Like many cities in America Columbus had significant growth in the early 1900s. One of the main drivers of this growth was the development of streetcars, which allowed people to live further than walking distance from their place of work.
One of those neighborhoods in Columbus is the Old Oaks neighborhood just southeast of downtown. When the streetcar line was electrified in 1891 the neighborhood followed shortly after.
On this sunny warm June day they had their annual Home and Garden Tour. But before we could tour the homes we made a stop at Holy Rosary St John Church to purchase our tickets.
The church has impressive stained glass throughout.
But we were here to tour the neighborhood …
As with many inner city neighborhoods there had been a long period of lack of investment leading to deterioration. Many neighborhoods, including Old Oaks, has had an infusion of gentrification over the last 20-30 years.
While many Columbus neighborhoods have had a near complete gentrification, Old Oaks still has a mix of the original residents and those who have come in and rehabbed a home.
The neighborhood is nearly all stately brick homes.
There is an interesting mix of those that are in dire need of repair, those that have been fully restored, and then those like this one that are in between. It is understandable with the amount of work and money it takes.
Amongst the large brick homes is this beautiful Craftsman style home – note the house on the left is boarded up – waiting for the right person to come in and bring her back.
Not all of the homes shown here were on the official tour, but grace the streets of the neighborhood.
With the flags it is clear you are in Ohio – USA.
At the edge of the neighborhood, along Livingston Avenue is Greek Revival style home that was built much earlier than the rest of the neighborhood – dating from 1852. Known as the Caroline Brown home, it was a stop on the Underground Railroad to freedom for slaves prior to, and during the Civil War of the 1860s.
A few of the interiors of the homes were open for inspection.
They were all beautifully restored and decorated.
A great use of an old pull down school map – a window shade!
Some had stained glass windows (you can also see the use of stained glass from the street as well).
Fireplaces were present in many of the bedrooms.
All of the homes have excellent wood work throughout.
Another example of a bedroom with a fireplace.
An older look was present in one of the homes.
The highlights though were the garden tours – this one featured a massive pergola leading to the original (apparently un-restored) garage.
An arch frames the garden of another home.
If nature wipes out your tree, make it art.
One of the homes had extensive outdoor living space including a pool and a palm (Ohio palm tree?)
Another had a number of artistic touches include beer bottles made into candles.
The garages are in the rear, as originally they were carriage houses, to house horses. Alleys line all the houses in the back.
Technically not a garden, but the front porches were great – giving the neighborhood a sense of community.
Old Oaks is a community in transition but as is remains a vibrant part of the city. Thanks to all who shared their homes and gardens!
As our tour ended back on Livingston Avenue, we visited the boyhood home of Eddie Rickenbacker, truly one of America’s great men. Raised in this humble house in the early 1900s, Eddie went on to become a record land speed racer, a World War I fighter pilot, a pioneer in the development of Aviation, and many other things.
For some interesting reading about one of Columbus’s great native sons check out the wiki page on Eddie. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Rickenbacker
Somebody should make a movie (although they did back in the 1940s it could be done so much better now – and Eddie has the stories that would be worth telling).
