Prospect Hill, Cincinnati, Ohio

Infobox_nrhp | name =Prospect Hill Historic District
nrhp_type = hd


caption =
location= Cincinnati, Ohio
locmapin = Ohio
area =
architect= multiple
architecture= Greek Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne
added = September 04, 1980
governing_body = Private
refnum=80003078cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

Prospect Hill is a historic district located on a hillside outside of downtown Cincinnati, Ohio United States. It is part of the Mount Auburn neighborhood of Cincinnati. Prospect Hill is bounded by the following streets, Liberty, Sycamore, Boal and Highland. Most people consider Prospect Hill part of downtown. However, during the 1800s, everything past Liberty Street was thought of as out in the country and people actually had farms up on the hill.

The District is bordered to the north by the Mount Auburn Historic District.

Architecture

The majority of buildings are brick, and the predominant architectural style is the Italianate. Dating from the 1860-80 period, this style is characterized by bracketed cornices and round or segmental arched window details. Good examples of earlier Greek Revival style architecture constructed between 1835 and 1860 are also found, predominantly located on the lower streets which developed the earliest. This style utilizes classical details and geometric, symmetrical forms. Examples of the Queen Anne style, which displays a variety of contrasting materials and decorative surface treatments, and the French Second Empire style, which is characterized by a Mansard roof whose slope actually forms part of the front facade, may also be found scattered throughout the district. These styles date from the turn of the century.

Contributing to the distinct character of Prospect Hill are the street steps, which evolved in response to a hillside environment which did not lend itself to a linear grid plan. Where the terrain was too steep to build roads, stairways and "paper" streets developed. The streets that were built often cut sharply into the hillside, requiring retaining walls along lot fronts. Many of these retaining walls, which are primarily stone, support original iron fences and contribute to the character of the district. Open space between lots reflect the fact that the land was too irregular for construction purposes.

History

The majority of early settlers were veterans of the Revolutionary War. One of the earliest residents of the hill was Dr. Daniel Drake. He lived in a log cabin while his new home was being built on Third Street. [cite web |url= http://www.prospecthillcincinnati.org/?q=node/12|title= The Beginning|accessdate=2007-06-24 |last= Rider|first= Peg|date= May 21, 1989|work=Prospect Hill, A Neighborhood Reborn (1807- present)]

The Senator George H. Pendleton also had a house located at 559 Liberty Hill.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cdap/pages/-6760-/ City of Cincinnati Historic Districts]
* [http://www.irhine.com/index.jsp?page=event_4221 Prospect Hill Historic Homes Tour]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/signaturelandscapes/99552485/ View from Prospect hill]