<- Main Directory     <- Park Avenue

722 Park Avenue

PhotosLegacy Version

General Information

No:   722  
Street:    Park   
House Name:   Willard Corey/Robert Jones House  
Historic Plaque:     
Owner Info:   Y  
Built:   N  
Sec:   29  
Subdivision:   George W. Corey  
Lot:   51, pt 50&52  
Architect:     
Cont/build:   George Washington Corey  

Description:    2 story poured concrete Victorian Italianate Town House with gable roof.    
Original Use:   Residential  
Current Use:   Residential  

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

Description Of Changes:    Charlie Cornish built the rear addition for the MacMillans as the kitchen was too small for a table and chairs and there was no 1st floor coat closet or space for a washer and dryer. The MacMillans also had Mart Ivers do a lot of restoration work both inside and out. Many decorative brackets under the eaves were replaced. In 1954 the MacMillans put in the hot water heating system as 2 bedrooms had no heat except a fireplace (info from MacMillans).  
Deeds
Shows earliest property ownership records

Stories:

Story 1: Built by G. W. Corey for his son, Willard. Faye Corey says home was built in 1881, others say 1880 or 1890. Clifford Corey, husband of Helen Corey, grew up in 722 Park. Robert Corey was trustee to Clyde and Dorelle A. Mahon.
Story 2: Description of the house as if they had lived there yesterday by Kay Kock in conversation with Barbara Johnson (410 Western 1966-1984) and passed on to Pat Henley (327 Rugby) in 2000: Poured concrete; 2 parlors, each with a fireplace; huge dining room; kitchen with coal stove; porch in back; horse barn and detached garage; on 5 acres; 4 bedrooms upstairs, only two with heat; red brick house next door. (See changes above.) Kay's husband Winston Win developed the electronic organ or electronic music for Baldwin. They purchased the house from the McGees and lived there in 1941-1942. They moved to the east coast where Win worked for the government with its radar development during WW II.
Story 3: From Dr. James & Vergie MacMillan (don't know date): This house was built in the 1800s (1886???) as part of a family complex. Judge Corey built the similar, larger house at 722 Wooster Pike. Our house (722 Park) and the one next door (726 Park) were built for his two sons. They were built of poured concrete. The cement from which they were made was brought over from Europe as ballast in sailing ships (see 726 Park). The large mirror and carved frame hanging over the living room mantle at 722 Park had originally been in the Wooster Pike house. This information was told to us by the Coreys who lived across the street from our side lot. Mrs. Corey (Helen) said that her husband, whose first name I can't recall (Clifford), grew up in our house. The Coreys had two grand-sons who attended MHS. I'm quite sure that Brad, the younger, was in Floy and Gregg's class (1966) and for some reason I think is still in the Cincinnati area. Perhaps he could fill in some of the details. We bought the house in March of 1953 from Mr. & Mrs. William Bixby, and lived there until June of 1962. I don't know how long the Bixbys lived there. I think 8 or 9 years. The owners before them were the McGees. If Janet Kerscher is still in the area she could tell you more about both owners.
Story 4: Jones family? See picture.
Story 5: The Stevensons tore down the carriage house to 722 Park which was east of the house. They sold that side lot where 720 Park was built. They stripped the house of some interesting details such as the inside shutters, the wardrobe the MacMillans had built in the rear addition, perhaps the living room mirror and carved frame over the mantle from the 722 Wooster Corey house. (info from MaccMillans)
Story 6: Nancy Gerard Ricketts lived as a child with her parents and sister at 732 Miami. They later moved away to the Cleveland area. After that she lived with her mother's younger brother's family at 725 Yale and then at 602 Miami.
Story 7: 1963 Scrapbook has a Times-Star article, April 4, 1963 (copy in house notebook)
Story 8: This house is said to be haunted (not known by whom). John Mahon, as a boy, always had that feeling about it and Jane Harrier, next door, confirms the story. Jane Carrothers, on the other side (726 Park) also called it the Bad Luck House.