Terrace Park Building Survey

A Project of the Terrace Park Woman's Club

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501 Miami Avenue

PhotosLegacy Version

General Information

No:   501  
Street:   Miami  
House Name:   Fern House  
Historic Plaque:     
Owner Info:   Y  
Built:   N  
Sec:   23  
Subdivision:   Sibley  
Lot:   pt 153  
Architect:     
Cont/build:     

Description:    2 story wood shingle siding, Dutch Colonial, gambrel roof, overlooking the Little Miami River.  Original roof wood shingle.  4 bedrooms, 2 baths.  "Screen porch/perennial garden/old world details".   
Owners:   9  
Original Use:   Summer cottage  
Current Use:   Residential  

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

Description Of Changes:   1964 - Harrisons added a family room in the rear. 1970 - Harrisons added a river room where the front door had been. 1976 - Longs replaced the kitchen cabinets. 1978 - Longs removed a wall between two rooms on the west end of the second floor and replaced the fence leaving it natural rather than white as before.  

Stories:

Story 1: Previous summer cottage was converted to year 'round home in 1906. (???) The house was painted off-black when the Jordans bought it in memory of Mary Finch's husband who died in the house - converted to green (after a number of re-paintings) by the Jordans. One of the Jordan's house painters was a Fred Huber who reported he had worked in Austria as a house painter with Adolf Hitler (Schikelgruber - his father's mother's name). Jordans bought the house in 1943 as they had a defense contract and B gas permit so they could drive to Terrace Park. The air conditioning was designed for the house by John Jordan. At some time the back stair was converted to a kitchen closet. The original house burned at some time so we don't really know when this one was built. (John Jordan). The Jordan children were Jack, Steve, Tom & Mary Ann.


Story 2: Marianne Jordan Swan was born 2 November 1938 and died 17 August 2003, aged 80 years, buried in St. Thomas Church Columbarium, Section 2, Niche 45, Cahall Funeral Home.
Story 3: John Jordan was Mayor of Terrace Park 1960-63.
Story 4: Clara Jordan - president T. P. Garden Club 1960-62
Story 5: This home of Mr. & Mrs. (Clara) John Jordan was on the December 18, 1959 TP Garden Club House Tour, Holiday Houses in the Park. This was a Friday, advance tickets were $1 but $1.25 on the day, and the homes were open from 1:30-4 and 7-9 PM. Refreshments were served at this home.

Story 6: Martha Whitney Rowe Long "Whitney" died 4 February 2025 at the age of 77. The Longs lived from 1974 -1983 at 501 Miami Avenue.