Betts House (Cincinnati, Ohio) facts for kids
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| Established | 1996 |
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| Location | 416 Clark Street Cincinnati, OH 45203 |
| Type | House Museum |
| Accreditation | American Association for State and Local History |
| Founder | Martha Tuttle |
| Owner | National Society of the Colonial Dames of American in the State of Ohio |
The Betts House, built in 1804, is a very special building in Cincinnati. It is the oldest house still standing in the city. It is also the oldest brick home in the entire state of Ohio! This historic house helps us learn about Cincinnati's early days. It also teaches us about how old buildings are saved and how cities grow. The Betts House is not just a museum; it is also the main office for The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in Ohio.
Contents
Discovering the Betts House History
The Betts Family's Home
The Betts House was built in 1804. It is the oldest brick house in Ohio. It is also the oldest home still standing in downtown Cincinnati. When it was first built, the house was on a huge piece of land, about 111 acres. This land was part of a farm and a place where bricks were made. Over time, Cincinnati grew bigger and bigger. The quiet countryside around the house slowly became a busy city neighborhood. Today, the Betts House is an important part of the Betts–Longworth Historic District in Cincinnati's West End area.
The first owners of the house were William and Phebe Betts. In 1795, they left their home in Rahway, New Jersey. They wanted to find new chances in the western part of the country. Their journey first took them to Brownsville, Pennsylvania. They lived there for several years. In 1800, the Betts family decided to keep moving west. They traveled down the Ohio River on a flatboat.
When they arrived in the Cincinnati area, William Betts got a large piece of land. It was 111 acres. He received it because someone owed him money. Soon after, they started building their new home. It was a two-room farmhouse. It was finished in 1804.
For many years, four generations of the Betts family lived in this house. More than two dozen children grew up within its walls! As the family got bigger, the house also needed to grow. Between 1804 and 1864, the house more than doubled in size. During this time, the city of Cincinnati was also growing fast. The area around the house became a busy city neighborhood.
In 1833, the large 111-acre property was divided into smaller pieces. This happened when William's youngest daughter, Eliza, turned 21. By 1839, the neighborhood had become part of the city of Cincinnati. More and more buildings were built. The West End neighborhood became very crowded. By the 1870s, the area was very dense. Many people, including the last of the Betts family, started moving to new neighborhoods. These new areas were often on hills outside the city.
Changes in the Neighborhood
Over time, many people moved out of the West End. But soon, new families began to move in. By the early 1900s, the area became a lively cultural center. It was especially important for African Americans in Cincinnati. The neighborhood was known for its exciting nightlife. For example, the famous Cotton Club, a jazz music spot, was located there.
However, this exciting time did not last forever. By the 1950s, Cincinnati was changing. Many people were moving to nearby suburbs. To make the downtown area better, the city council made a plan. They decided to build new highways. The Kenyon-Barr neighborhood was chosen for the new I-75 highway. Between the late 1950s and early 1960s, many buildings were taken down for these new roads. This caused many people to lose their homes.
In the years that followed, the West End neighborhood faced tough times. Many old homes, including the Betts House, were empty for a long time. This was during the 1970s and 1980s.
Saving the Betts House
In 1988, a woman named Martha Tuttle stepped in. She was a descendant of William Betts. She gathered a group of people who cared about the house. They wanted to save it. Two years later, in 1990, they were able to buy the house. They started a big and expensive project to fix it up. They wanted to make it a good place to live again. For a few years after the repairs, the Betts House was used as small apartments.
In 1994, The National Society of Colonial Dames of America in the State of Ohio (NSCDA-OH) became the full owners of the property. In 1996, the Betts House opened to the public. It became a historic house museum. It has exhibits and programs that teach about how buildings are made and about early Cincinnati history. The house also serves as the main office for the NSCDA-OH.
