East Second Street Historic District (Xenia, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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East Second Street District
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235 Second Street
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 235 and 209-213-215 E. 2nd St.; also 184-271 E. 2nd St., Xenia, Ohio |
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| Area | 2.1 acres (0.85 ha) (original) 2.2 acres (0.89 ha) (increase) |
| Architectural style | Italianate, Queen Anne, Late Classic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001451 (original) 79001847 (increase) |
| Added to NRHP | March 20, 1973 (original) September 10, 1979 (increase) |
The East Second Street Historic District is a special area in Xenia, Ohio, United States. It's known for its beautiful old homes. This district was created in the 1970s to protect some of Xenia's most important and fancy neighborhoods from the past.
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Explore East Second Street's Historic Homes
Many important people once lived in the East Second Street Historic District. Five of the most interesting houses are at 183, 204, 209, 235, and 272 East Second Street. Each house tells a story about the past.
The John Hivling House (183 Second Street)
The first banker in Xenia, John Hivling, lived at 183 Second Street. This house was built around 1880. It has special "Eastlake" style details. Look for the decorations above the doors and windows. There's also a cool round window in the triangle part of the roof, called a gable.
The Italianate and Eastlake House (204 Second Street)
Built around 1880, the house at 204 Second Street is a two-story brick building. It mixes two styles: Italianate and Eastlake. You can see fancy decorations over the main door. It also has stone pieces above the windows, called lintels.
The John B. Allen House (209 Second Street)
The family of John B. Allen first lived at 209 Second Street. He was a state representative for Ohio. This house is a three-story brick building from about 1881. It has a fancy front porch with special supports called brackets. There are also three tall chimneys and a two-story porch on the side.
Eden Hall (235 Second Street)
Abraham Hivling built the house at 235 Second Street around 1840. It is three stories tall. It has a large front and side porch with big pillars. The main entrance is grand, with windows on the sides (sidelights) and above (transom). Inside, the house has many rooms, including ten in the basement.
This house was later called "Eden Hall." John Allen and his wife bought it and gave it to their daughter, Mary, and her husband, Coates Kinney. Later, an owner named Evelyn Cozatt used the house to display her huge collection of old items. For a while, it was a bed and breakfast, where people could stay overnight. Today, it is a private home again.
The King House (272 Second Street)
A man named Mr. King was the first person to live at 272 Second Street. This house was built around 1885. Mr. King was a banker and owned a factory that made ammunition. His house is a 2½-story building made of weatherboard. It is built in the Queen Anne style. This means it has an interesting, uneven shape and many large gables. The main entrance is set back and has sidelights and a transom. There is also a screened porch on the second floor.
Protecting History: The National Register
The East Second Street District is important for history. In March 1973, the houses at 209 and 235 Second Street were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are important to history. Six years later, in 1979, the district grew to include more houses on East Second Street.
This neighborhood was chosen because it shows what wealthy society was like during the "Gilded Age" (a time in American history from the 1870s to about 1900). The houses were also very well-preserved. However, since 1979, some changes have been made to the houses that don't fit their original style. Also, some houses haven't been kept up as well as they should be.
