." Prepared by: Carl A. Saladino Project Historian National Park Service August, CHAUNCEY MURCH HOUSE HABS Wo. (Page 3) PART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. General Statement: 1. Architectural character: One of the most fully developed Italianate facades in the Dayton Street Historic Interest Area. 2. Condition of fabric: Good. B, Description of Exterior: 1.

Over-all dimensions: This three-hay, side-hall plan house measures approximately 3O'-0 ,r by 85 f - 0". The building is two-and-one-half stories high. 2. Foundations: Brick and stone. 3. Wall construction, finish and color: Gray limestone facade with gray painted brick sides and rear. k. Structural system, framing: Masonry bearing walls. 5. Porches, stoops: Limestone steps and front entrance stoop. Covered side porch on the east side. ^ 6. Chimneys: There are three chimneys in the east wall. 7. Openings: a. Doorways and doors: Recessed front entrance doorway. Large door with lower wooden panel and upper glass panel. b. Windows, shutters: The (south) front has double-hung windows with one-over-one-light sash on the first and second floors.

The small windows in the cornice frieze are six-by-six-light casements. The remaining windows are one-over-one-light and two-over-two-light double-hung sash. 8. Roof: a. Shape, covering: Flat, tarred, roll roofing. b. Cornice, eaves: Very dominant cornice with dentils supported on brackets. c. Balconies: Shallow limestone balcony supported by limestone consoles above front entrance. C. Description of Interior: Only the hallway at the entrance was accessible, as the structure is now used as an apartment house. Noting the arrangement A of the hallway and the exterior window arrangement of the structure, it would'appear to be similar to the many other three-bay side-hall houses on the street. CHAUNCEY MURCH HOUSE HABS Wo. OH-2200-K (Page k D. Site: 1.

General setting and orientation: Located on the north side of Dayton Street near Baymiller Street, the house faces south among the group of houses long known as "Millionaires Row." 2. Outbuildings: There is a carriage house at the rear of the lot. Prepared by: J. William Rudd Project Supervisor National Park Service August, PART III. PROJECT INFORMATION These data are part of the documentation made during the Cincinnati Project undertaken by HABS in cooperation with the Miami Purchase Association and City of Cincinnati. Records were made of a part of the Dayton Street Historic interest Area of the City of Cincinnati. The project was under the general supervision of John Poppeliers, Chief of the Historic American Buildings Survey.

The project supervisor was J, William Rudd of the University of Cincinnati. The project historian was Carl A. Saladino of the Ohio State University. The measured drawings for the project were prepared by architects Steven B. Kells (University of Cincinnati) and Richard Wyatt (Cali- fornia Politechnic State University, San Luis Obispo), and student assistant architects William Maxwell Miller (University of Pennsylvania) and Osbourne K. Simms III (University of Illinois, Chicago Circle). The photographs were taken by HABS photographer Jack E. Boucher in July