The Packard Presence on Iuka Ravine Continued from Page 1
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
An Advocate for Community Resources Published by Friends of the Ravines (FOR) Fall 2015/Winter 2016 TheThe PackardPackard PresencePresence onon IukaIuka RavineRavine by Amanda Page ollowing the curve of its ancient spring bed, Iuka Avenue stretches from North Fourth Street in a Fsouthwesterly direction toward The Ohio State University, crossing the “hollow” behind the Ohio Union and eventually moving toward Mirror Lake and the Olentangy River. It was, in fact, the first curvilinear street in the city, the first to break the city’s grid pattern, and may very well have been the inspiration for noted architect Frank Packard’s three residential designs. The Iuka Ravine Historic District, both on the Columbus and the National Registers of Historic Places, contains residential and institutional architecture that compliments the ravine. Iuka—like Walhalla, Overbrook, and Glen Echo ravines to the north—becomes “a really distinctive feature in these neighborhoods in Columbus,” says Barbara Powers, Department Head of Inventory and Registration at the Ohio History Connection. Powers is also the undisputed expert in all things “Frank Packard.” Ravines are a distinctive and sometimes surprising feature of the otherwise flat topography of Columbus. They are found on the east side of the rivers; limestone quarries, by contrast, are found on the west side of the Scioto River. Iuka Ravine’s history and unusual name date to the mid 19th century when much of the land north of downtown was owned by “Stagecoach King” William Neil who dominated the transportation line through Central Ohio, negotiated lucrative contracts with the state for the layout of the Courtesy of Columbus Metropolitan Library Sandusky Turnpike (North High Street), and invested in land on both sides of the turnpike. He eventually owned all that Fairgrounds. He purchased the old Vance farm (centered at would be The Ohio State University, the University District Fifteenth and North High) and placed his own home on the from Fifth Avenue through Lane Avenue, and the Ohio State location of the Main Library. continued on page 3 FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD NEWS FROM THE RAVINES Hello Fellow Friends of the Ravines! MAYOR MICHAEL B. COLEMAN CREATES “BRANCH OUT COLUmbUS” PROGRAM to acknowledge that trees provide a e are proud to bring you the fall/winter issue multitude of economic, environmental, and social benefits, of Ravinia. This issue is full of great articles which conservatively are valued at more than $12.1 million that we hope you will enjoy! If you are looking W annually. To reach the goal of a 27% tree canopy by 2020, the for some wonderful winter reading, check out Maureen city is starting an urban tree nursery, will preserve and restore Lorenz’s article on native gardening and find several trees on construction projects, and will give private property suggested books to enjoy. Sherrill Massey and Martha owners a $50 rebate to plant native trees on their property. have contributed an article about the two ravines in Upper Arlington that interrupt its street grid. Friends of the METRO PARKS has opened a new park in New Albany called Ravines is grateful to Archaeologist, Al Tonetti—a past Rocky Fork Metro Park. While the park lacks ravines, the contributor to Ravinia—for his expertise: his identification preservation of wetlands will help water quality downstream of the prehistoric artifacts (identified as “arrowheads” in the as well as the creeks and ravines that flow into the Hoover last issue of Ravinia) adds layers of richness to the history of Reservoir. Rush Run in Worthington, Ohio. WALHALLA RAVINE residents recently responded to residents’ The cover article, part two of the Mastery of Frank complaints; they donned work gloves, armed themselves with Packard on Glen Echo, finally appears after being pulled pruners and loppers, and cut back ravine overgrowth which from publication in the last two issues so we could bring greatly improved the visibility along Walhalla Road. you details of unexpected developments on Bill Moose Ravine across from Graceland Shopping Center and Adena/Overbrook Ravine at Croswell and High Streets. Mark your calendar! (Part one of the Frank Packard article was printed in the Spring/Summer 2014 issue; it is posted on our website, Explore Shale Hollow www.friendsoftheravines.org.) Preserve During the rainy month of June, the Board of Trustees and Sunday April 24, 2016 I enjoyed a retreat at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park under the expert guidance of facilitator Kim Stands, who helped us outline our future direction and focus. This event was made possible by a grant from the National Environmental Education Fund sponsored by Toyota. Take note. We will be holding our Ravine Art Contest in 2016! We encourage Franklin County school teachers to help raise ravine awareness in our youth by promoting ravine related visual art, photography, and writing. Details Dutchman’s Breeches, (Dicentra cucullaria) about the art contest can be found on page 11. Please check our website for details! Plant Walk Guide: Rick Gardner, Botanist As the weather turns colder and the days grow shorter, the from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources ravines continue their cycle of life. Leaves fall to the forest floor, wildlife prepares for the long winter months, and Shale Hollow is just north of Highbanks Metro Parks insects become dormant. Autumn colors in area ravines and is part of the Preservation Parks of Delaware County. offer beautiful views and scenic walks. It’s a good season for you and a neighbor to explore a ravine, relish its beauty, Rain or Shine—Wear comfortable shoes be grateful, and become an advocate for protecting these Go to www.friendsoftheravines.org for details. special places! And it’s never too soon to start thinking about spring! Be If you would prefer to read sure to save the date for our annual plant walk. On April 24, Ravinia on the Web instead 2016, we will explore Shale Hollow Preserve with talented of receiving a paper copy, botanist Rick Gardner! Shale Hollow is just north of please send an e-mail to Highbanks Metro Park and is part of the Preservation Parks [email protected] of Delaware County. and let us know. Thank you for your continued support! We’ll e-mail you when Carrie R. Morrow, Chair, Board of Trustees a new issue is ready to read. 2 Fall 2015/Winter 2016 The Packard Presence on Iuka Ravine continued from page 1 Bridge over Iuka Ravine Courtesy of John Ridihalgh While his daughters, Ann Dennison and Elizabeth Frank Packard (1866-1923) was himself just coming of age McMillan, received much of Neil’s land as part of their professionally. He studied architecture and engineering at inheritance (eventually accounting for the layout of the Ohio State University and transferred to the Massachusetts “Circles” neighborhood and the E.J.McMillan/NECKO Institute of Technology (graduating in 1887), then studied neighborhood), son Robert built his own mansion near with New York architects, and was back in Columbus. His Fifteenth and Indianola Avenues (the present Kappa Sig work is documented at Ohio State as early as 1891 with the house), laid out on a vast tract from Lane to Thirteenth plans for the construction of Hayes Hall, and in 1892 he Avenues. Younger son Henry inherited the estate, renaming joined with prominent architect Joseph Yost (1847-1923). it “Indianola” to commemorate his Civil War record. Henry In his short life, he did over 3,400 buildings, but what may was the first official Ohio recruit to the Union army, and be most significant is the range of his early style (from the he had been wounded in the Battle of Iuka, near Indianola, Richardson Romanesque courthouse in Bowling Green Mississippi. to Putnam County courthouse in Ottawa; from the iconic The word “Indianola” was remembered as the curved drive Hayes and Orton buildings at Ohio State to the Sells Circus to the house, and Iuka ravine remained an open stream (no house on Goodale Park and the “Shinto Gothic” Toledo Indianola bridge) into the early 20th century. The board of and Ohio Railroad station on West Broad). Packard was trustees of the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College clearly more than conversant with Beaux Arts, Richardson chose the old Neil farm as the site for a land grant college in Romanesque, Second Renaissance Revival, Georgian 1870 just as William Neil was dying. Within twenty years, Revival, and creative interpretations of the exotic when early streetcars were beginning to determine the layout he began work with a new style—the Arts and Crafts and development of the city from Fifth Avenue through movement. Worthington—a pattern that would continue through And Packard would certainly have been familiar with the World War I. location of Iuka Ravine because of its proximity to Ohio From the 1890s through the 1920s, neighborhoods across State. Its stone formations were certainly known; a large from the college developed, while the neighborhoods to the glacier erratic boulder, unearthed in Iuka ravine, became north, Old North Columbus, had existed since the 1840s. the monument to Dr. Edward Orton outside of Orton Hall. Within this time frame, the first decade of the 20th century, Packard would go on to design three Craftsman influenced was also the fruition of Frank Packard’s Iuka Ravine work. homes in/near Iuka ravine. continued on page 4 Fall 2015/Winter 2016 3 The Packard Presence on Iuka Ravine continued from page 3 The Arts and Crafts movement was, in part, a reaction to the machine age and industrialization of the late 19th century, borrowing heavily from the writings of William Morris, an English social radical. The movement decried the uniformity of mass produced goods and advocated the beauty of local materials and the craftsmanship of previous eras.