Architecture – RDZ Photography

Delaware, OH – April 2018 – Architectural Tour

Architecture, History, Nature, Transportation, Water Features

The small city of Delaware, Ohio is the county seat of a county of the same name. Located just north of Columbus it was for more than 150 years the center of a farming county, as well as the home of the small college, Ohio Wesleyan.

With Columbus suburbs fast approaching, most of the county to the south has been developed in tract housing and shopping centers, and it now has a population of over 200,000, and is recognized as having the highest per capita income in the state.

The town of Delaware however still feels like a small town, with many historic buildings.

First up is Beiber’s Mill which was was built in 1877 as a grist mill. Long abandoned, it sits directly on the Olentangy River – there were enough No Trespassing signs, and neighbors that looked like they would have shotguns that we took the photos from the road.

The next stop was Perkins Observatory. While in town there is an observatory that was built in 1896 that is still standing (barely), this building is about 3 miles south of town, next to a golf course.

Built in 1925 it has been in use ever since, but has over time reduced in scope as central Ohio is not very conducive to astrological observations – due to the low altitude, cloud cover and light pollution from the cities.

As we arrived on the small campus of the 1900 student Ohio Wesleyan University, we found Edwards Gymnasium. Built in 1905 it is a spectacular building with an amazing wood ceiling with skylights.

Just up the hill is Slocum Hall, which contains a library.

As well as a great skylight.

Next door is the University Hall and Chapel, although it appears to me very similar to most of the county court houses and jails around the state.

On the west side of the campus are a series of newer buildings.

Leaving campus we moved on to an area where all of the Delaware County Government buildings are located including what was a Carnegie Library – now the County Commissioners home.

Next door is the old courthouse.

Our last stop is what should be the main attraction of the town – the birthplace of a U.S. President – in this case Rutherford B. Hayes. However someone messed that one up long ago when the home was torn down, so now it is the Rutherford B Hayes Memorial BP Gas Station. But it is the only Presidential Gas Station in America, so Delaware, Ohio has that going for them.

Newark – March 2018 – Historic Licking County Jail

Architecture, History

The Historic Licking County Jail in Newark, Ohio was opened in 1889 and closed 100 years later. It remains however one of Newark’s top tourist spots, with a reputation of being haunted.

Built out of massive sandstone blocks, the entire building has a fortress or castle feel to it from the outside. In addition they added many architectural details such as the downspouts coming out the frogs mouth on the bulkhead above the doorway below.

The jail also served as the sheriff’s residence, as well as a couple of other apartments for workers. One worker was the female matron and cook.

It was here we met Nelson, who’s mother was the matron and cook in the 1960s, and where Nelson grew up. Without a doubt his story telling of a ‘youth growing up in jail’ added to the tour.

The favorite amongst the staff is a story where as a young teenager he and his mother lived on a 3rd floor apartment, directly above the office where the night shift guards hung out. One night his mother was out late and the guards had fallen asleep on the job, so Nelson thought it would be humorous to drop a lit firecracker out their apartment window and have it explode just outside the guards window – which he did.

The result was excited guards calling out all the police in the town with a report of a prisoner having a weapon. After hours of lock down and a complete search of the prisoners no gun was found (obviously) – Nelson indicated he was an adult before he fessed up about his prank!

Imagine coming home as a teenager and winding your way up the stairs in cages to get home…

With neighbors being the prisoners who were normally locked up for up to 6 months. Most were doing a bit of time for drunk driving or other relatively minor offenses. The more serious criminals were sent to prisons after their trials.

Security was critical though, as noted by the gun port for the guards.

Apparently bridge builders had the skill with steel and iron to build the cells.

The photo below is the mechanics of the door that makes that infamous prison door slamming sound.

A sad irony of our times is this country’s obsession with carrying around guns – so much so there has to be a ‘no weapons on site’ sign for a jail. Still with Nelson’s excellent story telling, and the rest of the staff’s passion with the history and legends of the building, it was an enjoyable couple of hours being ‘in the clink’, although no ghosts were sighted 🙂

Cleveland – March 2018 – Playhouse Square Theaters

Architecture, Art, Festival, History

The Playhouse Square Theater District on Euclid Avenue in downtown Cleveland is known as the 2nd largest by number of seats in the United States, behind Lincoln Center in Manhattan. The 4 major theaters once could seat nearly 10,000 people, although that number has diminished a bit with remodeling.

On the first Saturday of each month a small army of volunteers offer free behind the scenes tours. Lead by our amazing tour guide Lil, we were fortunate in that we chose a day that they were between shows in the theaters, so we were able to go on the stages and in the dressing rooms for all the theaters.

First up is the largest, the State Theater. Opened, along with all the other theaters, in a 19 month period between 1921-1922, the State originally seated 3,400.

Built in an Italian Renaissance style for vaudeville shows and movies, it has what was the worlds longest lobby at 320′ as it was built at the back of the lot so the theater next door, the Ohio Theater, could also have frontage on Euclid Avenue.

As the tour took us backstage you got a feel for how massive the stage and the rigging are to support the theater. This theater’s rigging have been modernized, we would later get a sense for how much compared to the non-updated ones.

Next door is the Palace Theater (recently renamed Connor Palace to honor a major donor). This theater was built in the French Renaissance style, and features beautiful entry doors.

The main lobby is known as the Great Hall. Amazingly in the early 1970s all the theaters we close to being torn down to make parking lots, but fortunately the local arts community was persistent and saved all of them. It has taken the community many years and millions of dollars but all have been restored, and in some cases reconfigured for smaller theaters.

Front the balcony of the Palace we were treated to a performance from one of the resident organists.

Later we were able to visit up close for a demonstration of the amazing capabilities of the organ, as well as some behind the scenes history of the recovery and restoration of the organ.

The entryway to the Ohio Theater features an amazing ceiling. (all of the ceilings are stunning, this is the best).

From the stage the lighting, seating and ceiling make an impressive photo.

Backstage gets a view of the un-restored rigging (the massive collection of ropes on the right), as well as all of the lighting riggings.

Another amazing ceiling and light, the entrance to the Allen Theater.

The columns of the Allen Theater entrance have intricate carvings.

The Allen has been downsized and modernized, although the original balconies and boxes are hidden behind the fabrics on the sides in case they want to return it to it’s original state. The second half of this theater has been transformed into a ‘Theater in the Round’ format.

Playhouse Square is one of the best features of Cleveland, and the Saturday morning tours are amazing (and free).

Chicago – December 2017 – Architecture Biennial

Architecture, Art, Festival

The Chicago Architecture Biennial purpose is to “provides a platform for groundbreaking architectural projects and spatial experiments that demonstrate how creativity and innovation can radically transform our lived experience.”

As part of that this years exhibit includes an exhibit called “Make New History”. This exhibit features a number of architectural interpretations of a redesign of the iconic Tribune Tower.

Interestingly the venue for this very modern exhibit is the classic Chicago Cultural Center, including the stunning stained glass dome in the Grand Army of the Republic rotunda.

Before arriving at the main exhibit room we visited some displays of miniatures.

The details on most were amazing, although some of the more abstract ones looked like a discarded toy box. This model was an Asian interpretation of the Tribune Tower.

Full view of the Serie Architects ‘Far Eastern Headquarters’ model.

The Tribune Tower is a Neo Gothic building completed in 1925. The various interpretations varied greatly from that design.

6a architects view was meant to resemble a totem pole of stacked artifacts.

Architect and ‘urbanist’ Charles Waldheiim went even further with a number of interpretations of famous Chicago buildings including the John Hancock Center, Willis Tower, Marina City and the Thompson Center.

Called Heliomorphic Chicago it is set up in the classic Chicago grid street system.

New York City – November 2017 – Tourist Day in Manhattan

Architecture, Art, History, Transportation

With a day to spend in Manhattan with nothing special planned we wandered the city and checked out some of the non tacky tourist spots (i.e. Time Square)

Bryant Park Ice Rink and the Main Library

Entrance to Rockefeller Center

Statue and Flags at Rockefeller Center

The Oculus

Central Park West View

A stop at the Met.

Ornate apartment building on Fifth Avenue.

Where do they put the prisoners?

Hyderabad, India – November 2017 – Qutb Shahi Tombs

Architecture, Art, History

The Qutb Shahi Tombs are located in Hyderabad, India, a city of 8 million people. The tombs were originally constructed during the Qutb Shai dynasty in the 14th and 15th century. They were initially restored in the 1800s, with some restoration continuing.

With one central tomb, there are numerous ones surrounding it. For those interested in more details I suggest using the wiki page as it describes each in detail

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qutb_Shahi_tombs

For those not interested in reading the photos give a good overview of them.

Chicago – October 2017 – Open House Chicago – Part 1

Architecture, Art, Festival, History, Transportation

Open House Chicago is an annual event where over 200 buildings open up for free tours. Most of the buildings aren’t normally even open to visitors, so it is even more special to get to see inside.

We spent two very long days touring as many as possible.

Our first stop was the Federal Reserve Bank, where they have a money museum.