Prospect Hill, Cincinnati, Ohio
Encyclopedia
Prospect Hill is a historic district located on a hillside outside of downtown Cincinnati, Ohio
, United States. It is part of the Mount Auburn neighborhood of Cincinnati. Prospect Hill is bounded by the following streets, Liberty, Sycamore, Boal and Highland.
The District is bordered to the north by the Mount Auburn Historic District
.
s and round or segmental arched window details. Good examples of earlier Greek Revival style architecture constructed between 1835 and 1860 are also found, predominantly located on the lower streets which developed the earliest. This style utilizes classical details and geometric, symmetrical forms. Examples of the Queen Anne style, which displays a variety of contrasting materials and decorative surface treatments, and the French Second Empire style, which is characterized by a Mansard roof
whose slope actually forms part of the front facade, may also be found scattered throughout the district. These styles date from the turn of the century.
Contributing to the distinct character of Prospect Hill are the street steps, which evolved in response to a hillside environment which did not lend itself to a linear grid plan. Where the terrain was too steep to build roads, stairways and "paper" streets developed. The streets that were built often cut sharply into the hillside, requiring retaining walls along lot fronts. Many of these retaining walls, which are primarily stone, support original iron fences and contribute to the character of the district. Open space between lots reflect the fact that the land was too irregular for construction purposes.
. One of the earliest residents of the hill was Dr. Daniel Drake
. He lived in a log cabin while his new home was being built on Third Street.
Senator George H. Pendleton
also had a house prominently located at 559 Liberty Hill.
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, United States. It is part of the Mount Auburn neighborhood of Cincinnati. Prospect Hill is bounded by the following streets, Liberty, Sycamore, Boal and Highland.
The District is bordered to the north by the Mount Auburn Historic District
Mount Auburn Historic District
Mount Auburn Historic District is located in the Mount Auburn neighborhood in Cincinnati, Ohio. It extends along both sides of Auburn Avenue roughly between Ringold Street and William H. Taft Road....
.
Architecture
The majority of buildings are brick, and the predominant architectural style is Italianate. Dating from the 1860-80 period, this style is characterized by bracketed corniceCornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
s and round or segmental arched window details. Good examples of earlier Greek Revival style architecture constructed between 1835 and 1860 are also found, predominantly located on the lower streets which developed the earliest. This style utilizes classical details and geometric, symmetrical forms. Examples of the Queen Anne style, which displays a variety of contrasting materials and decorative surface treatments, and the French Second Empire style, which is characterized by a Mansard roof
Mansard roof
A mansard or mansard roof is a four-sided gambrel-style hip roof characterized by two slopes on each of its sides with the lower slope at a steeper angle than the upper that is punctured by dormer windows. The roof creates an additional floor of habitable space, such as a garret...
whose slope actually forms part of the front facade, may also be found scattered throughout the district. These styles date from the turn of the century.
Contributing to the distinct character of Prospect Hill are the street steps, which evolved in response to a hillside environment which did not lend itself to a linear grid plan. Where the terrain was too steep to build roads, stairways and "paper" streets developed. The streets that were built often cut sharply into the hillside, requiring retaining walls along lot fronts. Many of these retaining walls, which are primarily stone, support original iron fences and contribute to the character of the district. Open space between lots reflect the fact that the land was too irregular for construction purposes.
History
The majority of early settlers were veterans of the American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. One of the earliest residents of the hill was Dr. Daniel Drake
Daniel Drake
Daniel Drake was an American physician, writer. He was born in Plainfield, N. J. to Isaac Drake and Elizabeth Shotwell, and elder brother of Benjamin Drake author of Life of Tecumseh...
. He lived in a log cabin while his new home was being built on Third Street.
Senator George H. Pendleton
George H. Pendleton
George Hunt Pendleton was a Representative and a Senator from Ohio. Nicknamed "Gentleman George" for his demeanor, he was the Democratic nominee for Vice President of the United States during the Civil War in 1864, running as a peace Democrat with war Democrat George B. McClellan; they lost to...
also had a house prominently located at 559 Liberty Hill.