John Church Company Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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John Church Company Building
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Front of the building
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 14-16 E. Fourth St., Cincinnati, Ohio |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1885 |
| Architect | Samuel Hannaford |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
| MPS | Samuel Hannaford & Sons TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 94000592 |
| Added to NRHP | June 17, 1994 |
The John Church Company Building is a historic building located in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. It was designed by a very famous architect from Cincinnati. This building was once home to one of the biggest companies in the country that sold sheet music and musical instruments. Because of its importance, it has been named a historic site.
Contents
A Look Back: The John Church Company
How the Company Started
John Church Jr. started his company in 1859. Later, he brought in partners, and the company officially became a corporation in 1885. A corporation is a type of business that is owned by its shareholders.
Music Instruments and More
One of the company's main activities was selling pianos made by the Everett Piano Company from Boston, Massachusetts. The Everett Piano Company was actually owned by John Church Company. Other companies, like Cincinnati's Royal Manufacturing Company, also belonged to John Church. Royal Manufacturing made smaller musical instruments such as drums, violins, guitars, mandolins, and banjos.
Before 1892, these companies were separate. But then, they all came together under one management. This helped them become even more powerful in the music business world.
Publishing Music for Everyone
Besides selling instruments, the John Church Company also published a lot of sheet music. By the late 1870s, they were the largest music publisher in Cincinnati and all of Ohio. They were also one of the biggest in the entire United States.
They published music by famous composers like John Philip Sousa. Their publications included books for learning, such as "School of Singing." They also printed religious music like "Choir and Congregation," along with many other types of music popular at the time. In 1930, another company called Theodore Presser Company bought the John Church Company.
The Building's Design and History
What the Building Is Made Of
The John Church Company Building was built in 1885. Its base, or foundation, is made of strong limestone. The main parts of the building are made from brick and stone. The roof is made of rubber, and some parts of the building use iron and steel.
Its Unique Style
This building is designed in the Renaissance Revival style. This style brings back ideas from the Renaissance period, which was a time of great art and learning in Europe. The building has five stories. Its front, called the facade, is divided into two main sections. Each section has three parts, or "bays," which are like vertical strips.
On the first floor, there are storefronts where shops would have been. Higher up, there are windows. The very top of the building has a decorative cornice, which is a fancy molding. Even though some buildings nearby are only three stories tall, the John Church Company Building is smaller than many of the very large buildings around it.
Designed by a Famous Architect
The building was designed by Samuel Hannaford. He was a very important architect in Cincinnati. He designed many of the city's most famous buildings, including the Cincinnati Music Hall. Because this building was designed by such a well-known architect, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. It is one of many buildings designed by Hannaford that are on this important list.
