Marble Cliff has many distinctive homes, and that is what drew a study group of the Victorian Society in America to the Village Nov. 3.
As part of a four-day study tour of central Ohio, 30 visitors from all over the U.S. came to Marble Cliff during a day of learning about noted Columbus architect Frank Packard. He and his firm, Packard & Yost Architects, designed more than 100 buildings in central Ohio around the turn of the century, including the Atlas Building and the Great Southern Hotel in downtown Columbus as well as many homes, 10 of which are in Marble Cliff.
Led by Wayne Carlson of the Grandview Heights/Marble Cliff Historical Society, the tour took guests to admire several Packard homes along Roxbury Road before they went on an owners-led tour of 1492 Roxbury Rd., a Packard-designed home and current residence of Kent and Susan Studebaker. The group also visited the “Spanish hacienda” house at 1091 Lincoln Rd. in Grandview Heights.
“I think our guests were impressed by the diversity and quality of Mr. Packard’s work,” says Barbara Powers, department head of inventory and registration for the Ohio Historical Society, Frank Packard expert and the Sunday tour leader.
“Most of our guests had not heard of Frank Packard and were unaware of central Ohio’s Victorian-era landmarks, architecture and preservation efforts.”
Kevin Rose of the Turner Foundation in Springfield and tour weekend coordinator says, “It was great to have a national organization see the architectural ‘gems’ we have in our large and small Ohio towns. To view our communities through the eyes of visitors is rejuvenating.”
A Century of Family Memories
In addition to having architecturally significant homes, Marble Cliff has many homes more than 100 years old. But few have been occupied by the same family for those 100 plus years. When Charlotte Wilkinson had to move the family home from near The Ohio State University campus, she chose a lot at 1964 Cardigan Ave. in the then-rural village of Marble Cliff. Construction started in March 1913, about a month after the same builder commenced construction of a home at 1970 Cardigan Ave. Despite looking very different, both houses share some features such as beamed ceilings, French doors and hardwood floors. The Wilkinson home featured fireplaces in each room, a wooden coffered ceiling in the dining room, as well as indoor plumbing and electricity.
Wilkinson’s daughter, Emily, lived in the home for 70 years with her husband, Chester Moelchert. Their daughter, Charlotte (Tyler), was delivered in the home by Dr. Anderson, who lived nearby at the corner of Cardigan and Arlington avenues. The Moelcherts gardened extensively over the years and entertained many friends on the screened front porch. In 1981, their granddaughter, Gail, and her husband, Bill Johannes, bought the house and have maintained its traditional appearance but for a family room addition. Although the Johannes’ daughter, Emily, now lives in Maryland, Bill and Gail hope that when the day comes, she will keep 1964 Cardigan Ave. in the family.
“It holds many, many happy memories,” the couple says.
