627-629 South Wittenberg Avenue (house), Springfield

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS OHIO,12-SPRIF,34-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

The house is a somewhat rare example of Italianate style residential architecture in this neighborhood and is notable also for its large size and symmetrical duplex arrangement, suggesting that it may either have been built originally as a two-family dwelling or that it has been extensively changed in a long-ago conversion to two-family usage. It is also distinguished by its ornate paired brackets at the eaves. Description: Long elegant first floor windows flank symmetrical front entrances at either end of the facade. Four second floor front-facing windows correspond to the openings below. The side elevations have pairs of windows on each floor symmetrically arranged plus rear side doorways. Aluminum awnings shield these and one of the two front entrances.

A narrower shed-roofed one- story rear wing has porches with lean-to roofs along each side. The shallow-pitched hippped roof has asphalt shingles and a flat area in its center. On either side of this flat-roofed area are chimneys. There is also a chimney in the one-story rear wing and it appears as though a second rear chimney was removed in more recent years. The exterior of the house is faced with drop siding. The house has a low rubble limestone foundation. Ornate but widely spaced pairs of brackets accent the eaves along the front and sides. History: This house was connected to city water lines in as documented on the city water tap records, when L. K.

Weaver, whose name appeared in the city directory of in boldface, took out a permit to connect water lines for a new house at this address. His business was on West Main Street and his residence was then at 163 N. Race. Judging from the architectural styling of this house, it seems likely that it predates and was more likely built during the or early Perhaps in the house was converted to a duplex. By this was the residence of Carl F. and Iva Fassler on one side. He worked as an electrician. The other unit was occupied by Dennis and Lesta A. Patton. The house has had a series of occupants over the years, none occupying the place for very long. It has been vacant since the early

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS OHIO,12-SPRIF,34-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

and later Springfield city directories, Springfield city water tap records The building stands within a proposed African-American Historic Preservation District, which has been determined as an area potentially eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places by the Ohio State Historic Officer. Copies of information used to make this determination of eligibility for National Register status are at the Springfield Department of Planning and Development and the Ohio Historic Preservation Office.