From the Director...

A New Look for an Old Space

The offices at Robbins Hunter Museum have recently undergone a complete renovation.  Floors have been sanded and finished, walls patched and painted, and abundant lighting installed.  Furniture has been repaired and restored and pictures brought out of storage for display.

This bookcase chest, made in Newark, c. 1850, according to Robbins Hunter, Jr.,was loaned to the first exhibition of midwestern furniture in 1964. The exhibit, “The Arts and Crafts of the Old Northwest Territory: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota,” was mounted at Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn. The piece is pictured in The Magazine Antiques’ article on the exhibit.

When Sylvester Spelman died in 1873, he left his second wife Mary and unmarried daughter Charlotte alone in the large home. This prompted daughter Martha and her husband Edward M. Downer to move from their home on Elm Street with their four children.  They would have filled the second floor rooms with laughter, tears, toys, games, and books.  One can imagine.

The Downers sold the home in 1903 to Denison’s Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, and for the next 50 years,  the second floor occupants and caregivers were young men ages 18-22 who lived, studied, played, and slept here.  Once Denison required fraternities to return to campus, Robbins Hunter, Jr. bought the house which he had long admired for its outstanding Greek Revival architecture.  He lived on the first floor, using the second floor rooms to store his massive collection of antiques.  Needless to say, there was not a lot of decorating on the second floor during the twentieth century. 

The black and gold leaf signs were used to advertise the law office of Robbins Hunter, Sr. and his father Samuel Hunter, in Newark, both lawyers and judges.

Two years ago, board member Gill Wright Miller, designed a renovation to enlarge the second floor bedroom to be used for exhibition space. During the beginning of 2017, the board authorized the renovation of the two bedrooms used as offices by the Director and the Office Administrator.  Floors that had not been refinished since the 19th century were sanded, revealing beautiful old hardwood.  Plaster walls had cracks and peeling paint which were patched and painted.  A soft tan color was chosen for the walls with the palest of blue to add interest to the ceiling.  Recessed can lights brighten the spaces and create a pleasing and comfortable work environment.  Special pieces from the collection have been brought out of storage, dusted off, restored when needed, and are proudly decorating the rooms.

Special thanks to Marge King and Jack Burris for volunteering their decorating expertise, and to the board of trustees, especially Kevin Kerr, having the foresight for prioritizing this improvement to our facilities.

According to Robbins Hunter, Jr., this walnut desk, c. 1840, was used by Luke Warner in his office on the Ohio Canal in Newark. Pictured above the desk are Luke and his wife Sarah, c. 1860.

Connecting the dots...

For part three of this series, we’re off to find the missing link between Granville’s great entrepreneur and philanthropist Alfred Avery and celebrated architect Minard Lafever along with gifted builder Benjamin Morgan, builder of St Luke’s and Avery’s own house at 221 E. Broadway. How did these three men come to know each other? We know that Avery, Lafever, and Morgan were instrumental leaders in the building of St Luke’s and we know that Alfred Avery was a major player in the financing and building of the Ohio canal system. These two facts present a reasonable solution to the missing link in an important story for the history of Granville and the Avery family, so hang on for a ride through exciting conjecture!

On July 4th, 1825 construction began on the Ohio and Erie Canal. That day the Canal Board of Commissioners, settlers, mounted cavalry, a marching militia, and a large crowd gathered east of Newark to dedicate the first shovel of dirt. Among the many present were Governor Morrow of Ohio, Governor Clinton of New York State, and Canal Commissioner Alfred Kelley. Alfred Kelley was the celebrated first Mayor of Cleveland, a State Representative, and the genius behind Ohio’s canal system. He had been “pushing for canal bills through the state legislature, had personally surveyed land, signed contracts, and kept diligent records.” (http://touringohio.com/profiles/alfred-kelley.html). He was one of the most important figures in 19th century Ohio. Alfred Avery of Granville, also a canal financier, was almost certainly present that day having held a large sum of money in contracts to build the canal and would have wanted to see the beginning of his investment with all the fanfare and celebrated personalities present.

Not long after the canal was completed in 1833, Alfred Kelley began planning for his stately residence on East Broad Street in Columbus (just east of the current Franklin County Building by Frank Packard). He had recently relocated from Cleveland to serve the state legislature. His new home was to be built entirely of Berea sandstone in the Grecian Ionic style, one of the few entirely stone Grecian buildings west of the Appalachian range. It showcased three in-antis (recessed) two-story porches on the north, west, and east facades, and one pro-stylos (projected) two-story portico on the south side facing Broad Street. Each of these was accomplished with signature Illisus Temple Ionic columns, just like those on the Avery-Downer House except in stone.

The Robbins Hunter Museum in the Avery-Downer House, 2016

All records indicate that Kelley was his own architect on the project. Grecian pattern books were readily available and Kelley did see much Grecian architecture on his travels. But the sophistication of this design is from the hand of a trained architect. For one, the square plan with in-antis porches was uncommon and only found at the time delineated by British architect James Gibbs in his 1728 “Book of Architecture” (plate 67). The unique plan is found in some country houses of England, France, and Palladio’s 16th century Italy, but it was not utilized in domestic architecture in the United States in the 18th or 19th centuries except in one 18th century house of Benjamin Latrobe. The point being that a 19th century layman—even with all the time and architectural interest at his disposal—would have relied on a classically trained architect to propose and develop such a unique plan. The classical details of the house, including the Ionic porches, happen to be signature elements of none other than St Luke’s architect Minard Lafever who had the sophistication to develop such a plan as well. At the time, he was in practice in New York, had just published his Grecian pattern book “The Modern Builder’s Guide”, and was all the rage. He had many resources (Ithiel Town’s immense architectural library was at his disposal in NYC) and would have been familiar with all the European precedents. Did Alfred Kelley meet with Lafever in New York and discuss plans for his new house? Abbot Lowell Cummings, who wrote a brief history of Alfred Kelley and the Kelley Mansion (The Alfred Kelley House of Columbus, Ohio, 1953), implies that both Nathan Kelly (Ohio Statehouse architect) and Minard Lafever did influence the design.

The Kelley Mansion: courtesy of Ohio History Connection, image OM1902_1984372_001

Kelley’s house was well-known in Columbus. It was just blocks from the Statehouse and was frequently the site of gatherings during campaigns, conventions, speeches, and rallies. Mr. and Mrs. Kelley hosted many guests, some of whom were linked to Mr. Kelley’s interests including the canal system.

So, here is the conjecture and we can just leave it at that. But it is very interesting. It is reasonable to assume that from 1830 Alfred Kelley and Alfred Avery met on more than one occasion to review the on-going operations and success of their mutual interests in the Ohio and Erie Canal system. Alfred Avery and Alfred Kelley shared another common interest in classical architecture and might have engaged in long discussions about architecture, architects, and craftsmen, looking through pattern books and contemporary Grecian designs. Kelley might have shown Avery the plans for his new Grecian home. The names of Minard Lafever and Benjamin Morgan might have been presented, for Alfred Avery was just starting his building campaign at St Luke’s and needed a good architect and builder. Benjamin Morgan was already working on the new Statehouse in 1835 (around the corner from Kelley’s house) when he accepted Alfred Avery’s invitation to build St Luke’s. The beauty of the new temple house of his acquaintance Alfred Kelley and the beauty of the new church of St. Luke’s most certainly influenced his decision to rely on Minard Lafever and Benjamin Morgan for the design of his own Ionic temple at 221 E. Broadway.

St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Granville, OH

In the end, it is notable that both of these great houses project similar themes. The Alfred Kelley House sports a two-story Grecian Ionic temple portico in sandstone, the Alfred Avery House sports a portico almost identical to Kelley’s but in wood. The Alfred Kelley House incorporates a unique centralized floor plan found only in obscure precedent, the Alfred Avery House incorporates a unique temple arrangement with Doric, Ionic, Corinthian assembled like no other in the US. Both houses point to the sophistication and talent of Minard Lafever. Both houses celebrate the intellect and brilliance of two Ohioans who had the foresight to do great things for our state and leave us with the gift of beautiful architecture. Unfortunately, the Kelley House was demolished in 1961 and its stones are gathered on the grounds of Hale Farm and Village near Peninsula, Ohio. We are so grateful that the Avery-Downer House stands and continues to inspire the world with its beauty.

Stuffing a Scarecrow...

Volunteer Spotlight

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” — Winston Churchill

 “We have to do what we can to help wherever and whenever it is possible for us to help.” — Jackie Chan

 “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.” — Muhammad Ali

 “Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.” — Elizabeth Andrew

Kim Vohs, RHM Volunteer

Over the decades, the efforts and results of volunteers have been noted and honored. Take these words to heart and step up to volunteer at the Robbins Hunter Museum.

Kim Vohs has done just that. Kim retired from Boeing two years ago and took her interest in organizing to RHM. She has happily, she says, reordered the kitchen, Ann’s closet and other areas of the museum. Follow in Kim’s lead and give us a call to find out how you, too, can help out.

Current needs are for docents Wednesdays thru Saturdays from 1 – 4 p.m. Learn about the museum and share our interesting history with visitors. Call Director Ann Lowder to find out more about volunteering.

Don Gunnerson, Board Member Emeritus

Sadly, Don Gunnerson, board member emeritus, Robbins Hunter Museum in the Avery-Downer House, passed away on October 21. Don put his architectural skills and artistic sense to work as he oversaw the restoration of the Octagon Room.  Don spent countless hours working with contractors to stabilize Robbins Hunter’s favorite room.  As a finishing touch, Gunnerson used old photos to size the replacement “quatrefoil” that tops the domed roof.  Don was a devoted friend of the museum. We will miss him. 

Read his full obituary HERE

From the collection...

Mirrors seemed to captivate Robbins Hunter as his collection has many.  One of the favorites at the museum today is this Federal example made c. 1820.  Called a tabernacle mirror by some, by others a pier mirror, its wooden frame is covered with gesso and gilded.  The top panel is eglomise, or reverse painted on glass, a technique attributed to China.  The actual mirror frame would have been made somewhere on the East Coast of America.           

The mirror tells the story of a naval battle between an American and a British naval battle. No original labels, however, confirm the precise ship or battle.  We know that Granville sent a company of men to fight at Lake Erie.  Among them was George Avery, older brother of Alfred (who built the Avery-Downer House).  Alfred, only 15 at the time, began a career as a drover of pigs and other livestock to sell to the troops. Probably because of Granville’s and the Avery family’s involvement in the War of 1812, we have interpreted the scene as Commodore Perry’s Victory at Lake Erie. 

On September 10, 1813, an American fleet commanded by Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry defeated the British fleet in Lake Erie, just off Put-in-Bay.  It was much celebrated as the victory put Americans in control of Lake Erie and much of the Northwest Territory.  It marked the first time an entire British fleet was captured.

At daybreak on that long ago morning, Perry’s lookout sighted the British fleet of six vessels.  They were under the command of Captain Robert H. Barclay.  As the battle began, the wind, in front of Perry’s fleet of nine vessels, shifted to their backs and made it easier to approach the enemy. Perry’s plan was for his two ships, the Lawrence and the Niagara, to engage the two largest British ships, the Detroit and the Queen Charlotte.  His smaller gunboats would take on the smaller British ships.

At noon, the battle began.  Perry, aboard the Lawrence, engaged the enemy.  The ship was badly damaged to the point of being disabled.  Four of every five men aboard were either killed or injured, but Perry escaped and transferred to the Niagara which had remained out of range of the enemy guns.  With the crew of the Niagara, he challenged both the Queen Charlotte and the Detroit.

Captain Barclay was severely wounded. The riggings of the two British ships became entangled.  Perry raked the ships with his heavy guns until the British lowered their flag in surrender. Americans suffered 27 killed and 96 wounded.  British casualties included 41 killed and 92 wounded. Soon after the battle, Perry wrote his famous note to the US commander in the region, William Henry Harrison, “We have met the enemy and they are ours:  two ships, two brigs, one schooner, and one sloop.”

Stop by for a tour of the Avery- Downer House to learn more stories about the people who lived here and interesting items in the collection.