I had to visit the old Edgecliff College in Walnut Hills for business last month. It is currently the home of UC's College of Applied Sciences (OCAS). But since OCAS has merged with the College of Engineering, OCAS may move to UC's main campus sometime in the next few years, (at least that is the scuttlebut). The site, overlooking the Ohio River from Victory Parkway is dramatic, but the Edgecliff buildings are pretty blah, and remind me of a 1960 Catholic School (which it was).
Anyway, OCAS has had a notable history in Cincinnati. Starting in 1828 as the Ohio Mechanic's Institute, or OMI, it was a significant place of learning during the industrial revolution. A young Thomas Edison studied in their library, and OMI hosted fabulous Industrial Exhibitions every year during the last decades of the nineteenth century. Some of the old posters from the exhibitions are hanging in the hallway, and I would love to get a full copy of one of them.
The Greenwood Building, named for Miles Greenwood, president of the OMI Board from 1847-1854 was the owner of Eagle Iron Works. This building was the home of OMI from 1850 to 1911. It was originally 4 stories tall. In 1900, 2 stories were added as shown in this crummy model. This stood at the SW corner of Sixth and Vine until 1945 when it was demolished to build the Terrace Plaza.:
SW Cor 6th and Vine when it was OMI:
They also had a model of the Emery Building, which was the OMI/OCAS home from 1911 to
Francis Trollope Bazaar building. Apparently this was the first home of OMI:
Italian Gilt Bronze Clock
1 month ago
2 comments:
woot! The Trollopean Bazaar from behind! I have only seen the one illustration of it. I was trying to make a model of it but had no idea what the back looked like.
There is a page about the building in "Architecture in Cincinnati" by Sue Ann Painter. It was the home of OMI at one point til the deadbeats didn't make their payments. Thomas Emery tore it down.
I think of Frances Trollope's Bazaar as the first mall in Cincinnati--with a theater, retail stores, and food shops it had it all. With quirky architecture thrown into the mix as well.
Post a Comment