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803 Floral Avenue

PhotosLegacy Version

General Information

No:   803  
Street:    Floral   
House Name:     
Historic Plaque:     
Owner Info:   Y  
Built:    1935   
Sec:   22  
Subdivision:   Sibley's 2nd BL6  
Lot:   1-2-3-4-5&12-13, pt6  
Architect:   Plans by owner (framed blueprint plan in front hall)  
Cont/build:   Ferro Cement (now Turner Construction)  

Description:    2 story stucco"International Style" house with Art Deco details, flat roof. "Waylite" block.  Plans by original owner.  Interior woodwork crafted by original owner.  According to Carol Hird the house was designed and constructed by and for the Hopkins.  All available information points to this being correct and no other family having been involved.    
Original Use:   Residential  
Current Use:   Residential  

CHANGES:
As Built:   N  
Added To:   Y  
Subtracted From:   N  
Replaced:   N  

Description Of Changes:     
Deeds
Shows earliest property ownership records

Stories:

Story 1: From looking at census and deed information: Myrtle A. Hopkins bought lots 1 & 2 of Sibley's 2nd BL6, 12 May 1910 from Jessie E. Reason. She sold it in 1935 to Donald Hopkins. Myrtle A. & Donald E. Hopkins appear to be sister and brother, children of Elisha and Laura Hopkins. In 1910 Myrtle was 20 years old and Donald was 18 years old. In 1930 they are living together in Cincinnati OH with their nephew John Moore and niece Katherine Moore. Is that the same Moore family at 115 Red Bird Lane? To date there is no known relationship.
Story 2: One of the few residences in International Style in Cincinnati. There was another in Terrace Park (323 Harvard - picture in TP Historical Society file) but it was torn down in 1999.
Story 3: An article dealing with International architectural style appeared in the Feb/Mar 2010 issue of Housetrends greater Cincinnati. The article is based on A Field Guide to American Houses by Virginia and Lee McAlester. In 1932, America was introduced to the International style by a seminal exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art: The International style: Architecture Since 1922 that identified and defined the major architectural style born of the Modern concepts that evolved in the 1920s and 30s. The main tenets of the International architectural style (which was based in large part on the Bauhaus philosophy) included radical simplification of form, lack of ornamentation and rejection of historical reference, use of concrete, steel and glass building materials and functionalism. (Functionalism emphasized an honest of transparent expression in the design of the structure, believing the design elements that served its occupants should not be disguised with useless decoration). Architects Le Corbusier, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius were the trendsetters. The International style has had lasting impact on commercial and residential architecture in the United States.
Story 4: For many years the basement of this house was where much of the work for the St. Thomas Bazaar was done under the direction of Mrs. Hopkins.
Story 5: Edna Hopkins - president TP Garden Club 1955-56 & 1952-53.
Story 6: Christopher Webster and his wife undertook a major renovation of the house after they bought it. They added to it but very much kept the original concepts in mind while making it a very livable modern home. It was on the 16 October 2016 Terrace Park Historical Society House Tour, Eclectic Terrace Park. From the entrance, the original banister, glass block windows and black stained concrete floors are beautifull showcased. The art niche is an old fire extinguisher compartment from theTerrace Park Elementary School. The kitchen island light was designed by Ali and built by Chris. Unfortunately there was no mention of the real importance of this home being in the International Style. There's a framed blueprint of the hosue plans in the front hall. Original kitchen cabinets from this home are now in The Summer House at 3 Oxford Avenue.