24-26 West Liberty Avenue (house), Springfield

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS OHIO,12-SPRIF,36-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

This house is significant as an example of Queen Anne style working class residential housing stock in the city. It is distinguished by its shingled front-facing attic gable with small attic window. Also notable is the series of additions made to the rear, documenting its transition from single-family to two-family usage. Description: This is a two-story L-shaped house that rises up from a low stone foundation and features clapboard siding on its exterior. The house measures about Its long rectangular one-over-one windows are basically symmetrically arranged. The house has a large attic beneath its massive hipped roof, broken up by front and side gabled extensions.

A front porch is set in the angle formed by the two main wings of the house and a small entrance hood is over another front door at the other end of the front. The house has one center and two rear brick chimneys, one of which is exposed along the rear wall of the main section. The rear wings are curious, as they have shed roofs that extend beyond the house and intersect with each other in a way that suggests they were erected at different times. There are two rear doors. History: In a permit was taken out to connect this house to the city's water system in the name of Jno. Yates, listed as the property owner. A John W. Yates was listed that year as living at 429 S. Yellow Springs and he worked as a florist.

There is no evidence that he lived at this house but its seems to have been built originally as a single-family residence, judging from its form. The house was likely built in based upon stylistic evidence. It might have been erected by Yates as a rental property. It was probably made into a double after From Thomas Nash, a laborer, lived in one half. From Paul and Beatrice Perkins lived in the other half. The house has had a variety of tenants, mostly working class individuals with industrial occupations.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS OHIO,12-SPRIF,36-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

and later Springfield city directories. The building stands within the South Fountain Avenue Historic District, which has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 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.