Hello,

My name is Laura Hamilton. I'm a long time activist and former President of the West Price Hill Community Council. I'm raising funds for legal defense for the Schulte Mansion at the Historic Conservation Board 10/25/21. My community has spent thousands of dollars to file a Cincinnati Historic Landmark Designation application for this irreplaceable treasure at 4122 Glenway Ave. There is nothing else like it in West Price Hill. It is in reasonably good condition and served as a funeral home until two years ago.

 

Those of you who know me know I've worked tirelessly for many years for my community and have never, ever asked for anything for myself. I've never attempted to crowdfund anything either. I've always found another way. This time is different. The community's funds are even more limited than normal due to a variety of factors including that we just spent thousands to file a Landmark Designation to protect this gorgeous building. Trust me when I say we NEED your help. It's that simple. The Schulte doesn't have much time! If we're going to retain counsel, it needs to be this week. Please consider helping with any amount you can. Please help stop the SENSELESS DESTRUCTION of this historic treasure.

 

If you've read this far, I am so grateful. I will be happy to answer any questions you have at all via the message feature here or on Facebook. Please don't hesitate to contact me. You can find more information below and even more details and updates on the Save the Schulte Facebook page: Save the Schulte Facebook Page 

 

ABOUT THE SCHULTE

According to historical records found in the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, contracts were let to architect Theodore A. Richter Jr. to construct a residential building on the Schulte property in May 1892, for a cost of $15,000 (just over $450,000 today). The carpentry work was assigned to the Henry Behrens & Co, stone masonry work was to be completed by the Franke Bros., and brickwork was to be done by Nick Holscher. Cut stone work was assigned to Jas. Foster, while galvanizing iron and slate work, was allocated to Witt & brown.

 

During the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, Henry Joseph (H. J) Schulte was the president of G.B. Schulte Sons Co., a local iron and steel manufacturer that made springs, axles, and tools for wagons and carriages. The company headquarters was later known as the Dennison Hotel, tragically lost to demolition just a few years ago. REMEMBER THE DENNISON! After H. J. Schulte died c. 1918, his nephew, Gerhard Schulte and his wife Cecelia lived in the house until they sold it c. 1931 to Henry J. Radel. Soon after, he converted the first floor into a second location for his family business, the John J. Radel Funeral Home and, for some time, resided on the second story with his wife and two children. The building remained a funeral home until 2019.

 

ABOUT THE BACKGROUND

While City Council was on break at the end of June, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati contacted 2 members of the community and said they'd be buying and demolishing this grand building. They currently have a 5 year old, 18,000 square foot club on the next block. Days later, the Mayor summoned those same community members to his office and when they arrived, the CEO of the Boys Club and many high ranking city and Port Authority officials were present.

 

Although it was said that something could be worked out, that was the only meeting that ever happened and the West Price Hill Community Council filed for a Cincinnati Landmark Designation with the Historic Conservation Board over the summer. This was a very expensive endeavor for a small community group but one that if successful, would offer the grand Schulte protection from demolition.

 

Although the Boys and Girls Clubs have never bothered to meet with the board or members of the community council, the Cincinnati Preservation Association was kind enough to reach out on the community's behalf, and offer its expertise to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati to demonstrate how the Schulte could be a viable candidate for adaptive reuse and possibly valuable historic tax credits.

 

Finally, Price Hill Will made contact with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati to offer a site it owns that is nearby, larger, flat and development ready at 4944-4948 Glenway. Since the Boys Club says it wants to serve teens from Western Hills High and Dater High for workforce development, that site is in walking distance of those schools. It can be offered at an incredible, extremely low cost. After viewing this perfect site, the Boys Club hasn't responded back to them for quite some time.

 

When all this began in late June, it was believed the Boys Club wanted to be allowed to use our city tax dollars to buy and destroy this irreplaceable historic asset using money that had been earmarked for a club in Roll Hill. We worked with Roll Hill/East Westwood to insure they were aware and received the club they were promised. On 9/29/21, City Council allocated $2.25M additional dollars to fund that club for a grand total of $3M taxpayer dollars to this private organization.

 

The Boys Club contract on this building should have expired in early September, so that combined with the news of the Roll Hill Club project going forward made their lack of any further communication seem logical. Unfortunately, they appeared at a staff conference for the Landmark Designation Application last week and they've retained a local, politically connected attorney named Tim Burke. They seem absolutely determined to destroy this building which they don't even own at this point and they're counting on all of us to let them. We've done everything we can in a very short amount of time to fight for the preservation of the last home of this caliber in West Price Hill. We need your help to get over the finish line! Thank you so much.