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Mount Washington (Cincinnati)
Encyclopedia
Mount Washington is a neighborhood on the east side of Cincinnati, Ohio
, United States
. It is located about ten minutes east of Downtown via Columbia Parkway
and Beechmont Avenue; or a slightly longer drive via Riverside Drive (formerly Eastern Avenue) and Kellogg Avenue, to Salem Avenue and up Sutton Avenue or Beacon Street. As one of Cincinnati's 52 neighborhoods, Mount Washington lies within the city corporation limits, and borders the Cincinnati neighborhoods of California, Linwood
, and the East End
, as well as unincorporated Anderson Township, Hamilton County, Ohio
. Mount Washington, originally an independent community, was annexed by the City of Cincinnati in 1911.
The Mount Washington Water Tower, located on Campus Lane between Beechmont Avenue and Sutton Avenue, is a noted Art Deco landmark and is decorated top-to-bottom with lights every Christmas. Mount Washington is home to numerous small businesses, many of them located along Beechmont Avenue / Ohio State Route 125
in the main neighborhood business district, "The Mount Washington Water Tower District" (sometimes referred to as "Uptown" as a means of distinguishing it from other business districts, including Downtown Cincinnati and the two other districts in Mount Washington).
Businesses include Mt. Washington Beer and Ice, two jewelry stores, and Mr. Lock locksmith, as well as local outlets of New York NY Deli Cafe, Wendy's
, LaRosa's Pizza
, National City Bank, Fifth Third Bank
, Walgreens
, and Kroger
(headquartered in Cincinnati). Gold Star Chili
was started in Mount Washington with the purchase of Hamburger Heaven in 1965, although the original location no longer exists. A recipe for Cincinnati chili
was included in the sale. In season, there is also a community Farmer's Market on Thursdays in Stanbery Park.
With the widening came wider lanes and higher speeds. The new roadway was designed with 12 feet (3.7 m) lanes, common on many high speed roadways and expressways. Furthermore, traffic has greatly increased along the route. The neighborhood and the City of Cincinnati Department of Transportation and Engineering are working to correct the deficiencies in the design through traffic calming
.
Throughout the 1980s, the growth of large apartment complexes, and low to moderate income apartment buildings strained the neighborhood's image. Recent zoning has helped to protect the mostly residential nature of Beechmont Avenue in Mount Washington.
Mount Washington contains historic homes and distinctive architecture, particularly on Beacon Street, Mears Avenue, Wilaray Terrace and Beechmont Avenue. Housing stock in the neighborhood is diverse, with values ranging from modest bungalows to million dollar estates. Wilaray Terrace, Honeysuckle Lane, and Honeysuckle Drive are lined with architect-designed homes, built from the 1920s to early 1960s. Other streets, such as Adena Trail, contain homes built throughout the later twentieth century. The Lower Salem area, located along Salem Avenue between Wayside and Kellogg Avenues, contains sprawling estates and large homes. Ambar Avenue hosts an annual street party and events sponsored by residents.
The Archbishop McNicholas High School
(Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati) is also located in Mount Washington, across from Guardian Angels.
Mount Washington is also home to The Athenaeum of Ohio
(Mt. St. Mary's Seminary of the West), located at the eastern gateway to Mount Washington, the intersection of Beechmont Avenue and Burney Lane. The campus is owned by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and is known for its architecture. Many of the records for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati are located at the campus library.
Sanford B. Stanbery, who was the highest ranking officer from Hamilton County in World War I. The Tudor-style Stanbery house used to be located on park grounds, but was demolished as part of a park improvement program. Fundraisers held at the park have included a "Pumpkin Chuck" using a trebuchet
(after Halloween, in 2006 through 2010). The park facilities include a paved walking area, hiking trails, playground equipment, and a picnic shelter. Stanbery Park is a popular sledding area on snowy days.
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is located about ten minutes east of Downtown via Columbia Parkway
Columbia Parkway
Columbia Parkway is an expressway/parkway extending from Downtown Cincinnati, Ohio to the Village of Fairfax, and serving as US-50 on Cincinnati's east side. It was constructed in the Art Deco architectural style in 1938 as part of the New Deal...
and Beechmont Avenue; or a slightly longer drive via Riverside Drive (formerly Eastern Avenue) and Kellogg Avenue, to Salem Avenue and up Sutton Avenue or Beacon Street. As one of Cincinnati's 52 neighborhoods, Mount Washington lies within the city corporation limits, and borders the Cincinnati neighborhoods of California, Linwood
Linwood, Cincinnati, Ohio
Linwood is a neighborhood in Cincinnati, Ohio....
, and the East End
East End, Cincinnati, Ohio
East End is a neighborhood in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is the location of the Cincinnati Municipal Lunken Airport and Columbia Parkway....
, as well as unincorporated Anderson Township, Hamilton County, Ohio
Anderson Township, Hamilton County, Ohio
Anderson Township is one of the twelve townships of Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. Located in the southeastern part of the county and less than 15 minutes from downtown, the township has been named one of the Cincinnati area's most desirable neighborhoods to live...
. Mount Washington, originally an independent community, was annexed by the City of Cincinnati in 1911.
Business district
Ohio State Route 125
State Route 125 is an east–west state highway in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Ohio. Its western terminus is within the Cincinnati city limits, about east of downtown, at U.S. Route 50 – this is also the western terminus of State Route 32 and the southern terminus of State...
in the main neighborhood business district, "The Mount Washington Water Tower District" (sometimes referred to as "Uptown" as a means of distinguishing it from other business districts, including Downtown Cincinnati and the two other districts in Mount Washington).
Businesses include Mt. Washington Beer and Ice, two jewelry stores, and Mr. Lock locksmith, as well as local outlets of New York NY Deli Cafe, Wendy's
Wendy's
Wendy's is an international fast food chain restaurant founded by Dave Thomas on November 15, 1969, in Columbus, Ohio, United States. The company decided to move its headquarters to Dublin, Ohio, on January 29, 2006. It has been owned by Triarc since 2008...
, LaRosa's Pizza
LaRosa's Pizza
LaRosa's Pizzeria is a chain of pizzerias serving neighborhoods throughout the Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Southeast Indiana and Greater Dayton areas. It was founded in 1954 by Donald "Buddy" LaRosa, along with partners Richard "Muzzie" Minella, Mike Soldano and Frank "Head" Serraino...
, National City Bank, Fifth Third Bank
Fifth Third Bank
Fifth Third Bank is a U.S. regional banking corporation, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio and is the principal subsidiary of holding company Fifth Third Bancorp ....
, Walgreens
Walgreens
Walgreen Co. , doing business as Walgreens , is the largest drugstore chain in the United States of America. As of August 31st, the company operates 8,210 locations across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1901, and has since expanded...
, and Kroger
Kroger
The Kroger Co. is an American supermarket chain founded by Bernard Kroger in 1883 in Cincinnati, Ohio. It reported US$ 76.7 billion in sales during fiscal year 2009. It is the country's largest grocery store chain and its second-largest grocery retailer by volume and second-place general retailer...
(headquartered in Cincinnati). Gold Star Chili
Gold Star Chili
Gold Star Chili is a restaurant chain based in Cincinnati, Ohio, that sells Cincinnati chili. The original restaurant was established in the Cincinnati neighborhood of Mt. Washington in 1965 by four brothers from Jordan...
was started in Mount Washington with the purchase of Hamburger Heaven in 1965, although the original location no longer exists. A recipe for Cincinnati chili
Cincinnati chili
Cincinnati chili is a regional style of Chili con carne characterized by the use of unusual seasonings such as cinnamon, cloves, allspice or chocolate. It is commonly served over spaghetti or as a hot dog sauce, and is normally of a thin, sauce-like consistency, unlike most chili con carne...
was included in the sale. In season, there is also a community Farmer's Market on Thursdays in Stanbery Park.
Beechmont Avenue controversy
Beechmont Avenue in western Mount Washington was, prior to the 2002-2003 widening, featured reversible lanes. When the street was widened, two additional lanes were added between the western Corporation Line and Wasigo Drive (to create a dual turn lane), with one additional lane between Wasigo Drive and Corbly Street. Sidewalks and curbs were also added along the route.With the widening came wider lanes and higher speeds. The new roadway was designed with 12 feet (3.7 m) lanes, common on many high speed roadways and expressways. Furthermore, traffic has greatly increased along the route. The neighborhood and the City of Cincinnati Department of Transportation and Engineering are working to correct the deficiencies in the design through traffic calming
Traffic calming
Traffic calming is intended to slow or reduce motor-vehicle traffic in order to improve the living conditions for residents as well as to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Urban planners and traffic engineers have many strategies for traffic calming...
.
Housing
Mount Washington contains historic homes and distinctive architecture, particularly on Beacon Street, Mears Avenue, Wilaray Terrace and Beechmont Avenue. Housing stock in the neighborhood is diverse, with values ranging from modest bungalows to million dollar estates. Wilaray Terrace, Honeysuckle Lane, and Honeysuckle Drive are lined with architect-designed homes, built from the 1920s to early 1960s. Other streets, such as Adena Trail, contain homes built throughout the later twentieth century. The Lower Salem area, located along Salem Avenue between Wayside and Kellogg Avenues, contains sprawling estates and large homes. Ambar Avenue hosts an annual street party and events sponsored by residents.
Schools
Three grade schools are located in Mount Washington:- Sands Montessori (Corbly Street, Cincinnati Public Schools), formerly housing the Eastern Hills Elementary and Junior High Schools,
- Mt. Washington Elementary School (Mears Avenue, Cincinnati Public Schools),
- Guardian Angels School (6539 Beechmont Avenue, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati). The Guardian Angels Campus, constructed in 1931, 1942, 1949, and 1963–1971, was designed by architect Edward J. SchulteEdward J. SchulteEdward J. Schulte was an architect who designed a number of mid-twentieth century churches notable for their blending of a modern idiom with traditional function. Inspired by an encounter with Ralph Adams Cram he devoted himself to building church buildings, designing over 88...
.
The Archbishop McNicholas High School
Archbishop McNicholas High School
Archbishop McNicholas High School is a parochial high school in the Mt. Washington neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. The school was opened in 1951 and named in honor of John T. McNicholas, fifth bishop and third Archbishop of Cincinnati....
(Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati) is also located in Mount Washington, across from Guardian Angels.
Mount Washington is also home to The Athenaeum of Ohio
Athenaeum of Ohio
The Athenaeum of Ohio – Mount St. Mary's Seminary of the West, originally St. Francis Xavier Seminary, is the third-oldest Roman Catholic seminary in the United States and is currently located at 6616 Beechmont Avenue in the Cincinnati, Ohio neighborhood of Mt. Washington, in the former Saint...
(Mt. St. Mary's Seminary of the West), located at the eastern gateway to Mount Washington, the intersection of Beechmont Avenue and Burney Lane. The campus is owned by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and is known for its architecture. Many of the records for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati are located at the campus library.
Parks
Cincinnati Park Board operates the 125 acre (0.5058575 km²) Stanbery Park on Oxford Avenue between Corbly Street and Crestview Place. This park is named after Brigadier GeneralBrigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
Sanford B. Stanbery, who was the highest ranking officer from Hamilton County in World War I. The Tudor-style Stanbery house used to be located on park grounds, but was demolished as part of a park improvement program. Fundraisers held at the park have included a "Pumpkin Chuck" using a trebuchet
Trebuchet
A trebuchet is a siege engine that was employed in the Middle Ages. It is sometimes called a "counterweight trebuchet" or "counterpoise trebuchet" in order to distinguish it from an earlier weapon that has come to be called the "traction trebuchet", the original version with pulling men instead of...
(after Halloween, in 2006 through 2010). The park facilities include a paved walking area, hiking trails, playground equipment, and a picnic shelter. Stanbery Park is a popular sledding area on snowy days.
Recent development
- New retail development by COLE Realty Associates at the intersection of Roxbury Street and Beechmont Avenue, including streetscape improvements, which will house a new St. Vincent de Paul thrift Store
- Condominium development on Elstun Road
- Six new single-family homes to be built on Honeysuckle Drive